AQA AS English Literature A specification (7711)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your AQA AS English Literature A exam. It lays out exactly what you need to learn, how you'll be assessed, and what skills the examiners seek. Whether you're working through the course for the first time or revising for your final exams, the specification helps you stay focused and confident in your preparation.
We've included helpful revision tools to support you in putting the specification into practice. Wherever you're starting from, you'll find everything you need to feel prepared, from the official specification to high-quality resources designed to help you succeed.
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In the next section, you'll find a simplified summary of the official AQA AS English Literature A specification, along with a breakdown of key topics, assessment structure, and useful study resources. We've also included links to topic-level guides and revision tools to help you put the specification into practice.
Contents
Disclaimer
This page includes a summary of the official AQA AS English Literature A (7711) specification, provided to support your revision. While we've made every effort to ensure accuracy, Save My Exams is not affiliated with the awarding body.
For the most complete and up-to-date information, we strongly recommend consulting the official AQA specification PDF.
Specification overview
The AQA AS Level in English Literature A encourages students to read widely and independently, engage critically and creatively with texts, and develop literary analysis skills. The historicist approach emphasises the study of texts within their historical and literary contexts, examining how meaning is shaped over time. Students investigate key themes—particularly love—across genres and time periods, promoting personal responses, debate, and interpretive exploration. The specification enables progression from GCSE, supports co-teaching with A-level, and fosters a deep, contextual understanding of literature that prepares students for further academic study.Subject content breakdown
3.1 Love through the ages
- Study four texts: one Shakespeare play, one poetry anthology (pre- or post-1900), and two prose texts
- Explore representations of love across time and genres
- Engage with unseen prose material
Set texts: Shakespeare (choose one)
- Othello
- The Taming of the Shrew
- Measure for Measure
- The Winter’s Tale
Set texts: Poetry (choose one)
- AQA anthology of love poetry through the ages: pre-1900
- AQA anthology of love poetry through the ages: post-1900
Set texts: Prose (choose two)
- Persuasion – Jane Austen
- Jane Eyre – Charlotte Brontë
- Wuthering Heights – Emily Brontë
- The Awakening – Kate Chopin
- The Rotters’ Club – Jonathan Coe
- The Mill on the Floss – George Eliot
- Tess of the D’Urbervilles – Thomas Hardy
- The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald
- A Room with a View – E.M. Forster
- The Go-Between – L.P. Hartley
- Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier
- Atonement – Ian McEwan
Assessment structure
Paper 1: Love through the ages: Shakespeare and Poetry
- 1 hour 30 minutes, 50 marks
- Closed book
- Section A: One passage-based question with linked essay (25 marks)
- Section B: One question on printed poem (25 marks)
- Worth 50% of AS Level
Paper 2: Love through the ages: Prose
- 1 hour 30 minutes, 50 marks
- Open book
- Section A: One compulsory question on unseen prose extract (25 marks)
- Section B: One comparative essay on two prose texts (25 marks)
- Worth 50% of AS Level
Key tips for success
Doing well in your AQA AS English Literature A isn't just about how much you study, but how you study. Here are a few proven tips to help you stay on track
- Start with a clear plan: Break the subject into topics and create a revision schedule that allows enough time for each. Start early to avoid last-minute stress.
- Focus on understanding, not memorising: Use our revision notes to build a strong foundation in each topic, making sure you actually understand the material.
- Practise regularly: Attempt past papers to familiarise yourself with the exam format and timing. Mark your answers to see how close you are to full marks.
- Be strategic with your revision: Use exam questions by topic to focus on weaker areas, and flashcards to reinforce important facts and terminology.
- Learn from mistakes: Whether it's from mock exams or practice questions, spend time reviewing what went wrong and why. This helps prevent repeat mistakes in the real exam.
- Stay balanced: Don't forget to take regular breaks, eat well, and get enough sleep, a healthy routine makes revision much more effective.
With the right approach and consistent practice, you'll build confidence and improve your chances of exam success.
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