AS/A Level GCEEnglish Literature - H071, H471

The QCA subject criteria requires that candidates study 12 texts during the course of a full A Level.

There is a balance between set texts on the examined units and more freedom of choice on the coursework units. You can choose your own texts for the coursework units, or if you wish use the suggestions provided in the coursework guidance document.

OCR offers a Coursework Consultancy Service, which means that you can check your selections and topics with experienced examiners before starting teaching. If you would rather, you can follow the suggestions for texts and topics provided in the Coursework Guidance document.

In some instances. There have been changes to the set text list in line with the new QCA subject criteria and centre feedback. Set texts lists are provided for the 2 examined units. If you wish, you can chose your own texts for study in the coursework units, which providing they meet the unit requirements, may allow you to continue to teach texts that don't appear elsewhere in the specification. Please refer to the full specification for a list of set texts for the examined units.

Yes. Coursework requirements reflect the QCA subject criteria. Coursework is compulsory at AS (40% AS, 20% A Level) and at A2 (20%).

Coursework Guidance documents for the AS and A2 coursework units are available with other support materials on the GCE English Literature section of the website.

In line with centre feedback the OCR specification groups texts and divides units by time periods. These periods are set out by QCA in the subject criteria as:

• 1300-1800
• Shakespeare
• 1800-1945
• post-1990

In unit F661, Section B: Prose, study of the chosen text must be complemented by study of a literary-critical text, such as the ones recommended on page 12 of the specification.
It is acceptable for candidates to study extracts from one or more texts, rather than studying one text in its entirety. Study of the 'complementary' text will not be tested in a separate task, but candidates will be expected to demonstrate understanding of basic literary-critical concepts and approaches, as presented in these texts.

Yes. OCR will still offer this highly valued service for all customers.

Our Consultants are experienced, senior moderators, who can provide further guidance on any aspect of coursework, including:

• The requirements of the AS and A2 units
• Task setting

You can get in touch with your Coursework Consultant for the current OCR English Literature Specification by following this link.

It is rare for specifications to be amended, but in some instances changes are made to help clarify requirements. The most up-to-date versions of specifications can be accessed from the OCR website.

Yes. In response to centre demand, OCR will be publishing past papers for live specifications on the website. These will be free of charge. Question papers from the latest series will be available to download from OCR Interchange only.

OCR is working in partnership with individual publishers for different subject groups. Comprehensive resources are being developed by these Publishing Partners and others to support the specification and complement the support available from OCR.

Schemes of work and lesson plans can be downloaded for each qualifcation. The materials are available in PDF format, and  Word format. Teachers can adapt the materials for their own use.

Yes, the A* grade is calculated arithmetically based on the units used for aggregation, irrespective of whether or not they are re-sits.