English Literature - A Level
Victory Academy, The
Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, Kent, ME4 5JB
Available start dates
Available start dates
Application Instructions
Applications Open: 3rd November 2025
Applications Close: 1st September 2026
Entry Requirements: Please see courses for more information
How to Apply: Via Kent Choices website
Course Summary
English Literature explores historical and contemporary issues through literature. By the end of the course, you will have studied a range of texts that train you to think critically and communicate effectively. It is a highly regarded, transferable A Level that can take you onto almost any course of study at university. It is an obvious choice for those of you who want to go on to do an English degree – i.e. dedicated readers, budding writers for stage and screen, as well as journalists who are passionate about exploring the human condition. It is also an excellent option for those considering courses in art history, sociology, psychology, politics and law.
Course Details
A Shakespeare play
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Poetry of Christina Rossetti
Post-2000 poetry from Poems of the Decade
How will it be delivered and assessed?
Paper 1: Drama - 2 hour 15 minutes written examination (30% of the qualification)
A Shakespeare play
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
Paper 2: Prose - 1 hour 15 minutes written examination (20% of the qualification)
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Paper 3: Poetry - 2 hour 15 minutes written examination (30% of the qualification)
Poetry of Christina Rossetti
Post-2000 poetry from Poems of the Decade
Paper 4: NEA - 2500-3000 word essay on your choice of two texts (20% of the qualification)
Entry requirements
GCSE English Literature - Grade 5
GCSE English Language - Grade 4
Your next steps...
Because English Literature is a non-vocational subject, it gives you some all-round skills that can be applied to different careers rather than training for a specific job, i.e. written and spoken communication skills as well as understanding complex ideas and theories. Many prominent fields need these skills, for example publishing, media and public relations, arts, retail, law, business, social work and politics.
For more courses like this, check our courses page.