a level english literature coursework plan

Programmes & Qualifications

Cambridge international as & a level english - literature (9695).

• Syllabus overview

Learners following the Cambridge International AS and A Level English syllabus will study a range of texts in the three main forms: prose, poetry and drama. Set texts are offered from a wide range of different periods and cultures.

Learners will develop skills of reading and analysis of texts, and are encouraged to undertake wider reading to aid understanding of the texts studied. They will learn skills of effective and appropriate communication including the ability to discuss the critical context of texts.

Changes have been made to this syllabus for examination from 2021 onwards. Please see the 2021-2023 syllabus for detailed information.

The syllabus year refers to the year in which the examination will be taken.

• -->2021 - 2023 Syllabus update (PDF, 179KB)
• -->2024 - 2026 Syllabus (PDF, 523KB)

Syllabus support

• -->2023 - 2026 Grade Description A Level (PDF, 156KB)
• -->2023 - 2026 Grade Description AS Level (PDF, 149KB)
• -->Support for Literature in English (PDF, 3MB)

Syllabus updates

We worked with teachers, subject expert panels and universities around the world to update our Cambridge International AS & A Level English subject group as part of our on-going review process. Following the review, we have made some changes to Cambridge International AS & A Level Literature in English for examination in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Many teachers told us that they offer more than one English subject from this group, so we have made some changes so that the syllabuses work together regardless of whether a student is studying one or more subject from this group. To make it clearer for teachers, we have separated this syllabus (Cambridge International AS and A Level English – Literature 9695) from our other Cambridge International AS & A Level English syllabuses.

How has the syllabus changed?

Cambridge International AS & A Level Literature in English is available for examination in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

• We have updated the aims in the syllabus, but the emphasis remains the same - to encourage learners to enjoy reading a wide range of international texts and to develop their skills in Literature.
• Interpretation.
• We have updated the list of set texts in the 'Subject content' section of the syllabus.
• A list of command words has been added to the syllabus to help teaching and learning and exam preparation.

How has the assessment changed?

• We have removed optional routes through the syllabus. There are now compulsory examination components: Paper 1 and Paper 2 at AS Level, with the addition of Paper 3 and Paper 4 at A Level.
• Paper 2: The assessment of an Unseen text has been introduced to the AS level and this provides good progression from Cambridge IGCSE.
• Coursework has been removed from the syllabus. All components are now externally assessed.
• All learners will study all three forms: poetry, prose and drama at both AS and A Level. This allows students to gain a good knowledge and understanding of Literature in all forms.
• The question paper structure has changed, as have the paper titles due to the changes made to the assessment model. However, the style of questions and presentation of the questions remains consistent with the current syllabus.
• The rubrics in all of the question papers have changed. Please see the specimen papers for further information.
• The levels-based marking criteria have been updated to maintain validity and reliability of assessment.

When do these changes take place?

The updated syllabus is for examination in June and November 2021, 2022 and 2023. It is also available in March 2021, 2022 and 2023 (India only). Please see the 2021-2023 syllabus above for full details.

Coming soon

We are developing a wide range of support to help you plan and teach the 2021-2023 syllabus.

Look out for a comprehensive range of materials to help you teach the updated syllabus including a scheme of work, Example candidate responses, Learner and Teacher Guides as well as specimen paper answers. These resources will be available from April 2019 onwards (before first teaching) through our School Support Hub .

Endorsed resources

Introduce key concepts and skills for advanced level literary study and focus on developing effective writing from the start. Give students a toolkit for responding to unseen texts and exploring the set texts in depth.

Read more on the Collins website

Through exploring wide ranging texts, students will find they are building essential skills – such as the ability to write clearly and effectively, construct an argument, manage information and analyse complex pieces.

Read more on the Cambridge University Press website

Important notices

We are withdrawing Cambridge International AS & A Level Literature in English (9695) from the March exam series. The last March series for this syllabus will be March 2026. 

From 2027, we will only offer this syllabus in the June and November exam series.

We communicated this change to schools in September 2022.

Find out more about our range of English syllabuses to suit every level and ambition.

For some subjects, we publish grade descriptions to help understand the level of performance candidates’ grades represent.

