There is no coursework component needed to complete Cambridge International AS and A Level English Literature (9695), or Pearson Edexcel AS English Literature (XET01) and Pearson Edexcel A Level English Literature (YET01). That is, students can attain the qualification by examination only. It is possible to complete AQA AS and A Level English Literature A (7711, 7712) by examination only, but the AQA AS and A Level English Literature B (7716, 7717) require a non-exam assessment (NEA) and may pose difficulties for private candidates, external candidates or home educators.
Make sure to choose carefully!
Each exam board uses a syllabus or specification to clearly state, among other things, the subject course content and methods of final assessments. Additionally, each exam board will give suggested textbooks and other resources, some of which are endorsed (that is, they carefully follow the specific syllabus or specification). Teachers and students can choose the best resources to facilitate learning. You don't need all the suggested resources, but it is useful to have one or two textbooks as a scaffold, alongside the syllabus or specification and online resources as needed.
I have tutored students in Cambridge AS and A Level English Literature so I am familiar with the syllabus content, varied teaching and learning strategies for individual students, and preparation for assessments (examinations). CAIE examinations were easier for my four home educated children to access, and I have been teaching or tutoring CAIE examination subjects in school or online since 2007.
I will pass on what I have used, at one time or another, to teach Cambridge AS and A Level English Literature (9695). I will also give suggested resources for anyone interested in accessing AS and A Level English Literature offered by AQA and Pearson Edexcel exam boards.
Make sure to choose carefully!
Each exam board uses a syllabus or specification to clearly state, among other things, the subject course content and methods of final assessments. Additionally, each exam board will give suggested textbooks and other resources, some of which are endorsed (that is, they carefully follow the specific syllabus or specification). Teachers and students can choose the best resources to facilitate learning. You don't need all the suggested resources, but it is useful to have one or two textbooks as a scaffold, alongside the syllabus or specification and online resources as needed.
I have tutored students in Cambridge AS and A Level English Literature so I am familiar with the syllabus content, varied teaching and learning strategies for individual students, and preparation for assessments (examinations). CAIE examinations were easier for my four home educated children to access, and I have been teaching or tutoring CAIE examination subjects in school or online since 2007.
I will pass on what I have used, at one time or another, to teach Cambridge AS and A Level English Literature (9695). I will also give suggested resources for anyone interested in accessing AS and A Level English Literature offered by AQA and Pearson Edexcel exam boards.
Syllabues and specifications
To have the most success in final assessments (exams), read the syllabus or specification carefully. Consider this as the rule book, as it gives clear details about the subject.
Additionally, for English Literature courses, the exam boards can change the choice of texts (poetry, prose and drama) every two years or so. Thus, it is very important to look at the texts you will be examined on. It would be difficult to be successful in the exams if you studied the wrong texts.
Here are the links for the AS and A Level English Literature courses at AQA, CAIE, and Pearson Edexcel:
Additionally, for English Literature courses, the exam boards can change the choice of texts (poetry, prose and drama) every two years or so. Thus, it is very important to look at the texts you will be examined on. It would be difficult to be successful in the exams if you studied the wrong texts.
Here are the links for the AS and A Level English Literature courses at AQA, CAIE, and Pearson Edexcel:
AQA AS and A-Level English Literature A and B (7716, 7717)
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/as-and-a-level/english-literature-b-7716-7717
Cambridge AS and A Level English Language (9695)
https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-international-as-and-a-level-english-literature-9695/
Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Level English Literature (XET01, YET01)
qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-international-advanced-levels/english-literature-2015.html
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/as-and-a-level/english-literature-b-7716-7717
Cambridge AS and A Level English Language (9695)
https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-international-as-and-a-level-english-literature-9695/
Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Level English Literature (XET01, YET01)
qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-international-advanced-levels/english-literature-2015.html
Past paper practice
One of the best ways to understand how well you will do in the final assessments is to complete some past papers, mark them, and reflect on your strengths and challenges. Then repeat the process. Strong AS and A Level knowledge and skills are built through practice, so you should make sure to get support from teachers, tutors, or mentors as necessary. In the meantime, visit the examination board's website and look for past papers, the mark schemes (answer keys or rubrics) and the examiners' reports. All these documents will be helpful in honing your skills in this subject.
Suggested textbooks
There are endorsed textbooks that are closely aligned to exam board courses and these will be the best resource to use as a scaffold for learning. Each exam board also suggests other textbooks and resources for each subject course. The choice of books for teaching and learning is yours, but I have always relied on one or two endorsed textbooks, and then used other resources to supplement my own learning and teaching.
Here are some useful suggested textbooks for AS and A Level English Literature:
Here are some useful suggested textbooks for AS and A Level English Literature:
AQA AS and A-Level English Literature A and B (7716, 7717)
All the prescribed texts are detailed in the specification for English Literature A or Literature B, so please make sure to download and read the specification carefully. Additionally, if I was teaching or tutoring this exam course, I would send an email to the company to ask for assistance in other textbook support. Then I would use the specification as my scaffold and research the most relevant resources to closely align to the knowledge and skills building of A Level English Literature. I would also use online resources to complement learning.
