Is English Literature A Level Hard? Everything You Need to Know
Umming and ahhing about taking English Literature at A Level? When it comes to picking your A Level options, there’s a lot to think about – from potential career plans to what subjects you enjoy. But one of your biggest concerns might be… is English Literature A Level hard?
A Level is a big step up from GCSE, there’s no getting around that. But with the right skills, support and hard work, you can not just pass your English Literature A Level but ace it. Here’s all you need to know.
Pssst! Finding an English Literature A Level tutor is a great way to make sure you can keep up with the demands of A Level studies and reach your full potential in the exams.
English Literature A Level
English Literature A Level is all about studying literature from different time periods – and really getting under the skin of it.
That includes poetry, prose and drama ranging from modern creations to historical works like Shakespeare or Chaucer. You might find yourself analysing everything from Victorian novels to contemporary plays, Renaissance poetry to 21st-century fiction.
You’ll be asked to think critically and analytically about these texts, and will be expected to discuss and write about them in detail. This means exploring how writers use language, structure and form to create meaning, and understanding how historical and social contexts shape the way texts are written and received.
You’ll spend a lot of time reading, writing and discussing texts with your class – but you’ll also need to do plenty of independent reading and thinking outside of lessons.
Is A Level English Literature Hard?
Here’s the honest answer: that depends on what kind of learner you are.
When it comes to A Level English Literature, there won’t be a textbook that you can memorise to help you pass the exam. There won’t usually be just one ‘correct’ answer, either.
Instead, you’ll be expected to come up with ideas and responses to the texts you study yourself – with support and guidance from your teacher to help you approach the texts in the right way.
If you like a structured approach to learning where there’s a definitive right and wrong answer, you might find English Literature challenging. It requires you to think independently, form your own interpretations, and defend your ideas with evidence.
On the other hand, if you love reading and talking about the things you’ve read in detail – if you find yourself naturally wondering why a character behaves a certain way or how a writer creates a particular mood – English Literature could be the perfect fit.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Grade A/A* Achievement Rate
24.6%
Data from FFT Education Datalab shows that, in 2025, 24.6% of pupils achieved a grade A or A*. This is a similar proportion to the number of students who achieved top grades across all A Level subjects.
So, if you have the right skills and interests, there’s no reason to think that getting a top grade will be much harder in English Literature than any other subject.
What is English Literature A Level Actually Like?
Wondering what studying English Literature at A Level might look like day-to-day? Here’s the lowdown.
Your Lessons
The texts you’ll cover will be chosen partly by your exam board and partly by your college or sixth form. These can change from year to year, but they’ll include a variety of poetry, prose and drama from different time periods.
In class, you’ll often spend time reading these texts and discussing them as a group. Expect lively debates about character motivations, thematic interpretations, and the effectiveness of different literary techniques.
However, you’ll also need to ‘read around’ the texts in your own time. This means exploring critical essays, historical context, different interpretations, and related works that help you understand your core texts more deeply.
And yes, there will be essays. Lots of essays. You’ll develop your ability to write about texts critically, constructing clear arguments supported by evidence from the texts themselves.
A Level English Literature Coursework
Every exam board will have slightly different requirements, but almost all of them will require you to complete coursework (as well as sitting exams).
This usually means writing an extended essay of around 2,000 to 3,000 words – often comparing two texts of your choice. This is your chance to really dig into texts you’re passionate about and showcase your analytical skills.
Coursework is typically worth 20% of your overall grade, so it’s a significant chunk of your final mark.
English Literature Exams
The format of English Literature A Level exams can vary quite a bit depending on which exam board your college uses.
However, you’ll typically sit two papers – each worth 40% of your overall mark.
These will consist of several essay questions, often on both seen texts (ones you’ve studied in class) and unseen texts (ones you’re encountering for the first time in the exam). You’ll need to demonstrate your ability to analyse, compare, and evaluate literary texts under timed conditions.
How to Pass A Level English Literature (and Get Top Grades)
Now you know what’s involved, let’s look at how to ace it.
