What If You Fail GCSE English Literature But Pass Language?

If you’re feeling anxious because you've failed English Literature, don’t panic. Of course, it’s normal for students to worry about failing a subject. The good news is that you don’t need to pass both English GCSE Language and Literature to move forward with your education. We’ll go through this in more detail to set your mind at rest. We’ll also explain how and why you might resit the exam. 

Key Takeaways

• You don't need to retake English Literature – only English Language is required for most sixth forms, colleges, and future opportunities

• English Language is a core subject – this is the qualification employers and universities look for when checking your English skills

• You can still get into college and sixth form – most places only require a grade 4 or above in English Language, not Literature

• Failing Literature won't stop you studying A Level English – many colleges will let you take A Level English Literature even if you didn't pass the GCSE, as long as you've got a good Language grade

Why Students Worry About Failing English Literature

Here's what confuses lots of people: English Language and English Literature are two completely different qualifications. They are two separate subjects, and there are key differences between them. 

For example:

• English Language tests you on unseen reading, writing, and a variety of non-fiction and fiction texts - this is why it’s a core subject. 

• English Literature is all about studying novels, plays, and poetry in detail.

GCSE English Language is the subject you’ll need to pass.  English Literature is considered an extra GCSE, like History or Geography. 

Do You Have to Retake GCSE English Literature?

No, you don't have to retake English Literature if you've passed English Language.

The national curriculum (opens in a new tab) (decided by the government) only requires students to pass GCSE English Language (and maths) with a grade 4 (opens in a new tab) or above. There's no legal requirement to resit GCSE English Literature at all. This means:

• If you got a grade 4 or higher in English Language, you've met the basic requirement

• Colleges and sixth forms won't make you retake Literature during your A Levels or vocational courses

When might you consider resitting Literature?:

• If you specifically want to improve that grade

• If you’re taking the English Baccalaureate (opens in a new tab)

• To boost your overall GCSE results

• You're applying for a course that asks for it

Impact on College and Sixth Form Applications

When you're applying to sixth form or college, here's what most places actually ask for:

Standard entry requirements usually include:

• Grade 4 or above in English Language

• Grade 4 or above in maths

• Three to five other GCSEs at grade 4 or above

If you want to take A Level English Literature or A Level English Language, check with your school or sixth form. Some may ask for a Grade 5 in English Language. 

Real-world examples:

Most sixth form colleges accept students with just English Language. Whether you're applying to study sciences, business, health and social care, or even creative subjects, they'll check your GCSE English Language grade.

Some competitive sixth forms might look at your overall GCSE profile, including English Literature, but they still won't reject you just because you failed it – especially if your other grades are solid. Vocational courses (like BTECs or T Levels) almost never mention English Literature in their entry requirements. They want to know you can read and write to a good standard. This is demonstrated by a pass in GCSE English Language.

The bottom line: if you fail GCSE English Literature but pass English Language, you’ll generally be able to take A Levels. 

What Universities Think: English Language vs Literature

While GCSEs are important, they don't directly contribute to your UCAS points. When you apply to university, the standard entry requirement for GCSE English is a grade 4 (or sometimes grade 5 for competitive courses) in English Language, not English Literature. 

Here's why:

• Universities want to know you can write essays, understand academic texts, and communicate clearly

• English Language proves you’re able to read and write effectively, as well as analyse, summarise, and evaluate unseen material

• English Literature shows you can analyse poetry, plays, and novels, which is not essential for most degrees

The exception: If you're applying to study English Literature at university level, admissions tutors will look at whether you took it at GCSE and A Level. But even then, some universities are flexible – they know that not all schools offer Literature GCSE, or that students sometimes drop it, or change their mind.

For every other subject – from medicine to engineering to psychology – universities won't consider your GCSE English Literature grade. Your English Language grade is what goes on your UCAS form.

Can You Still Study A Level English Literature?

