This update was first published on 28 May 2026. We've now published the updated drama and poetry pre-1900: selected poems teacher guide on our website and Teach Cambridge. See below for details.

Following a review of our AS and A Level English Literature qualifications, we are updating the set texts for first teach September 2027. See below for details.

AS Level English Literature H072/01

For AS Level English Literature H072, Component 01: Shakespeare and poetry pre-1900, the current set texts will be assessed until June 2027.

The new set texts for first teach September 2027 are listed below:

Pre-1900 poetry set texts 

• Geoffrey Chaucer, The Franklin’s Prologue and Tale 
• John Milton, Paradise Lost Books 1 & 2 
• Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Selected Poems  
• John Clare, Selected Poems 
• Christina Rossetti, Selected Poems (list of selected poems updated)

For these AS Level set texts, the first assessment is June 2028. 

A Level English Literature H472/01

For A Level English Literature H472, Component 01: Drama and poetry pre-1900, the current set texts will be assessed until June 2028.

The new set texts for first teach September 2027 are listed below: 

Pre-1900 drama set texts 

• Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus 
• John Webster, The Duchess of Malfi 
• Aphra Behn, The Rover 
• Henrik Ibsen, A Doll’s House 
• Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest

Pre-1900 poetry set texts 

• Geoffrey Chaucer, The Franklin’s Prologue and Tale 
• John Milton, Paradise Lost Books 1 & 2 
• Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Selected Poems  
• John Clare, Selected Poems 
• Christina Rossetti, Selected Poems (list of selected poems updated)

For these A Level set texts, the first assessment is June 2029.

Amended specifications

To reflect these changes, we have amended the following specifications: 

• AS Level English Literature H072 – see pages 6 and 18 
• A Level English Literature H472 – see pages 6 and 35–6

You can view and download the specification from the AS and A Level English Literature qualification pages on our website and Teach Cambridge.

Updated teacher guide

To support teachers, we've updated the following teacher guide for first teach September 2027:

Drama and poetry pre-1900: selected poems (Barrett Browning, Clare and Rossetti).

You can download this from the Planning and teaching > Teacher guides section of the qualification web page. It's also available from the Teaching > Teaching delivery > Teaching and delivery guide section of Teach Cambridge. 

If you have any queries about this update, please call our Customer Support Centre on 01223 553998, or email us at [email protected]. 

Qualification

• English Literature - H072, H472 (from 2015)