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AQA A-Level English Literature Revision

Adaptive practice aligned to the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance specification. 8 topics, exam-style questions, and instant AI feedback.

About AQA A-Level English Literature

AQA is the largest exam board in England, setting GCSE and A-Level exams taken by millions of students each year. Known for clear mark schemes and well-structured specifications across all major subjects.

A-Level English Literature immerses you in the close study of prose, poetry, and drama across different periods and genres. You will analyse texts ranging from Shakespeare and pre-1900 literature to modern and contemporary works, developing sophisticated skills in literary criticism, textual analysis, and academic writing. The step up from GCSE is significant — you are expected to construct independent arguments, engage with critical perspectives, and explore how texts relate to their historical and social contexts.

Topics in AQA A-Level English Literature

1 Poetry
2 Prose Fiction
3 Drama
4 Shakespeare
5 Literary Theory
6 Comparative Analysis
7 Unseen Texts
8 Coursework Skills

Study Tips for AQA English Literature

1

Annotate your set texts thoroughly with analysis of language, structure, form, and context — your annotations become your primary revision resource and help you locate key quotations quickly during revision.

2

Learn short, versatile quotations (5-10 words maximum) for each text. These are easier to memorise and more effective in timed essays than long passages you might misremember.

3

Read at least two different critical perspectives on each text. Being able to reference and evaluate alternative readings (feminist, Marxist, post-colonial, psychoanalytic) demonstrates the academic sophistication examiners reward at the top grades.

4

Practise writing timed essay plans (not full essays) regularly — give yourself five minutes to plan an argument in response to an unseen question. This builds the skill of constructing a thesis quickly under exam conditions.

Other Exam Boards for A-Level English Literature

Edexcel A-Level English Literature OCR A-Level English Literature WJEC A-Level English Literature

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