Yes, you absolutely can! This surprises lots of students, but it's true. As an A Level English Literature teacher, I’ve had many students without GCSE English Literature join my course.  The reason? GCSE English Language is a good foundation for the skills you’ll need for any A Level. Of course, it will help to have passed GCSE English Literature if you want to study it at A Level, but it shouldn’t hold you back. As I’ve told any querying students who’ve come my way: if you’ve got the will, there’s a way!

Most sixth forms and colleges have these requirements for A Level English Literature:

• Grade 5 or 6 in GCSE English Language

• A genuine interest in reading and analysing texts

• A good reason for taking English Literature

It’s worth noting that some schools and sixth forms may ask for a grade 5 in both English Literature and Language, so it’s always best to check with your preferred course. 

What you might need to do:

• Have a chat with the subject teacher during your college interview

• Show enthusiasm for reading and be willing to catch up on any gaps

• Be prepared to work a bit harder at the start if you're less familiar with Literature analysis

Some colleges run bridging courses or summer schools to help students who didn't take Literature GCSE (or didn't pass it) get up to speed before starting the A Level. A Level English Literature requires a fair amount of independent reading and essay writing, so you may need to brush up on these skills. 

Next Steps If You Need or Want to Resit

If you do decide that resitting GCSE English Literature is right for you, here's what you need to know:

When can you retake?

• Generally, you’ll resit GCSE English Literature the following summer, usually exams are in May

• You'll need to register through a school or college

  • Ask your exam officer about this

• You might plan to resit independently

  • In this case, you’ll sign up as a private candidate at an exam centre

How resits work:

• You can resit as many times as you want

• Your highest grade counts – the resit doesn't replace your original grade unless it's better

• You'll need to retake the exams for all papers 

Exam boards vary in the way they deliver their courses. You can find out exactly how many GCSE English Literature papers there are once you know which exam board you’re doing. 

A quick guide? 

• There are two papers for AQA, Edexcel Pearson, OCR or WJEC/Eduqas

• CIE Cambridge IGCSE has 4 exam papers

Revision tips:

• Reread your set texts carefully

  • Knowing the text well is really important

  • Instead of learning hundreds of quotes, learn key references by considering how theme and character develops as the plot progresses

• Use free resources

  • We have expert tips on how to write a GCSE English Literature essay

  • Learn about writers’ methods, plots, and characterisations on your specific texts with our English Literature revision notes

• Identify what went wrong last time – look at your previous papers and work out where you lost marks

• Join a study group or get a tutor – sometimes explaining ideas to others helps them stick in your brain

Remember, resitting takes time and effort, but if you’re keen on passing GCSE English Literature, you can do it with a bit of targeted revision and plenty of practice essays. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get into college if I fail English Literature?

Yes, you can. As long as you've passed GCSE English Language with at least a grade 4, you'll meet the entry requirements for the vast majority of sixth forms, colleges, and vocational courses. English Literature is seen as an additional GCSE subject, not a requirement.

Do I have to pass both English Language and Literature?

No. You only need to pass GCSE English Language to meet government requirements and move forward with your education. If you fail GCSE English Literature but pass Language, it won't hold you back from college, apprenticeships, or most careers.

Is English Language more important than Literature?

Essentially, yes. GCSE English Language is a core qualification that proves you can read, write, and communicate effectively. It's what employers, colleges, and universities check when they look at your English skills. English Literature is valuable if you want to study English further, but it's not a must-have for everyone.

Final Thoughts

So, if you fail GCSE English Literature but pass Language, here's the truth: it really doesn't define your future. As long as you've passed GCSE English Language, you've got the qualification that will get you into college, allow you to apply to university, start an apprenticeship, or build the career you want.

Still, if you do want to improve your GCSE English Literature grade, you can resit next summer. 

The most important thing is to focus on what's right for you. Whether you plan on going to sixth form, college, or doing something else entirely, remember, you've got plenty of options. The good news? Your GCSE English Literature grade is not going to hold you back! 

References: 

National Curriculum (opens in a new tab) 

OFQUAL GCSE grade scale (opens in a new tab) 

Dept for Education English Baccalaureate guidance (opens in a new tab)