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A Level in English Literature

Level 1 Diploma

Course Location

College

Trafford College

Location

Altrincham Campus

Further Details

Age

College 16-18

Department

A Levels

Course Start Date

Monday 1st September 2025

Course Duration

Full-time, 1 Year

Course Time

Course Fee

£ 1987.00
You may be eligible for support with your tuition fees - please visit the college website - funding and finance page for further information

Course Code

AFQ-AL3L-1117

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Course Overview

Storytelling has been a part of human culture for centuries, shaping our understanding of life through the books we read. This course celebrates a love of fiction by examining how literature is crafted through an author’s choices of themes, characters, plot development, and language. Over two years, we will explore key texts and consider how the historical periods and contexts in which they were written influence their meaning and impact.

If you have a passion for reading, writing, and engaging in thought-provoking class discussions about the power of literature, then this course is for you.

Students follow the Pearson Edexcel A Level English Literature specification.

Course Requirements

PLEASE NOTE – YOU MUST APPLY FOR 3 A LEVELS

Standard A Level entry requirements: 5 x GCSE grade 5’s or above (must include Maths and English Language).

What you will Learn

A Level English Literature is the ideal course for students who enjoy exploring all aspects of reading and engaging in discussions about the meanings within texts. The course covers a diverse range of literary works, including plays, novels, and poetry from various periods in history, offering a broad and enriching experience.

Assessment

3 exam papers and 1 piece of non-exam assessment at the end of 2 years:

Exams:
Paper 1 – Drama – 2hrs 15 mins – 30%
Paper 2 – Prose – 1 hour 15 – 20%
Paper 3 – Poetry – 2 hrs 15 mins – 30%
Non-exam assessment – Comparative 3000-word extended essay – 20%

Progression

Once you have finished English Literature you will have acquired a range of useful skills including the ability to analyse and evaluate literature. You will be able to articulate independent opinions and judgements and express these effectively. These skills will be really useful if you decide to study English Literature, or any other subject, at university.

You can progress onto careers in Law, PR, Marketing, and Education to name but a few.

Career Options

Possible careers following A level English could include: journalist, teacher, lexicographer, and editor.

Mandatory Units

The key topics of focus are as follows:

Prose:
Studying Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood.
These will be compared in the exam and the focus is on ‘Science and Society’. Both will be studied in the first year.

Poetry:
Exam board selected anthology of Modern Poetry – studied in the first year.
A selection of poetry that will explore the Romanticism movement – studied in the second year.

Drama:
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams – studied in the first year.
Othello by William Shakespeare – studied in the second year – only Shakespeare on course.

Non-Exam Assessment Texts:
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and Wuthering Heights by Emily Bront‰. These will both be studied in the second year and will be connected in order to form a 3000-word coursework essay.

Contact Details

For further information please contact T: 0161 886 7070 or E: info@trafford.ac.uk

Extra Costs Involved

Exam Validation Body

Hours Per Week

How Long To Complete

Programme Structure

Contact Details

Disclaimer

Although every care has been taken to ensure that the information contained within this document is accurate, there may be changes to this programme and provision. We will endeavour to keep prospective and current students updated where appropriate and when the information becomes available.

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