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Qualification and assessment structure
Qualification and assessment structure sits within Qualification structure and assessment objectives for AQA A-Level English Literature B 7717. It brings together Paper 1 assessment, Paper 2 assessment, Non-exam assessment, Updated specification boundary, so revision should move from accurate terminology to a clear literary argument rather than treating each idea as an isolated definition. Start with the wording of the learning objective, select concise textual evidence, and explain how language, form and structure shape meaning. Use AO3 only when a relevant context changes the significance of the detail, use AO4 for meaningful connections where comparison is required, and use AO5 to test an interpretation rather than to list critics. Keep genre, context, theory and personal response distinct: each can strengthen an argument, but none replaces close reading. For assessment preparation, practise making a claim, supporting it with evidence, and then evaluating how far an alternative reading changes the conclusion. This overview is designed to guide students towards the specific demands of Qualification and assessment structure while remaining inside the approved 7717 curriculum.
15
Objectives
10
Flashcards
10
Questions
90 min
Study time
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Syllabus checklist
What you need to know
15 objective pages available
Updated specification boundary3 objectives
- Distinguish A-level English Literature B 7717 from AS English Literature B 7716.
- Identify this curriculum source as the updated AQA 7717 specification for first A-level assessment in 2027.
- Keep the updated 2027 optional text lists separate from the final 2026 assessment version.
Paper 1 assessment4 objectives
- Describe Paper 1 as a 2 hour 30 minute closed-book written examination worth 75 marks and 40 percent of the A-level.
- Distinguish the passage-based Shakespeare question, Shakespeare essay and linked-text essay.
- Explain that Paper 1 requires one Shakespeare text, a second drama text and one further text, with one of the latter two written pre-1900.
- Identify the choice between Aspects of tragedy and Aspects of comedy.
Paper 2 assessment4 objectives
- Describe Paper 2 as a 3 hour open-book written examination worth 75 marks and 40 percent of the A-level.
- Distinguish the unseen passage question, single set-text essay and connected-text essay.
- Explain that Paper 2 requires one post-2000 prose text, one poetry text and one further text, with one text written pre-1900.
- Identify the choice between Elements of crime writing and Elements of political and social protest writing.
Non-exam assessment4 objectives
- Describe the NEA as two essays of 1250 to 1500 words, each on a different literary text and a different aspect of the AQA Critical anthology.
- Explain that one response may be re-creative when accompanied by a commentary.
- Explain that the NEA uses one poetry text and one prose text.
- State that the NEA is worth 50 marks and 20 percent of the A-level.
Key terms
Exam tips
- Use Textual Evidence: Always support your arguments with direct quotes or specific examples from the text.
- Use textual evidence effectively: Always support your arguments with direct quotes or specific references to the text.
Common mistakes
- Plot Summary Over Analysis: Prioritize analysis of literary devices and their impact on the text's meaning.
- Confusing narrator with character: Clarify that the narrator is a distinct entity that may or may not share the views of characters.
Practice preview
- Which of the following best describes the role of the narrator in a novel?
- How does the use of symbolism enhance the themes in a literary work? Provide an example.
- Evaluate how the historical context of the Victorian era influences the themes in Charles Dickens' 'Great Expectations'.
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