We paused the publication of grade descriptions in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the temporary changes to the awarding standard in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

As the awarding standard has now returned to the pre-pandemic standard, we are working to produce up-to-date grade descriptions for most of our general qualifications. These will be based on the awarding standards in place from June 2023 onwards.

School Support Hub

Teachers at registered Cambridge schools can unlock over 30 000 teaching and learning resources to help plan and deliver Cambridge programmes and qualifications, including Schemes of work, Example candidate responses, Past papers, Specimen paper answers, as well as digital and multimedia resources.

Schemes of work

Example responses, past papers, specimen paper answers.

Register your interest in becoming a Cambridge School

Stay up to date

Sign up for updates about changes to the syllabuses you teach

• Past papers, examiner reports and specimen papers
• Published resources

English Literature Coursework Planning

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Thank you to Kat Howard, @saysmiss, whose work on curriculum planning inspired this lesson entirely. We have simply adapted her model for a different purpose!

Description

Thank you to Kat Howard, @saysmiss, whose work on curriculum planning inspired this lesson entirely. We have simply adapted her model for a different purpose! A PowerPoint to direct students through the initial planning stages of their English Literature coursework (Edexcel). Includes accompanying student note-taking sheet.

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July 10, 2020.

A-Level English Literature Guide

In A-Level by Think Student Editor October 21, 2022 Leave a Comment

A-Level English Literature can be a niche or popular subject – sometimes classes have less than 10 people, sometimes classes are full. Whether you’ve picked it for A-Level or are sitting on the fence, it can be one of the hardest subjects to get right. Think you need some help? This guide is here to help answer all your questions.

In this guide I’ll be discussing whether you should take A-Level English Literature, what the course involves and what the benefits are to taking it. Keep reading to find out more!

Table of Contents

Should you take A-Level English Literature?

Personally, I feel that A-Level English Literature is one of the most creative A-Level subjects. If you enjoyed English Literature GCSE, the chances are you’ll also enjoy English Literature A-Level.

I’d only recommended taking English Literature A-Level if you are strongly passionate about it. The workload can be intense, so if you don’t enjoy the subject, you probably won’t enjoy the A-Level course.

Most schools will hold events for future sixth form students to learn more about each subject. From these you find out more about the course the school offers, or you can ask your teachers.

Alternatively, exam board websites usually post their specifications. For example, you can find the OCR specification here .

If you know what you want to pursue beyond A-Levels, you should also consider whether English Literature A-Level is necessary for future careers. This Think Student article has information on the most respected A-Level subjects.

Alternatively, read this Think Student article if you want to read more about A-Level combinations favoured by universities.

However, if you really want to take English Literature, you should choose what you’re interested in — it will make A-Levels in general more enjoyable.

Ultimately, whether you take English Literature A-Level or not is up to you. If you have a passion for the subject or think it could help you in the future, you should definitely consider choosing it.

How hard is A-Level English Literature?

Any A-Level English Literature student will tell you that it’s not an easy A-Level . In fact, this Think Student article has a list of the top 10 hardest A-Levels to take.

However, you shouldn’t let difficulty put you off. If you achieved the GCSE grades required to take the A-Level, you’re good enough to take the subject.

I would say that A-Level English Literature is moderately difficult. What many students, including myself, like about English is that there is technically no “wrong” answer. However, this also means your knowledge has to be on-point .

Still, don’t let difficulty get you down. Your school wouldn’t let you take A-Level English Literature if they thought you couldn’t handle it. Difficulty is also subjective; what other students find hard, you may find easy.

However , if you are a few weeks into the course and you decide it isn’t for you, there will still be time to switch subjects . If you have any concerns, this Think Student article offers advice on how to know if a course is right for you.

Now that we’ve established whether A-Level English Literature is right for you, let’s look at what the A-Level actually involves.

What do you do in A-Level English Literature?

The A-Level English Literature course is different depending on which exam board your sixth form uses. Even so, most of the courses have similar structures or modules.

As I mentioned earlier, if you enjoyed your GCSE English course, you’ll probably like the A-Level course too. Keep reading to find out more about the general structure of A-Level English Literature.

Exam boards provide a list of “set texts”. This means that your school has to choose a text to study from that specific list.

