How Many GCSE English Literature Papers Are There?

Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel

What’s assessed

• Shakespeare play

• 19th century novel

How it’s assessed

• Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes

• 64 marks

• 40% of GCSE

Questions

• Section A Shakespeare: you will answer one question on the play you have studied. You will write in detail about an extract from the play and then write about the play as a whole.

• Section B The 19th-century novel: you will answer one question on the novel you have studied. You will write in detail about an extract from the novel and then write about the novel as a whole.

Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry

What’s assessed

• Modern prose or drama text

• Poetry anthology

• Unseen poetry

How it’s assessed

• Written exam: 2 hours 15 minutes

• 96 marks

• 60% of GCSE

Questions

• Section A Modern texts: you will answer one essay question from a choice of two on your studied modern prose or drama text.

• Section B Poetry: you will answer one comparative question on one named poem (printed on the paper) and one other poem from your chosen anthology cluster.

• Section C Unseen poetry: you will answer one question on one unseen poem and one question comparing this poem with a second unseen poem.

Paper 1: Shakespeare and post-1914 literature

What’s assessed

• Shakespeare play

• Post-1914 novel

How it’s assessed

• Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes

• 80 marks

• 50% of GCSE

Questions

• Section A Shakespeare: you will answer a two-part question, with the first task focused on an extract of approximately 30 lines. The second task is focused on how a theme reflected in the extract is explored elsewhere in the play.

• Section B Post-1914 British play or novel: you will answer one essay question based on your studied modern prose or drama text.

Paper 2: 19th-century novel and poetry since 1789

What’s assessed

• 19th-century novel

• Poetry anthology

How it’s assessed

• Written exam: 2 hours 15 minutes

• 80 marks

• 50% of GCSE

Questions

Section A: 19th-century novel: you will answer a two part question, with the first part focused on an extract of approximately 400 words. The second part is an essay question exploring the whole text.

Section B: Poetry anthology: In part one, you will answer one question comparing a named poem from the Pearson Poetry Anthology collection to another poem from that collection. In part two, you will answer one question comparing two unseen contemporary poems.

Paper 1: Shakespeare and poetry

What’s assessed

• Shakespeare play

• Poetry from 1789 to the present day

How it’s assessed

• Written exam: 2 hours 

• 80 marks

• 40% of GCSE

Questions

• Section A Shakespeare: you will respond to one extract question and one essay question based on the reading of a Shakespeare text.

• Section B:  Poetry from 1789 to the present day: you will respond to two questions based on poems from the WJEC Eduqas Poetry Anthology, one of which involves comparison.

Paper 2: Post-1914 prose /drama, 19th century prose and unseen poetry

What’s assessed

• Post-1914 prose / drama

• 19th-century novel

• Unseen poetry

How it’s assessed

• Written exam: 2 hours and 30 minutes

• 120 marks

• 60% of GCSE

Questions

• Section A post-1914 prose/drama: you will respond to one source-based question on a post 1914 prose/drama text.

• Section B 19th century prose: you will respond to one source-based question on a 19th century prose text.

• Section C Unseen poetry from the 20th/21st century: you will respond to two questions on unseen poems, one of which involves comparison.

Paper 1: Exploring modern and literary heritage texts 

What’s assessed

• Modern prose or drama text

• 19th century novel

How it’s assessed

• Written exam: 2 hours 

• 80 marks

• 50% of GCSE

Questions

• Section A: Modern prose or drama: you will respond to one extended response-style question on your studied text, which is split into two parts: a) a comparison of an extract from the studied text with a modern unseen extract and b) a related question on the same studied text.

• Section B: 19th century prose: you will respond to one extended response-style question on your studied text, from a choice of two: either an extract-based question or a discursive question.

Paper 2: Exploring poetry and Shakespeare

What’s assessed

• Poetry anthology and an unseen poem

• Shakespeare play

How it’s assessed

• Written exam: 2 hours

• 80 marks

• 50% of GCSE

Questions

• Section A: Poetry across time: you will respond to one extended response-style question on your studied poetry cluster, which is split into two parts: a) a comparison of a named poem from the OCR Poetry Anthology with an unseen poem and b) a related question on a different poem (own choice) from the OCR Poetry Anthology. 

• Section B: Shakespeare: you will respond to one extended response-style question on your studied play, from a choice of two: either an extract-based question or a discursive question.