Cambridge AS and A Level English Literature (9695)
- Whittome, E. (2019) Cambridge International AS and A Level Literature in English: Coursebook, 2nd Edition. ISBN: 9781108457828 [Endorsed]
- Cairney, M. et al. (2019) Cambridge International AS and A Level Literature in English: Student's Book. ISBN: 9780008287610 [Endorsed]
- Whittome, E. (2014) Cambridge International AS and A Level Literature in English. ISBN: 9781107644960 [Endorsed]
- Whittome, E. (2017) Cambridge International AS and A Level Literature in English: Teacher's Resource CD-ROM. ISBN: 9781107682962 [Endorsed]
- Cambridge International Examinations (2005) Songs of Ourselves, Volume 1. ISBN 9781108462266 [Endorsed]
- Cambridge International Examinations (2014) Songs of Ourselves, Volume 2. ISBN 9781108462280 [Endorsed]
- Cambridge International Examinations (2008) Stories of Ourselves, Volume 1. ISBN 9781108462297 [Endorsed]
- Cambridge International Examinations (2018) Stories of Ourselves, Volume 2. ISBN: 9781108436199 [Endorsed]
Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Level English Language (XET01, YET01)
I had some difficulty navigating the Pearson Edexcel website and I was not able to find any Edexcel-endorsed textbooks. However, within the specification, all the prescribed texts are detailed, so please make sure to download and read the specification carefully. I found the Getting Started Guide particularly useful for text suggestions. If I was teaching or tutoring this exam course, I would first send an email to the company to ask for assistance. Then I would use the specification as my scaffold and research the most relevant resources to closely align to the knowledge and skills building of A Level English Literature. I would also use online resources to complement learning.
Useful websites for AS and A Level English Literature
As English Literature courses use particular texts in their syllabus or specification, I would first make sure I had copies of all the prescribed texts. Then, as a teacher, I would look for an endorsed textbook to use alongside the syllabus or specification, especially one that focused on literature skills and knowledge building. Finally, I look through online resources to supplement and complement what is being learnt, and I am constantly researching new resources to add different literary perspectives to lively discussions on literature.
Here are a few resources you might find useful:
Here are a few resources you might find useful:
http://www.litcharts.com/
A great website and all the study guides are free downloads. I really appreciate others who are making it easy for students around the world to access quality literature guides.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/
Aimed at students, this free site has plenty of grammar and language exercises.
http://www.englishplus.com/grammar/
Aimed at students, or it can be modified by teachers, this free site explains the rules of English grammar and usage.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree
There are plenty of examples of argumentative and discursive writing to view on this paper’s website. It can be used by students to get a flavour of how to argue or discuss a topic logically and coherently.
http://www.englishbiz.co.uk/
This GCSE and A Level site is worth looking at by students, and is full of information that can be used for specific purposes such as tips on how to write effectively to revision for the exams.
http://www.virtualsalt.com/rhetoric.htm
This is a useful resource for students and teachers to define literary vocabulary.
http://www.virtualsalt.com/litterms.htm
This is similar to the reference resource above, with hundreds of literary terms defined, with examples.
http://www.explorewriting.co.uk/
This site has been written by professional writers, and can be a very useful site for the ablest students, or to supplement teachers’ notes.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/
This online writing lab from Purdue University has a wealth of resources for the writing process, subject-specific writing, and English as a second language, etc. There are also specific exercises for students.
http://www.webenglishteacher.com/
This American resource is filled with study guides, professional resources for teachers, or suggestions for student reading – it is well worth a visit.
www.geoffbarton.co.uk
The teacher, Geoff Barton, has provided free resources for teachers and worksheets for IGCSE and A Level students. The site can be used for teachers’ notes or for the students, especially for revision purposes.
http://www.universalteacher.org.uk/
This site of Andrew Moore’s is very comprehensive for English Language and Literature. It is not specifically aimed at the CAIE syllabus, but it is a useful reference site for teachers and students.
http://www.englishtutes.com/contents.shtml
There is quite a bit of advertising on this site, but it can be a quick reference tool for students who need reminding about the basics of the English Language.
Websites need to be checked often to make sure they are still relevant and the links are still active. All websites were checked and updated: April, 2021.
A great website and all the study guides are free downloads. I really appreciate others who are making it easy for students around the world to access quality literature guides.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/
Aimed at students, this free site has plenty of grammar and language exercises.
http://www.englishplus.com/grammar/
Aimed at students, or it can be modified by teachers, this free site explains the rules of English grammar and usage.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree
There are plenty of examples of argumentative and discursive writing to view on this paper’s website. It can be used by students to get a flavour of how to argue or discuss a topic logically and coherently.
http://www.englishbiz.co.uk/
This GCSE and A Level site is worth looking at by students, and is full of information that can be used for specific purposes such as tips on how to write effectively to revision for the exams.
http://www.virtualsalt.com/rhetoric.htm
This is a useful resource for students and teachers to define literary vocabulary.
http://www.virtualsalt.com/litterms.htm
This is similar to the reference resource above, with hundreds of literary terms defined, with examples.
http://www.explorewriting.co.uk/
This site has been written by professional writers, and can be a very useful site for the ablest students, or to supplement teachers’ notes.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/
This online writing lab from Purdue University has a wealth of resources for the writing process, subject-specific writing, and English as a second language, etc. There are also specific exercises for students.
http://www.webenglishteacher.com/
This American resource is filled with study guides, professional resources for teachers, or suggestions for student reading – it is well worth a visit.
www.geoffbarton.co.uk
The teacher, Geoff Barton, has provided free resources for teachers and worksheets for IGCSE and A Level students. The site can be used for teachers’ notes or for the students, especially for revision purposes.
http://www.universalteacher.org.uk/
This site of Andrew Moore’s is very comprehensive for English Language and Literature. It is not specifically aimed at the CAIE syllabus, but it is a useful reference site for teachers and students.
http://www.englishtutes.com/contents.shtml
There is quite a bit of advertising on this site, but it can be a quick reference tool for students who need reminding about the basics of the English Language.
Websites need to be checked often to make sure they are still relevant and the links are still active. All websites were checked and updated: April, 2021.