Exactly which texts are chosen is entirely up to your school. Meaning that you might study a different text to someone doing the same course.

What kind of work does A-Level English Literature involve?

The literature you study will cover poetry, prose and drama, and each exam board requires an NEA (non-exam assessment) project as part of the A-Level . Across the course, you’ll be analysing texts in response to questions on specific themes, ideas, characters or events.

The kinds of questions you get can vary . Sometimes, they’ll be a statement which you’ll be asked to agree or disagree with.

As well as this, you’ll be asked open-ended questions like discussing the presentation of a particular feature. This is one of the best things about A-Level English Literature: your opinion matters!

You’ll also have a lot of new and more complex terminology to learn, to help you analyse texts. This can definitely seem daunting when you first start. Although, if English is your favourite subject, then like me, you’ll learn to love it pretty quickly!

Does A-Level English Literature involve a lot of work?

I don’t think I need to tell you that A-Level English Literature is a very essay-based subject. However, this also means that you will have lots of writing to do and you will probably get set essays regularly . Your teachers may even set you an essay every week or two.

Due to this, for English literature, the jump from GCSE to A-Level is pretty noticeable. Especially as you will generally have quite a lot of work to do. If you’re worried that you aren’t prepared enough for it, this Think Student article has tips you’ll find useful.

Like I said earlier, exactly what you do, including how much work, depends on which exam board your school has chosen. Read further to find out more about the different exam boards, and what they offer as part of A-Level English Literature.

What are the exam boards for A-Level English Literature?

All 4 English exam boards – AQA, OCR, Edexcel and Eduqas – offer A-Level English Literature as a subject. Earlier in the guide , I mentioned that each exam board offers different texts and modules.

While your specific texts will depend on your sixth form, the modules are the same for everyone under the exam board. Continue reading for more information.

What is AQA A-Level English Literature like?

AQA, unlike the other exam boards, actually offers 2 different specifications: A and B .

In specification A, there are 3 compulsory modules. These are “Love through the ages”, “Texts in shared contexts”, and “Independent critical study: Texts across time”.

In specification B, there are also 3 compulsory modules. These are “Literary genres”, “Texts and genres”, and “Theory and independence”.

The texts that are part of specification A include one Shakespeare play, one pre-1900 poetry anthology and one pre-1900 prose text in one module. As well as 3 texts (one prose, one poetry and one drama) with at least one text written post-2000 in another module.

The texts that are part of specification B include one Shakespeare play and two pre-1900 texts in one module. As well as one post-2000 prose, one poetry, and one pre-1900 text in another module. As you can see, both specifications feature similar content but divide them differently .

However, this guide can only offer you a brief overview of the A-Level course. You can find the specifications for AQA A-Level English Literature here (specification A) and here (specification B).

What is OCR A-Level English Literature like?

The OCR A-Level English Literature specification is divided into 3 sections. These are “Drama and poetry pre-1900”, “Comparative and contextual study”, and “Literature post-1900”.

The latter section is a coursework module. Some exam boards require coursework as part of A-Level English Literature, but some don’t.

In the first section, you’ll study one Shakespeare play, one pre-1900 drama and one pre-1900 poetry text. In the second section, you’ll choose one theme (from a list provided by the exam board) and two texts, with at least one text from the list provided by OCR.

The third section is a coursework module, which means you don’t sit an exam for it. Instead , you produce an essay over the course which determines a percentage of your final grade . You can find the full OCR A-Level English Literature specification here .

What is Edexcel A-Level English Literature like?

Pearson Edexcel offers 4 components as part of A-Level English Literature. These are “Drama”, “Prose”, “Poetry”, and a coursework module.

As with the components and modules of other exam boards, each module has its own exam (except for coursework). For Edexcel, the “Drama” and “Poetry” exams are 2 hours 15 minutes, and the “Prose” exam is 1 hour 15 minutes .

In “Drama”, students study one Shakespeare play and critical essays related to the play, and one other drama. In “Prose”, students study two prose texts with one text written pre-1900.

In “Poetry”, students study an anthology and a range of poetry from either a specific poet or specific period. The Pearson Edexcel specification is linked here .

What is Eduqas A-Level English Literature like?

