A Level English Language & Literature is a popular course that links the skills of both English Language and English Literature study. It will appeal to students who have enjoyed both aspects at GCSE and wish to continue studying them in a broader and more in-depth manner.

During the two years, you will explore how ‘voice’ is crafted in both speech and writing. Focusing on a drama text (All My Sons) and a range of short literary, non-literary and digital texts. You will also study texts that give you the opportunity to explore the ways in which different writers use language techniques and literary devices. Also on how writers use these to convey their thoughts or ideas on a theme in literary and non-fiction writing. For example, you will analyse the techniques Fitzgerald uses to explore ‘Society and the Individual’ in ‘The Great Gatsby’.

As well as reading and analysing texts written by other people, you will also be given the opportunity to develop your own skills as a writer. By producing fiction and a non-fiction text in response to a topic area, such as ‘Crossing Boundaries’. You will also undertake wider reading to further your understanding of texts from a range of genres and time periods.

Where does an A Level English Language & Literature course lead?

English subjects are challenging, but are an excellent preparation both for university and your future career. Obvious careers include journalism, sales, teaching, management, administration, information management, publishing and careers in the public services.

Course Entry Requirements

Grade 5 in GCSE English Language and a grade 5 in GCSE English Literature (if studied).

A Level English Course Leaflet

Exam Board Course Specification

English Language & Literature News

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What Our Students Say

I’ve enjoyed studying at Carmel mainly because of the help that is offered to you. The teachers can always see the potential in you and encourage you to do your best. Over the course of two years, I’ve really progressed, pushing my grades even higher than I expected and this is purely down to using the help offered to me by the teachers in tutorials and the resources given to us. English Language & Literature is one of my favourite subjects because of the texts we study.

Currently, we are studying ‘The Great Gatsby’ and ‘The Whitsun Weddings’ poetry collection, and, whilst analysing these, we have been able to do further research into the relevant contexts. In ‘Gatsby’ we focus on 1920s America and conspicuous consumerism whilst in ‘The Whitsun Weddings’ we focus on post-WW2 Britain. As I will be studying law at university, I decided to pick English Language & Literature because I knew it would allow me to enhance my analytical skills and my essay writing.

Darrion Herbert

Darrion Herbert - English Language & Literature student