A-level English Literature: texts, coursework and exams
What you read in A-level English Literature, the 20% coursework, how each board examines it, and why it is valued for so many degrees.
A-level English Literature is a classic essay subject, valued for law, history, journalism and any degree that needs close reading and argument. It had around 36,000 entries in 2026, a number that has been falling. Every board includes Shakespeare, drama, poetry and prose from different periods, plus a coursework essay.
What you study
- Shakespeare and other drama.
- Poetry, including poetry before 1900.
- Prose fiction, including a novel before 1900.
- Unseen texts, in some specifications.
- A coursework essay comparing texts of your choice (non-exam assessment).
The exact topics depend on the exam board your school or college uses, so check its specification.
How it is examined
Like all reformed A-levels, it is a linear two-year course: you sit all the exams at the end of Year 13, and an AS taken along the way does not count towards the A-level.
| Exam board | Code | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| AQA A | 7712 | Two exams (3 hours and 2½ hours) plus coursework. |
| AQA B | 7717 | Two exams plus coursework, organised by literary genre. |
| Pearson Edexcel | 9ET0 | Three exams plus coursework. |
| OCR | H472 | Two exams plus coursework. |
Coursework: Yes: a coursework essay worth 20% of the A-level. Calculator: Not needed.
Grades and how hard it is
In summer 2026, 36,196 students took A-level English Literature in the UK. 9.3% were awarded an A* and 24.9% an A* or A, compared with about 28% across all A-levels in England. See how subjects compare in the hardest and easiest A-levels.
Entry requirements: Usually a grade 6 in English Literature or English Language.
Where it can lead
A-level English Literature is useful for english, law, history, journalism, publishing, teaching, marketing and the civil service.
Goes well with: History, a modern language, Politics, Religious Studies, Drama.
Work out what your predicted grades are worth with our UCAS points calculator.
Tips for doing well
- Read your set texts more than once, early.
- Read critics and context, but keep your own argument central.
- Plan and draft your coursework carefully: it is a fifth of your grade.
Questions people ask
Is A-level English Literature hard?
It needs a lot of reading and well-argued essays. In 2026, 24.9% of entries got an A* or A.
English Literature or English Language?
Literature focuses on novels, plays and poems; Language studies how English works and is used. Literature is more often asked for by English degrees.
Is there coursework?
Yes, every board includes a coursework essay worth 20% of the A-level.
