OCR AS English Literature specification (H072)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your OCR AS English Literature 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 OCR AS English Literature 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 OCR AS English Literature (H072) 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 OCR specification PDF.
Specification overview
The OCR AS Level in English Literature encourages learners to read widely, engage creatively and analytically with literary texts, and develop critical awareness of context and interpretation. Building on GCSE skills, the course deepens understanding of prose, poetry and drama across historical periods, with at least one pre-1900 text. It fosters independent thinking, fluent written communication, and the use of literary concepts. Designed to be co-teachable with A Level, it supports learners in exploring connections across texts and understanding literature as a dynamic discipline:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.Subject content breakdown
Component 01: Shakespeare and poetry pre-1900
- Study one Shakespeare play:
- For assessment until 2025: Coriolanus, Hamlet, Measure for Measure, Richard III, The Tempest, Twelfth Night
- For assessment from 2026: Hamlet, King Lear, Othello, Richard III, The Taming of the Shrew, The Tempest
- Study one pre-1900 poetry text:
- Geoffrey Chaucer: The Merchant’s Prologue and Tale
- John Milton: Paradise Lost Books 9 & 10
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge: Selected Poems
- Alfred, Lord Tennyson: Maud
- Christina Rossetti: Selected Poems
- Develop critical and creative engagement with texts, including extract analysis and whole-text connections
- Demonstrate understanding of language, structure, form, context and interpretations
Component 02: Drama and prose post-1900
- Study one post-1900 drama text:
- Noel Coward: Private Lives
- Tennessee Williams: A Streetcar Named Desire
- Harold Pinter: The Homecoming
- Alan Bennett: The History Boys
- Polly Stenham: That Face
- Jez Butterworth: Jerusalem
- Study one post-1900 prose text:
- F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby
- Angela Carter: The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories
- George Orwell: Nineteen Eighty-Four
- Virginia Woolf: Mrs Dalloway
- Mohsin Hamid: The Reluctant Fundamentalist
- Explore cultural and contextual influences and make thematic links with unseen material
Assessment structure
Shakespeare and poetry pre-1900 (Component 01)
- Written paper: 1 hour 30 minutes, 60 marks
- Closed text
- Section 1: One essay question on a Shakespeare play
- Section 2: One essay on a printed poem/extract linked to the wider poetry text
- Assesses AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4, AO5
- Worth 50% of AS Level
Drama and prose post-1900 (Component 02)
- Written paper: 1 hour 45 minutes, 60 marks
- Closed text
- Section 1: One essay question on a drama text
- Section 2: One comparative question on a prose text and unseen extract
- Assesses AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4, AO5
- Worth 50% of AS Level
Key tips for success
Doing well in your OCR AS English Literature 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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