AS/A Level GCE (for first teaching in 2008) English Literature - H071 H471

A Level English Literature – A change for the better

QCA's decision to revise A Levels has given us a great opportunity to make further improvements to our popular GCE English qualifications.

OCR's commitment to providing strong but accessible qualifications can be seen in how we have interpreted QCA's stipulation that 'Wider critical reading is a requirement in the English Literature subject criteria'.

The OCR specification (PDF, 436 Kb) allows learners to use extracts of critical works to complement their set text reading, rather than having to read them in their entirety which is different to other GCE English specifications.

The advantage is that teachers and learners can refer to a range of extracts from one or more critical works in addition to the set text reading as appropriate to the programmes of study.

We've had positive feedback from teachers who tell us that this will alleviate the burden on learners faced with the QCA minimum requirements in respect of set texts reading, and enrich the breadth of learning from complementary critical works to support literary analysis.

Learners will benefit from the opportunity for wider reading of critical texts in a way that is reasonable and manageable.

As with all of the changes to A Levels, we've been talking to teachers, heads of departments, local authority advisors, subject experts and examiners to make sure that the new specifications, support materials and schemes of work fit the QCA demands and respond to what you've been telling us you need.

Come along to one of our Get Started training events (PDF, 450 Kb) and learn more about how this new suite of English qualifications can inspire you and your learners.