What the Specification Covers
The AQA ALevel English Language and English Literature specifications are designed to develop students analytical, critical and creative skills. While the two subjects share a focus on close reading and written expression, each has its own aims, content and assessment structure.
English Language Specification
Core Aim
The Language course aims to enable students to:
- Analyse how language creates meaning, identity and power.
- Produce coherent, purposeful written texts for different audiences.
- Evaluate the impact of language choices in a range of contexts.
Content Overview
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Language in Context | Study of spoken and written discourse, media language, and language change. |
| Writing | Creative and transactional writing narrative, descriptive, persuasive and explanatory. |
| Language Development | Historical development of English, dialects, and sociolinguistic issues. |
Key Skills Developed
- Close textual analysis using terminology such as metaphor, register, and cohesion.
- Comparative analysis of texts from different periods or genres.
- Planning and editing written pieces with a clear purpose, audience and structure.
The Language specification continually updates to reflect contemporary communication, so students often engage with digital media, podcasts and online commentaries.
English Literature Specification
Core Aim
The Literature course is designed to develop a deep appreciation of literary art, encouraging students to:
- Interpret meaning, form and context in a range of written works.
- Discuss how literary techniques shape readers responses.
- Construct wellstructured, evidencebased essays.
Core Texts (20242025)
AQA requires students to study one text from each of four categories. The list may change, but the current core set includes:
- Shakespeare Macbeth or Hamlet
- 19thcentury novel Jane Eyre (Bronte) or Great Expectations (Dickens)
- Poetry a collection covering at least one Romantic poet (e.g., Wordsworth) and one Modern poet (e.g., Sylvia Plath)
- Contemporary drama or prose options such as An Inspector Calls (OliveHunt) or a modern novel like Never Let Me Go (Kazuo Ishiguro)
Assessment Components
- Component 1 Written Examination (Paper 1): Directed study of one preseen text.
- Component 2 Written Examination (Paper 2): Comparative essay on two unseen texts.
- Component 3 Written Coursework: Critical essay on a text studied in depth (optional for some centres).
Typical Topics Explored
- Theme and ideology power, gender, class.
- Form and structure narrative voice, dramatic tension, stanzaic patterns.
- Language and style imagery, symbolism, diction.
- Contextual influences historical, biographical, cultural.
Assessment Overview for Both Subjects
English Language
| Component | Weight | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 Language in Context | 30% | Four sections: analysis of spoken text, written text, media extract and language change. |
| Paper 2 Writing | 30% | Two pieces: one creative (fiction/poetry) and one transactional (letter, article, speech). |
| Paper 3 Language Development | 40% | Study of English language evolution, sociolinguistics and a comparative analysis of two texts. |
English Literature
| Component | Weight | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 Directed Study | 30% | Essay on one preseen text (focus on theme, structure, language). |
| Paper 2 Comparative Essay | 30% | Compare two unseen texts (often one prose, one poetry). |
| Component 3 Coursework (optional) | 40% | Extended critical essay on a chosen text, using secondary sources. |
All written work is assessed against a clearly defined mark scheme that rewards depth of insight, relevance of evidence, and coherence of argument.
Helpful Resources for Students
- Official AQA Specification (PDF)
- Past papers and mark schemes available on the AQA website.
- Online databases: JSTOR, Project MUSE for scholarly articles on literary texts.
- Study guides AQA ALevel English Language & Literature Revision Guides (Oxford, Cambridge).
- Teaching videos BBC Bitesize, Khan Academy Analyzing Language series.
Effective revision strategies include creating a textual evidence bank for each core text, practising timed essay writing, and peerreviewing drafts to improve clarity.