With some hard work, commitment and dedicated support where you need it, it should be totally possible not just to pass A Level English Literature, but to get top grades. Here’s how.
Not all A Level English Literature students will get the same exam.
The content and layout of your exam will depend on which exam board you’re with. So, it’s super important to check early on.
The exam boards that offer A Level English Literature are:
AQA
OCR
Pearson Edexcel
WJEC Eduqas
Cambridge International
Checking your exam board’s unique requirements will ensure you know what to expect on the day – which can help you overcome exam nerves.
Plus, you’ll be better able to prepare for the big day with targeted revision.
Top tip: At Tutorful, 1 in 10 of our tutors are qualified examiners. Hiring a tutor with this insider knowledge will give you a unique edge in knowing exactly what your exam board looks for.
It’s important that you know exactly what the examiners are looking for. That way, you can give them what they’re after.
Although each exam board will structure the exams and coursework differently, they’ll all have the same assessment objectives. In plain English, here’s what they want to see:
AO1: That you can express your own thoughts, feelings and ideas about the texts clearly and accurately
AO2: That you’re skilled at examining the techniques and elements writers use to create meaning
AO3: That you understand how contexts (historical, social, cultural) influence the way texts are written and received
AO4: That you can explore connections and comparisons between literary texts
AO5: That you can use different perspectives and critical interpretations to explore the texts
Go through each assessment objective and make sure you’re confident demonstrating your skills to the examiners.
It’s never too early to start revising for A Level English Literature.
The earlier you start, the more time you’ll have to build your skills, put them into practice and familiarise yourself with the texts before the exam.
We recommend starting your A Level English Literature revision at the beginning of Year 13. This way, you can spread out your learning across the year instead of panicking just a few weeks before your exam.
Think of it this way: you’re not just memorising facts, you’re developing a deep, nuanced understanding of complex texts. That takes time.
You may not be able to memorise stats to pass your English Literature exam, but you do need to know the texts inside out.
It’s not enough just to read them in full once. You’ll need to revisit them several times, focusing in on pivotal themes, sections, characters and quotes.
But here’s the crucial bit: it’s not enough just to be familiar with the text’s themes, quotes and characters. You need to be able to use these to support your point of view and show what you’ve taken away from the pieces of literature.
This means actively annotating as you read, making notes on key passages, tracking character development, and identifying patterns in imagery and language.
The examiners will be looking for your own original and authentic response to the texts you’re writing about.
A great route in is to think about how the text’s language, characters and themes affect you personally. What questions does it raise? What emotions does it evoke? What connections can you make?
But don’t be fooled into thinking you don’t have to back up your ideas with evidence. You’ll need to support your arguments with quotes from the text, references to literary techniques, and engagement with other scholarly interpretations and reviews.
Go into as much detail as possible to really interrogate what you’re trying to say, and structure your argument clearly.
This will help you to stand out from other exam candidates for all the right reasons.
Attempting past papers is a must when you’re preparing for your English Literature A Level exam.
Firstly, it’s a great way to familiarise yourself with the types of questions you’re likely to come across in the real thing.
Secondly, attempting past papers under timed conditions will help you develop exam techniques such as time management and dealing with pressure – which are key to boosting your confidence ahead of the big day.
But that’s not all. Marking your practice papers will also give you a clear idea of the areas where you need to improve, so you know what to focus on for the remainder of your revision.
Just bear in mind that marking an English Literature A Level past paper isn’t a simple case of ticking the right answer like with some other subjects. Which is why it can be useful to get a professional to mark your practice papers for you.
Which brings us onto…
You don’t win extra points for preparing for your English Literature A Level without help. In fact, it’s wise to take all the support you can get.
Many students find it’s worth investing in English tuition to get the support they need in preparing for their English Literature A Level.
An experienced English Literature tutor will have the tools, knowledge and skills needed to help you develop important skills and wrap your head around difficult concepts.
They can give you the one-on-one attention you won’t get at college, tailoring lesson plans to your strengths, weaknesses and learning style to help you unlock the best grades possible.
