9675 · Oxford AQA International A Level
English Literature (9675) Exam Tips
In the high-pressure environment of the examination room, the temptation to immediately begin writing is overwhelming. However, top-performing candidates dedicate the first five minutes of each essay to systematic prompt deconstruction. To secure high marks in AO1, you must direc…
Source: Oxford AQA
Papers
4
Total marks
200
Time limit
8h 30min
Grade scale
A*ABCDEU
Additional note
Calculator policy
A calculator is not normally required for this subject.
Assessment objectives
AO2, your language must consistently reflect this writerly design. Instead of writing 'Willy Loman is depressed because his sons failed him,' reframe your analysis to focus on authorial agency: 'Miller constructs Willy Loman as a tragic vehicle to expose the corrosive, dehumanizing impact of the capitalist American Dream on the domestic sphere.' Use active verbs that highlight the writer’s craft: the author delineates, critiques, juxtaposes, foreshadows, or subverts. This shift in perspective ensures your analysis remains grounded in structural mechanics, dramatic form, and literary technique rather than slipping into simple plot summary.
4
Papers
6
Strategies
5
Mistakes
- In the high-pressure environment of the examination room, the temptation to immediately begin writing is overwhelming. However, top-performing candidates dedicate the first five minutes of each essay to systematic prompt deconstruction. To secure high marks in AO1, you must directly engage with the exact terms of the question rather than steering the discussion toward a pre-prepared, memorized essay. For example, if a prompt on The Murder of Roger Ackroyd asks you to discuss the concept of 'shame,' you must explicitly define what 'shame' means within the psychological and social framework of Christie's country-house mystery. Avoid the temptation to write a generic essay on the unreliability of the narrator or the mechanics of the crime genre. Instead, interrogate how shame drives the cover-ups of minor infractions, creating a smokescreen of guilt that protects the primary murderer. Force yourself to establish a clear thesis in your introduction that acts as a roadmap for your entire response. A strong thesis should present a nuanced, evaluative argument rather than a simple statement of agreement or disagreement.
Tips are paraphrased for study purposes from exam structure data and marking patterns. Always verify against your official syllabus and mark scheme.