The Eduqas English Literature A-Level specification also has 4 components. These are “Poetry”, “Drama”, “Unseen Texts”, and “Prose Study”.

The “Prose Study” component is a coursework module. All 3 Eduqas A-Level English Literature exams are 2 hours long.

In total, you’ll study two selections of poetry (pre-1900 and post-1900), a Shakespeare play, two non-Shakespeare plays (pre-1900 and post-1900), and two prose texts.

Unlike the other exam boards, Eduqas dedicates a whole module to unseen texts , so you can’t directly revise for that. If you want to read the complete specification, you can do so here .

How to do well in A-Level English Literature

Every student knows there’s no set way to do well. There are way too many changing factors to offer you a fool-proof guide to success!

However , there are definitely techniques and processes to help you secure those top grades . Continue reading for my personal advice on how to succeed in A-Level English Literature.

The best advice I received while studying A-Level English Literature is to include your work in your everyday life. This could be as simple as telling your friend about a character you liked. Alternatively, you could use a key quote in a conversation.

These things both count as revision, because it helps you remember important information. For more revision techniques, see this Think Student article.

in A-Level English Literature is to take advantage of peer review . You’ll definitely make mistakes in your work, no one is perfect!

Asking a partner, friend, or family member to read your essay is a great way to pick up on things you miss. This Think Student article has some useful advice for English literature essay writing!

How to write an English literature essay for A-Level?

Sometimes, the exam system can make it feel like you don’t have much self-expression. I know I’ve certainly felt that way.

One of the great things about essays, and English literature, is that you get to voice your own opinion in your own way . I’ll take you through some general tips on what makes a good essay.

The most important thing is to perfect your spelling and grammar as much as possible. One thing I was always told in school was that if your essay is coherent, you’re halfway to a good essay. Obviously, this is harder if English isn’t your first language, but practice makes perfect!

On top of spelling and grammar, you should make your argument as clear as possible. Teachers will often refer to this as “signposting”.

It lets examiners know exactly what you’re going to talk about. It’s also useful if you run out of time, as examiners can see what you were planning to talk about; it shows you had good ideas, you were just limited by time. For tips on how to structure an English essay, check out this Think Student article.

A third, more obvious tip is to keep your assessment objects in mind as much as possible . In your essays, it’s good to mentally check off what criteria you’ve followed. This way you can keep track of the marks you’ve achieved, and the ones you still need.

What can you do with an English literature A-Level?

Being a student who took A-Level English Literature myself, one of my biggest concerns was the pathways available to me afterwards .

English is often talked about as a subject with limited options – but don’t worry! A-Level English Literature is useful for degrees in fields like English, History, Law, Politics, Philosophy and more.

It might surprise you, but English is a subject that a lot of universities and employers like . You don’t have to want to be a writer to find English A-Level useful.

The writing skills you gain are desirable to universities and employers in a range of fields . However, if you’re still uncertain, I’d recommend researching what A-Levels you need to pursue your future degree/job.

For example, if you want to be a vet , midwife , counsellor , nurse , social worker , police officer , pilot or account , you can click on their respective links to see what A-Levels you will need.

Don’t let how useful A-Level English Literature is stop you from taking it if you really want to! The most important thing about A-Levels is that you choose the subjects you like.

From personal experience, I can tell you that if you don’t care about the subject, you won’t enjoy the A-Level. If you think A-Level English Literature is right for you, choose it!

A-level English Literature

A-level english literature edexcel online course.

The study of A-level English Literature allows us to explore some of life’s most complex topics: love, loss, loneliness, fear and happiness. In short, through the power of the written word, you’ll take a deep dive into the strengths and frailties of human emotion.

From Shakespeare to Wyatt, to Tennessee Williams and Margaret Atwood, you’ll critically examine a range of texts which sum up ‘Love Through the Ages’. You’ll become confident placing poems and novels into context, identifying historicist links and comparing and contrasting characters, themes and narrative voices.

What you will learn

Unit 1 - drama.

• Taming of the Shrew
• The Importance of Being Earnest

Unit 2 - Prose

The Supernatural

• Pre-1900: Dracula , Bram Stoker. The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde.
• Post-1900: Beloved , Toni Morrison. The Little Stranger , Sarah Waters.

