AQA A-level English Literature A (7712)
Exam structure at a glance for AQA A-level English Literature A: every paper with its time, marks and weighting, plus the facts and links you need.
- Board
- AQA
- Specification code
- 7712
- Level
- A level
- First teaching
- 2015
- First exams
- 2017
- Exam papers
- 2 · 5 h 30 min in total
- Last checked
- 2026-10-20
Plan the whole year: open this course in the Year Planner – every lesson dated around your term dates, with a coverage check. Free.
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Papers and weightings
| Paper | Time | Marks | Weight | What it is (our summary) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: Love through the ages | 3 h | 75 | 40% | Shakespeare (passage-based question with linked essay), an essay on two unseen poems, and a comparison of two texts; open book for Section C only. |
| Paper 2: Texts in shared contexts | 2 h 30 min | 75 | 40% | Option 2A (WW1 and its aftermath) or 2B (modern times, 1945 to today): a set-text essay, an unseen prose extract question and an essay linking two texts; open book. |
| Non-exam assessment: Independent critical study: texts across time Non-exam assessment | not stated | 50 | 20% | One comparative essay of 2,500 words (plus bibliography) on two texts, at least one pre-1900; teacher-marked, AQA-moderated. |
Times are exam lengths; weightings are shares of the whole qualification. Summaries are in our own words.
Good to know
- Non-exam assessment: One 2,500-word comparative essay, 50 marks, 20%.
- Set texts: open book
- Marks: Raw marks; AQA scales papers x2 and NEA x1.5 (total 375).
- AS level: 7711 – Separate AS qualification; components not stored yet. (AS marks do not count towards the A level)
Not yet confirmed by us: What changed in the 2025 re-issue (first exams 2027) is not stated on the pages read; the scheme page still mentions first exams 2017.. Check the official documents.
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.
Specification, past papers and grade boundaries
- AQA: Specification at a glance (board website)
- AQA: Specification (PDF, board website)
- AQA: Past papers and mark schemes (board website)
- AQA: Grade boundaries (board website)
Facts checked against: aqa.org.uk, aqa.org.uk.
More packs
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 long are the AQA A-level English Literature A exams?
Paper 1: 3 h; Paper 2: 2 h 30 min.