AQA AS English Literature A Past Papers & Mark Schemes
Download free AQA AS English Literature A (7711) past papers. Paper 1: Shakespeare and poetry. Paper 2: Prose — both exploring love through the ages. 21 resources.
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21 of 21 resources
June 2023
8 filesAS English Literature A – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (AS) : Paper 2 Love through the ages: prose – June 2023
AS English Literature A – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (AS) : Paper 1 Love through the ages: Shakespeare and poetry – June 2023
AS English Literature A – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (AS) : Paper 2 Love through the ages: prose – June 2023
AS English Literature A – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (AS) : Paper 1 Love through the ages: Shakespeare and poetry – June 2023
AS English Literature A – Question paper (AS) : Paper 2 Love through the ages: prose – June 2023
AS English Literature A – Question paper (AS) : Paper 1 Love through the ages: Shakespeare and poetry – June 2023
AS English Literature A – Mark scheme (AS) : Paper 2 Love through the ages: prose – June 2023
AS English Literature A – Mark scheme (AS) : Paper 1 Love through the ages: Shakespeare and poetry – June 2023
June 2022
8 filesAS English Literature A – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (AS) : Paper 2 Love through the ages: prose – June 2022
AS English Literature A – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (AS) : Paper 1 Love through the ages: Shakespeare and poetry – June 2022
AS English Literature A – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (AS) : Paper 2 Love through the ages: prose – June 2022
AS English Literature A – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (AS) : Paper 1 Love through the ages: Shakespeare and poetry – June 2022
AS English Literature A – Question paper (AS) : Paper 2 Love through the ages: prose – June 2022
AS English Literature A – Question paper (AS) : Paper 1 Love through the ages: Shakespeare and poetry – June 2022
AS English Literature A – Mark scheme (AS) : Paper 2 Love through the ages: prose – June 2022
AS English Literature A – Mark scheme (AS) : Paper 1 Love through the ages: Shakespeare and poetry – June 2022
November 2020
5 filesAS English Literature A – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (AS) : Paper 1 Love through the ages: Shakespeare and poetry – November 2020
AS English Literature A – Question paper (AS) : Paper 2 Love through the ages: prose – November 2020
AS English Literature A – Question paper (AS) : Paper 1 Love through the ages: Shakespeare and poetry – November 2020
AS English Literature A – Mark scheme (AS) : Paper 2 Love through the ages: prose – November 2020
AS English Literature A – Mark scheme (AS) : Paper 1 Love through the ages: Shakespeare and poetry – November 2020
Shakespeare, Poetry, and Prose: Tracing Love as a Literary Theme Across Centuries
Exam Paper Structure
Love Through the Ages: Shakespeare and Poetry
Love Through the Ages: Prose
Key Information
| Exam Board | AQA |
| Specification Code | 7711 |
| Qualification | AS Level |
| Grading Scale | A–E |
| Assessment Type | 2 written papers (closed book) |
| Paper 1 | Love Through the Ages: Shakespeare and Poetry (1 hr 30 min, 50 marks, 50%) |
| Paper 2 | Love Through the Ages: Prose (1 hr 30 min, 50 marks, 50%) |
| Set Texts | Shakespeare play + prose text from approved list |
| Assessment Objectives | AO1–AO4 assessed (AO5 not assessed at AS) |
| Exam Sessions | June only |
| Total Resources | 21 |
Key Topics in English Literature A
Topics you need to know
Exam Command Words
| Command word | What the examiner expects |
|---|---|
| How does Shakespeare present | Analyse specific dramatic and linguistic techniques used to create meaning in both the extract and the wider play |
| Write about | Produce a focused, analytical response addressing the specified aspect of the text with evidence |
| Examine | Investigate a textual feature or theme in detail, offering interpretation supported by close reading |
| Consider | Explore an idea or theme with reference to the text, weighing different aspects or interpretations |
| Analyse | Break down specific language, form, or structural choices and explain their effects |
| To what extent | Evaluate a claim by arguing both for and against it, reaching a nuanced conclusion |
Typical Grade Boundaries
| Grade | Approximate mark needed |
|---|---|
| A | 70–80% |
| B | 59–69% |
| C | 48–58% |
| D | 37–47% |
| E | 26–36% |
⚠️ AS English Literature A boundaries derive from 100 raw marks (50 per paper). AQA's thresholds are published individually per examination session.
Close Reading Shakespeare, Approaching Unseen Poetry, and Contextualising Prose
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