Unit 3 - Poetry

• Post-2000 poetry
• The Canterbury Tales – The Wife of Bath
• Unseen poetry

Awarding Body

Edexcel is the UK’s largest awarding organisation offering academic and vocational qualifications in schools, colleges and workplaces in the UK and abroad. Edexcel is a multinational education and examination body covering  A-Level Courses  and  GCSE Courses .

Recognised through UCAS

This course carries UCAS point s. This means that it can be used to gain direct access to University courses and other Higher Education, through the UCAS system.

Course Outcome

Upon successful completion of this home learning A-level English Literature course, you will receive an A-level in English Literature, issued by Edexcel. This syllabus ( 9ET0 ) has been chosen specifically because it is best suited to distance learning. Your certificate is identical to that issued to students at any other school, college or university.

How is this course assessed or examined?

You will be required to complete the three assessments for A-level English Literature:

Written Exams:

• Component 1: Drama. 30% of A-level
• Component 2: Prose. 20% of A-level.
• Component 3: Poetry. 30% of A-level

Non-Exam Assessment (NEA):

• Coursework Task: 20% of A-level.

Entry requirements

It is strongly recommended that you have studied English Literature to GCSE or equivalent level before starting this course. The syllabus is a difficulty Level Three, equivalent to an A-level or BTEC, and is usually suitable for most learners of all ages

Past Papers

You can access past papers for this course . They are free to access and cover a range of exam boards.

Find out more about the exams here .

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Why is this course right for you?

Our uniquely flexible online English Literature course means that even if you're working full-time or caring for family, you can fit learning around your busy life.

You'll broaden your literary horizons, studying a wide variety of texts within their historical and cultural contexts, including works you've chosen yourself.

You'll learn different ways of reading texts, how narratives are created, and how to apply critical ideas to poetry and prose.

Your A Level English Literature will be a stepping stone to further education, a fulfilling career - and a better future.

Course Details for A Level English Literature

Entry requirements.

You don’t need any previous qualifications to take this course, but a C in GCSE English Literature is recommended.

You must be based in the UK in order to enrol and sit your exams.

If English is your second language, we recommend you have an IELTS 5.5 or equivalent, but we’re happy to review your case on an individual basis.

Course Content

This online course will teach you the AQA English Literature A Level specification (7712).

You'll study the following texts, plus some of your own choice:

• Othello by Shakespeare
• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Skirrid Hill by Owen Sheers
• All My Sons by Arthur Miller 
• Spies by Michael Frayn
• A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller 
• The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

The course is split into 3 units:

• Love through the ages
• Texts in shared contexts: Modern times: literature from 1945 to the present day
• Texts across time

For full details of what you’ll learn on each unit, download our A Level English Literature course guide.

A Level Exams

Please note that you’re responsible for booking your exams, and that you must be based in the UK to sit them.

You’ll arrange to sit them at a UK school or college roughly 6 months before your chosen exam date.

There are 2 exams for the AQA English Literature A Level specification (7712):

• Paper 1: Love through the ages
• Paper 2: Texts in shared contexts: Modern times: literature from 1945 to the present day

One piece of coursework will also count towards your final grade:

• Written coursework: Texts across time

As an approved AQA centre, we'll supervise, authenticate and mark your coursework. You'll sit your exams at your chosen exam centre.

Your coursework fees of £169.75 are additional to the course cost. You'll also pay exam centre fees directly to your chosen exam centre.

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That's why every year, we help thousands of students like you get the A Levels they need to succeed.

Is this the same A Level qualification I'd get in school?

Yes, it’s exactly the same.

You’ll sit the same A Level English Literature exams at the same time as all the other students in the UK, and you’ll receive the same results, transcript and qualification.

Your A Level will be accepted by universities, colleges and employers worldwide, exactly as if you'd studied in school or college.

Your qualification is accredited by AQA, the largest A Level awarding body. They set and mark the exams for around half of all A Levels taken in the UK each year.

When can I start my course?

Right away! There’s no need to wait until September to enrol – you can begin your course at any time.

Once you enrol, you’ll be able to log in to your course and get started by the next working day.

What will I need to study this course?

