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.

We are also updating the teacher guides and anthologies for components H072/01 and H472/01. We will provide links once these resources are available on Teach Cambridge. 

If you have any queries about this update, please call our Customer Support Centre on 01223 553998, or email us at english@ocr.org.uk. 

Qualification

• English Literature - H072, H472 (from 2015)