In fact, many Tutorful tutors are also qualified teachers and examiners, so they know exactly what the exam boards are looking for.
Is English Literature A Level Good to Have?
English Literature is a brilliant A Level to have – and not just because you’ll get to spend two years reading great books.
Because this A Level encourages critical thinking and strong written communication skills, it’s highly respected by both university degree courses and employers.
It can be useful in careers ranging from journalism to law, marketing to teaching, publishing to politics. The analytical and communication skills you develop are transferable to virtually any field.
What Universities Think
English Literature also goes well with a range of different A Levels, which means it can suit a variety of students with different ambitions.
For instance, it pairs nicely with humanities subjects like History and Philosophy. But it also complements scientific A Levels like Biology or Chemistry.
Pairing more mathematical or scientific subjects with a subject that relies heavily on essay-writing skills shows that you’re a well-rounded individual with diverse talents – something universities love to see.
In fact, the Russell Group universities (a group of 24 leading universities in the UK) typically view English Literature as a facilitating subject. Many top universities will expect applicants to have at least one A Level in a facilitating subject to get onto competitive degree courses.
Get the Help of an English Literature A Level Tutor
As you can see, English Literature can be a challenge, but it’s one that’s worth taking.
And there’s nothing to stop you from achieving the highest grades with hard work, commitment and the right support.
An English Literature A Level tutor can give you the one-on-one attention and guidance you need to help you reach your full potential.
From week-by-week plans to practice exams, they’ll be able to tailor their teaching to suit your strengths, weaknesses and learning style. In this way, they’ll give you the best possible chance of not just passing your English Literature A Level, but thriving.
FAQs
That depends on your skillset.
Students who like a structured approach to learning where there is one correct answer are likely to find English Literature challenging.
On the other hand, students who love reading and coming up with their own ideas or responses to the things they’ve read are likely to find English Literature easier than other subjects.
Students who find A Level English Literature hard often struggle with the fact that there isn’t one correct answer to the majority of questions and issues in this subject.
Instead, you’ll need to come up with your own original take on the question, and explore your personal reaction to the texts you study. This requires independence, confidence, and the ability to construct well-supported arguments.
A Level Maths is widely seen as one of the most difficult A Level subjects, as it’s designed to be a significant step up from GCSE.
That said, every student is different. The hardest A Level subject for one person won’t be the same for another – it all depends on your natural strengths and interests.
Which subject universities prefer will depend on what you’re hoping to study at university.
That said, the Russell Group universities typically view English Literature as a facilitating subject, and not English Language. This means English Literature is more commonly preferred by universities to get onto a range of degree courses.
Many top universities will expect applicants to have at least one A Level in a facilitating subject.
The most respected A Levels will vary depending on what subject you’re hoping to take at university – or where you’re hoping to go in your career.
That said, English Literature, History, Maths, Modern Languages, Classical Languages, Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Geography are often seen as facilitating subjects – meaning that they’re most commonly preferred by universities to get onto a range of degree courses.
Getting an A in English Literature A Level can be a challenge, but if you have the right skills and knowledge, it shouldn’t be significantly harder or easier than getting an A in other subjects.
If you’re aiming to get an A in English Literature A Level, an experienced tutor can help. From week-by-week plans to practice exams, they’ll be able to support you every step of the way to help you reach your goals.
This depends on your interests and future plans.
English Literature focuses on analysing literary texts from different periods, developing critical thinking and interpretative skills. It’s ideal if you love reading novels, plays and poetry, and enjoy exploring deeper meanings and themes.
English Language focuses on how language works, including grammar, linguistics, language acquisition, and how language varies across different contexts. It’s more analytical and scientific in its approach.
If you’re drawn to stories, characters, and creative writing, English Literature is likely the better fit. If you’re fascinated by how language functions and evolves, English Language might suit you better.
Many students actually take both, as they complement each other well and demonstrate breadth of knowledge in English studies.
Find Your English Literature A Level Tutor
Ready to excel in English Literature A Level? Our expert tutors can help you develop the skills, confidence and knowledge you need to achieve top grades.
