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. 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.
What is English Literature A Level?
English Literature A level is all about studying literature from different time periods.
That includes poetry, prose and drama ranging from modern creations to historical works – like Shakespeare or Chaucer.
You’ll be asked to think critically and analytically about these texts, and will be expected to be able to discuss and write about them in detail.
With that in mind, you’ll spend a lot of time reading, writing and discussing texts with your class.
Is A Level English Literature hard?
That depends on what kind of leaner 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. After all, there won’t usually be just one ‘correct’ answer.
Rather, 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.
With this in mind, if you like a structured approach to learning where there’s a right and a wrong, you might find English Literature difficult.
On the other hand, if you love reading and talking about the things you’ve read in detail, English Literature could be the perfect fit.
Data from FFT Education Datalab shows that, in 2023, 25.9% of pupils got a grade A or A* in English Literature. 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 like?
Wondering what studying English Literature at A Level might look like? Here’s the lowdown.
Learning
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.
However, you’ll also need to ‘read around’ the texts in your own time and develop your ability to write about them critically.
A Level English Literature coursework
Every exam board will have slightly different requirements. But almost all of them will require you to complete A Level English Literature coursework (as well as an exam).
This usually means writing an extended essay of around 2,000 to 3,000 words – often comparing two texts of your choice.
This is typically worth 20% of your overall grade.
English Literature exam
The format of English Literature A Level exams can vary quite a bit depending on the exam board your college uses.
However, there should be two papers to sit – each worth 40% of your overall mark.
These will consist of several essay questions, often on both seen and unseen texts.
How to pass A Level English Literature
Now you know what’s involved in English Literature A Level, it’s time to 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.
Get clued up on your exam board
Not all A Level English Literature students will get the same exam.
Instead, the content and layout of your exam will depend on which exam board you’re with. So, it’s super important to check.
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 to overcome exam fear.
Plus, you’ll be better able to prepare for the big day with targeted revision.
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.
Familiarise yourself with the assessment objectives
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.
They’ll want to see:
- That you’re able to express your own thoughts, feelings and ideas about the texts clearly and accurately
- That you’re skilled at examining the techniques and elements used to create meaning in the texts
- That you understand how contexts influence the way texts are written and received
- That you can explore connections between literary texts
- That you can use different perspectives and understandings to explore the texts
Go through each assessment objective and make sure you’re confident demonstrating your skills to the examiners.
Start your A Level English Literature revision early
It’s never too early to start revising for A Level English Literature.
In fact, 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.
Know the texts inside out
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.
Rather, you’ll need to revisit them several times, focusing in on pivotal themes, sections, characters and quotes.
But remember, it’s not enough just to be familiar with the text’s themes, quotes and characters. You’ll 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.
Be original
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.
But don’t be fooled into thinking you don’t have to back up your ideas with information.
Rather, you’ll need to support your arguments with evidence – from quotes to 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.
Attempt past papers
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.
And secondly, attempting past papers under timed conditions will help you to 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…
Ask for English Literature A Level help
You don’t win extra points for preparing for your English Literature A Level without help.
Rather, it’s wise to take all the help 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!
Is English Literature A Level good to have?
English Literature is a great A Level to have.
Because this A Level encourages critical thinking and strong written communication skills, it’s respected by both university degree courses and employers.
In fact, it can be useful in careers ranging from journalism to law, marketing to teaching and even politics.
It 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 humanity subjects like history and philosophy. But it also complements scientific A Levels like biology or chemistry.
After all, pairing these more mathematical subjects with a subject that relies heavily on essay-writing skills shows that you’re a well-rounded individual with diverse talents.
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
Is English Literature hard or easy?
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 hard.
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.
Why is A Level English Lit so hard?
Students who find A Level English Literature hard often dislike the fact that there isn’t one correct answer to the majority of questions and issues in this subject.
Rather, you’ll need to come up with your own original take on the question, and explore your personal reaction to the texts you study.
What is the hardest A Level subject?
A Level Maths is widely seen as the most difficult A Level subject. This is because it’s designed to be a step up from regular Maths.
That said, every student is different. So, the hardest A Level subject for one won’t be the same for another.
Do universities prefer English Literature or Language?
Which subject universities prefer will likely depend on what you’re hoping to study at university.
That said, the Russell Group universities (a group of 24 leading universities in the UK) typically view English Literature as a facilitating subject, and not English Language.
Many top universities will expect applicants to have at least one A Level in a facilitating subject.
Head over to our blog on whether English Language A Level is hard to learn more.
What are the most respected A Levels?
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 the facilitating subjects – meaning that they’re most commonly preferred by universities to get onto a range of degree courses.
Is it hard to get an A in English Literature A level?
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.
In fact, data from FFT Education Datalab shows that, in 2023, 25.9% of pupils got a grade A or A* in English Literature. This is a similar proportion to the number of students who achieved top grades across all A Level 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.
