A level English literature: Exam Structure by Board
Your Teacher Information Pack for A level English literature: how it is assessed for each board, key dates for summer 2027, and links to specifications, past papers and grade boundaries.
Learn how – Exam course packs: watch the 1-minute video · print (PDF) · also Teacher Information Packs
- Qualification
- A level (linear, two years)
- Years
- Year 12 and Year 13
- Ages
- 16–18
- Boards covered
- AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, WJEC Eduqas
- Entries 2026 (England)
- 32,890 (no. 11 A level by entries)
- Last checked
- 2026-10-20
Entries: Ofqual provisional entries, summer 2026 (rounded to the nearest 5).
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Exam structure by board
Pick your board to see every paper with its length, marks and weighting, plus practicals, booklets and links.
AQA A-level English Literature A (7712)
First taught 2015 · first exams 2017
| Paper | Time | Marks | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: Love through the ages | 3 h | 75 | 40% |
| Paper 2: Texts in shared contexts | 2 h 30 min | 75 | 40% |
| Non-exam assessment: Independent critical study: texts across time Non-exam assessment | not stated | 50 | 20% |
AQA A-level English Literature B (7717)
First taught 2015 · first exams 2017
| Paper | Time | Marks | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: Literary genres | 2 h 30 min | 75 | 40% |
| Paper 2: Texts and genres | 3 h | 75 | 40% |
| Non-exam assessment: Theory and independence Non-exam assessment | not stated | 50 | 20% |
Pearson Edexcel A level English Literature (9ET0)
First taught 2015 · first exams 2017
| Paper | Time | Marks | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Component 1: Drama | 2 h 15 min | 60 | 30% |
| Component 2: Prose | 1 h 15 min | 40 | 20% |
| Component 3: Poetry | 2 h 15 min | 60 | 30% |
| Coursework: Comparative essay Non-exam assessment | not stated | 60 | 20% |
Full Pearson Edexcel pack · specification on the Pearson Edexcel website
OCR A Level English Literature (H472)
First taught 2015 · first exams 2017
| Paper | Time | Marks | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Component 01: Drama and poetry pre-1900 | 2 h 30 min | 60 | 40% |
| Component 02: Comparative and contextual study | 2 h 30 min | 60 | 40% |
| Component 03: Literature post-1900 Non-exam assessment | not stated | 40 | 20% |
WJEC Eduqas A level English Literature (A720QS)
First taught 2015 · first exams 2017
| Paper | Time | Marks | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Component 1: Poetry | 2 h | 120 | 30% |
| Component 2: Drama | 2 h | 120 | 30% |
| Component 3: Unseen Texts | 2 h | 80 | 20% |
| Component 4: Prose Study Non-exam assessment | not stated | 80 | 20% |
Full WJEC Eduqas pack · specification on the WJEC Eduqas website
Key dates
Summer 2027 exam series
- First exam (GCSE and A level): Mon, 10 May 2027
- Contingency day: Wed, 23 June 2027
- Special consideration deadline: Wed, 30 June 2027
A levels are linear: all exams are sat at the end of the two-year course. Source: JCQ key dates June 2027. Check each board's final timetable for paper dates and results day.
Official documents
- Grade boundaries: AQA
- Grade boundaries: Pearson Edexcel
- Grade boundaries: OCR
- Grade boundaries: WJEC Eduqas
- Past papers: AQA
- Past papers: Pearson Edexcel
- Past papers: OCR
- Past papers: WJEC Eduqas
More packs
Before this: GCSE English literature exam structure. Other Level 3 packs: A level Mathematics, A level Psychology, A level Biology, A level Chemistry, A level Economics, A level Business, A level History, A level Physics, A level Sociology, A level Art and design, A level Geography, A level Politics, A level Media, film and TV studies, A level Further mathematics, Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), Core Maths (Level 3). Find another TIP
Exam facts (paper names, times, marks, weightings, codes) are taken from each awarding body's own specification and summarised in our own words; no specification text, papers, mark schemes or booklets are reproduced. Exam details checked against the board's specification on 2026-10-20. Always check the current specification on the board's website.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (Ofqual and DfE pages on GOV.UK). Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department for Education, Ofqual, JCQ, AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR or WJEC Eduqas.
Questions teachers ask
How many exam papers are there in A level English literature?
AQA 7712: 2 exam papers plus non-exam assessment; AQA 7717: 2 exam papers plus non-exam assessment; Pearson Edexcel 9ET0: 3 exam papers plus non-exam assessment; OCR H472: 2 exam papers plus non-exam assessment; WJEC Eduqas A720QS: 3 exam papers plus non-exam assessment. Check the specification for options.