Independent comparative critical study exam tips

Exam tips

• Autonomous reading and task design A-Level Literature exam tip 1

  Open with a debatable literary argument, not a plot summary. Apply this to develop an individual comparative task from wider and independent reading..

  This protects analysis vs plot summary, keeps AO1 to AO5 accurate and prevents invented quotations or option mixing.

• Autonomous reading and task design A-Level Literature exam tip 1

  Open with a debatable literary argument, not a plot summary. Apply this to select a theme that enables sustained analysis of similarity and difference..

  This protects analysis vs plot summary, keeps AO1 to AO5 accurate and prevents invented quotations or option mixing.

• Autonomous reading and task design A-Level Literature exam tip 1

  Open with a debatable literary argument, not a plot summary. Apply this to keep the task literary and analytical rather than biographical, historical or purely thematic..

  This protects diachronic study vs synchronic shared-context study, keeps AO1 to AO5 accurate and prevents invented quotations or option mixing.

• Text selection requirements A-Level Literature exam tip 1

  Open with a debatable literary argument, not a plot summary. Apply this to select two texts that provide strong comparative potential and access to critical interpretations..

  This protects supported interpretation vs unsupported opinion, keeps AO1 to AO5 accurate and prevents invented quotations or option mixing.

• Text selection requirements A-Level Literature exam tip 1

  Open with a debatable literary argument, not a plot summary. Apply this to ensure at least one selected text was written pre-1900..

  This protects exam set text vs NEA-eligible text, keeps AO1 to AO5 accurate and prevents invented quotations or option mixing.

• Text selection requirements A-Level Literature exam tip 1

  Open with a debatable literary argument, not a plot summary. Apply this to ensure at least one text is studied independently by the student..

  This protects analysis vs plot summary, keeps AO1 to AO5 accurate and prevents invented quotations or option mixing.

• Text selection requirements A-Level Literature exam tip 1

  Open with a debatable literary argument, not a plot summary. Apply this to exclude all texts on the A-level examination set-text lists..

  This protects analysis vs plot summary, keeps AO1 to AO5 accurate and prevents invented quotations or option mixing.

• Comparative argument A-Level Literature exam tip 1

  Open with a debatable literary argument, not a plot summary. Apply this to build a sustained comparative argument across both texts..

  This protects analysis vs plot summary, keeps AO1 to AO5 accurate and prevents invented quotations or option mixing.

• Comparative argument A-Level Literature exam tip 1

  Open with a debatable literary argument, not a plot summary. Apply this to use connections and contrasts to develop interpretation rather than merely identify features..

  This protects connected comparison vs two separate mini-essays, keeps AO1 to AO5 accurate and prevents invented quotations or option mixing.

• Comparative argument A-Level Literature exam tip 1

  Open with a debatable literary argument, not a plot summary. Apply this to balance attention to both texts throughout the extended essay..

  This protects analysis vs plot summary, keeps AO1 to AO5 accurate and prevents invented quotations or option mixing.