You must source the set texts for this course. Many can be found cheaply second-hand, or for free online.

The recommended editions are:

• Othello, Shakespeare (Arden, Third Series) ISBN 978-1903436455
• The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald (Penguin Modern Classics, 2000), ISBN 9780141182636
• Skirrid Hill, by Owen Sheers (Seren, 2005), ISBN 978-1854114037
• All My Sons, Arthur Miller (Penguin Modern Classics, 2009) ISBN 978-0141189970
• Spies, Michael Frayn (Faber and Faber, 2011) ISBN 978-0571268856
• A View from the Bridge, Arthur Miller (Penguin Modern Classics, 2010, introduction from the author and Philip Seymour Hoffman) ISBN 978-0141189963
• The Yellow Wallpaper, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, from The Yellow Wallpaper and Selected Writings, (Virago), ISBN 978-1844085583

How will I be supported?

• Unlimited support
• 24/7 access to the Student Community, your all-in-one online learning platform
• Interactive online learning broken down into easy-to-follow units
• Practice tests and mock exams marked by your tutor
• Student forums so you can connect and share advice with other English students
• Friendly student services team, so you’re never more than a message or phone call away from a helping hand

You'll also have unlimited lifetime access to our Career Hub, giving you thousands of resources to help you impress employers, master critical business skills, and build your dream career. It includes:

• A CV and cover letter builder
• An interview simulator
• An elevator pitch builder
• Career and work psychology assessments
• In-depth industry and employer profiles
• 350+ employer films with practical advice from hiring managers
• 1000+ short courses, articles and videos on key career skills like negotiating a raise and leading a team

You can take a sneak peek at the Career Hub by signing up for free  here .§

How do I book my exam?

Roughly 6 months before your chosen exam date, you should book your place at an exam centre to take the AQA English Literature A Level specification (7712)   exam.

Your exam centre could be a school or college that's also submitting its own students for the exam, or it could be a private exam centre. Our partner centre,  Tutors & Exams , offers various discounts to ICS Learn students and has nine exam venues across the UK, including: Belfast, Bolton, Coventry, Doncaster, High Wycombe, Romford, St Neots, Taunton and Wimbledon.

AQA publish  a list of exam centres  that may accept private candidates. This won’t cover every available centre, so if there’s nothing shown in your area, we recommend contacting local schools and colleges directly.

Please note that you can't sit AQA A Level exams outside the UK.

Your exam fees aren’t included in the course cost as they’re paid directly to the exam centre. They’ll vary depending on which centre you choose.

How do I enrol?

If you’d like to pay in full, you can enrol online using the ‘Add to Basket’ button at the top of the page.

If you’d like to set up an interest-free* payment plan, get in touch with our A Level Advisors on 0800 015 3326. You can also verify that your course is budget-friendly when you use our handy affordability calculator . 

If you have any disabilities which you think might affect your studies or assessments, please tell your Course Advisor before you enrol so we can advise you on whether reasonable adjustments can be made to accommodate your needs.

What is a Student Course Summary?

Student Course Summaries are monthly reports we create (per subject) for both students and parents who want to remain in the know with any of the following throughout their course: 

• Access History: tells you how many days within the month the student has logged in and how many days they've viewed the course. 
• Submitted Assignments/Mock Exams: documents what assignments have been submitted, as well as when it was submitted, how many times the assignment has been attempted, and what grade they received. 
• Help Requests: this will show the correspondence between the student and the tutor, any questions that have been asked and what the tutor's response was. 
• Course News Forum: this is where students and parents can find Tutor Comments and updates on things such as Live Webinar sessions, or exam booking info.

The fee for this monthly report is a one-off price, no matter how many courses a student is enrolled in, and the fee can be integrated into your flexible payment plan. Keep in mind, however, that this fee is entirely separate from the multibuy discount. 

How can I pay for my course?

If you’re funding the course yourself , our flexible 0% payment plans* allow you to spread the cost with interest-free* monthly instalments. 

If your employer is funding all or part of your course , we can invoice them directly for your course fees – just let your course advisor know and we’ll arrange everything.

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† Pass rate based on all ICS Learn A Level English Literature students' results in 2023.

• A Level English Literature

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