GCE English Literature amendment to Paper 1 and Paper 2 prescribed texts
GCE English Literature 8ET0/9ET0
November 2021
Dear Head of English
In response to feedback from teachers, and in order to offer a more representative choice of texts from a more diverse range of voices, including more writers of colour and women writers, we are pleased to announce an amendment to our AS/A level English Literature qualifications. This change relates specifically to the choice of texts in Paper 1 Drama and Paper 2 Prose.
We have been looking at ways of diversifying the range of writers and playwrights featured in our qualifications, whilst also keeping the assessments manageable in terms of the number of different prescribed texts and the choice of optional questions offered in the exam. We have also taken into account the most popular choices for teachers and students, which will continue to be offered.
We have decided to replace four of the prescribed texts currently offered. We are replacing two drama texts from Paper 1, and two prose texts from Paper 2. The texts being removed are taught by a small number of centres, who we have been in direct contact with to offer support.
The amendment to the set texts is as follows:
Paper 1 Drama
| Text being removed | Last assessment of removed text |
Text being added | First assessment of new text |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Home Place, Brian Friel |
AS: 2022 A level: 2023 |
Les Blancs, Lorraine Hansbury |
AS: 2023 A level: 2024 |
| The Pitman Painters, Lee Hall |
AS: 2022 A level: 2023 |
Sweat, Lynn Nottage |
AS: 2023 A level: 2024 |
Paper 2 Prose
| Text being removed | Last assessment of removed text |
Text being added | First assessment of new text |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colonisation and its Aftermath: | |||
| A Passage to India, EM Forster |
AS: 2022 A level: 2023 |
Home Fire, Kamila Shamsie |
AS: 2023 A level: 2024 |
| Crime and Detection: | |||
| The Murder Room, PD James |
AS: 2022 A level: 2023 |
The Cutting Season, Attica Locke |
AS: 2023 A level: 2024 |
The amendments to the qualification relate only to the addition and removal of prescribed texts listed above. All other requirements remain unchanged.
First teaching of the new texts will be September 2022 for both AS (first assessment 2023) and A level (first assessment 2024). Therefore, the final assessment of the removed texts will be 2022 for AS and 2023 for A level.
If you were intending to teach one of the texts that has been replaced from September 2022, and you have not heard directly from us, please make contact as soon as possible by emailing Teachingenglish@pearson.com so that we can support you.
If you are interested in finding out more about the new texts, we have created new Text Guides and we will soon be publishing Sample Assessment Materials and an additional set of Specimen questions. We will also be holding a webinar in the spring term where we will look at how you can introduce the new texts in your centre and would love for you join us.
Sign up for updates on the webinar and new support materials.
We also have some new and exciting resources coming in the spring term to further support broader representation for these qualifications – an additional critical Shakespeare anthology and an additional unseen poetry preparation anthology.
Yours faithfully
Liz Slade
Senior Qualification Manager
English and Drama