GCE Subject Level Conditions And Requirements For English Literature

GCE Subject LevelConditions andRequirements for EnglishLiteratureApril 2014Ofqual/14/5412

GCE Subject Level Conditions and Requirements for English LiteratureContentsIntroduction . 2About this document . 2Requirements set out in this document . 3Summary of requirements . 4Subject Level Conditions . 6GCE Subject Level Conditions for English Literature . 7Condition GCE(English Literature)1 Compliance with content requirements . 7Condition GCE(English Literature)2 Assessment. 8Assessment objectives . 9Assessment objectives – GCE AS and A level qualifications in English Literature 10Subject content (published by Department for Education). 11Introduction Ofqual 20141

GCE Subject Level Conditions and Requirements for English LiteratureIntroductionAbout this document1.This document (highlighted in the figure below) is part of a suite of documentswhich sets out the regulatory requirements for awarding organisations offeringGCE qualifications.General Conditions of RecognitionApply to all awarding organisations and all qualificationsGCE Qualification Level ConditionsApply to all A levels awarded on or after 1 April 2017, and all standalone ASqualifications awarded on or after 1 April 2016, in the subjects belowGCE Subject Level ConditionsApply to GCE Art and DesignqualificationsGCE Subject Level ConditionsApply to GCE English LiteraturequalificationsGCE Subject Level ConditionsApply to GCE BiologyqualificationsGCE Subject Level ConditionsApply to GCE English Languageand Literature qualificationsGCE Subject Level ConditionsApply to GCE BusinessqualificationsGCE Subject Level ConditionsApply to GCE HistoryqualificationsGCE Subject Level ConditionsApply to GCE ChemistryqualificationsGCE Subject Level ConditionsApply to GCE PhysicsqualificationsGCE Subject Level ConditionsApply to GCE ComputerScience qualificationsGCE Subject Level ConditionsApply to GCE PsychologyqualificationsGCE Subject Level ConditionsApply to GCE EconomicsqualificationsGCE Subject Level ConditionsApply to GCE SociologyqualificationsGCE Subject Level ConditionsApply to GCE English LanguagequalificationsIntroduction Ofqual 20142

GCE Subject Level Conditions and Requirements for English Literature2.We have developed all our requirements for GCE qualifications with theintention that AS and A level qualifications should fulfil the purposes set out inthe table below:A levels define and assess achievement ofthe knowledge, skills andunderstanding which will be neededby students planning to progress toundergraduate study at a UK highereducation establishment,particularly (although not only) inthe same subject area; set out a robust and internationallycomparable post-16 academiccourse of study to develop thatknowledge, skills andunderstanding; permit UK universities to accuratelyidentify the level of attainment ofstudents; provide a basis for school andcollege accountability measures atage 18; and provide a benchmark of academicability for employers.AS qualifications provide evidence of students’achievements in a robust andinternationally comparable post-16course of study that is a sub-set ofA level content;enable students to broaden therange of subjects they study.Requirements set out in this document3.This document sets out the GCE Subject Level Conditions for EnglishLiterature. These conditions will come into effect at 12.01am on Wednesday 9April 2014 for the following qualifications: all GCE A levels in English Literature awarded on or after 1 April 2017;and all standalone GCE AS qualifications in English Literature awarded on orafter 1 April 2016.Introduction Ofqual 20143

GCE Subject Level Conditions and Requirements for English Literature4.It also sets out the assessment objectives for GCE English Literature. Awardingorganisations must comply with these assessment objectives under ConditionGCE(English Literature)1.2.5.Appendix 1 reproduces the subject content requirements for English Literature,as published by the Department for Education. Awarding organisations mustcomply with these requirements under Condition GCE(English Literature)1.1.6.With respect to the qualifications listed in paragraph 3, awarding organisationsmust also comply with: 7.our General Conditions of Recognition,1 which apply to all awardingorganisations and qualifications; and our GCE Qualification Level Conditions;2 and all relevant Regulatory Documents.With respect to all other GCE qualifications in English Literature, awardingorganisations must continue to comply with the General Conditions ofRecognition, the General Conditions of Recognition in respect of GCEQualifications,3 and the relevant Regulatory Documents.4Summary of requirementsSubject Level ConditionsGCE(EnglishLiterature)1Compliance with content f-additional-regulatory-documentsIntroduction Ofqual 20144

GCE Subject Level Conditions and Requirements for English LiteratureAssessment objectivesAssessment objectives – GCE AS and A level qualifications in EnglishLiteratureAppendix 1 – Subject content (published by Department for Education)GCE AS and A level Subject Content for English LiteratureIntroduction Ofqual 20145

Subject Level Conditions6

GCE Subject Level Conditions and Requirements for English LiteratureGCE Subject Level Conditions for English LiteratureCondition GCE(English Literature)1GCE(English Literature)1.1Compliance with content requirementsIn respect of each GCE Qualification in EnglishLiterature which it makes available, or proposes tomake available, an awarding organisation must –(a) comply with the requirements relating to thatqualification set out in the document published bythe Secretary of State entitled ‘GCE AS and Alevel subject content for English literature’, DFE00363-2014,(b) have regard to any recommendations orguidelines relating to that qualification set out inthat document, and(c) interpret that document in accordance with anyrequirements, and having regard to any guidance,which may be published by Ofqual and revisedfrom time to time.GCE(English Literature)1.2In respect of each GCE Qualification in EnglishLiterature which it makes available, or proposes tomake available, an awarding organisation must complywith any requirements, and have regard to anyguidance, relating to the objectives to be met by anyassessment for that qualification which may bepublished by Ofqual and revised from time to time.Subject Level Conditions for English Literature Ofqual 20147

GCE Subject Level Conditions and Requirements for English LiteratureCondition GCE(English Literature)2AssessmentGCE(English Literature)2.1Condition GCE4.1 does not apply to any GCE A levelEnglish Literature qualification which an awardingorganisation makes available or proposes to makeavailable.GCE(English Literature)2.2In respect of the total marks available for a GCE Alevel English Literature qualification which it makesavailable, an awarding organisation must ensure that –(a) 80 per cent of those marks are made availablethrough Assessments by Examination, and(b) 20 per cent of those marks are made availablethrough assessments that are not Assessments byExamination.GCE(English Literature)2.3An awarding organisation must ensure that eachassessment for a GCE A level English Literaturequalification which it makes available which is not anAssessment by Examination complies with anyrequirements, and has regard to any guidance, whichmay be published by Ofqual and revised from time totime.Subject Level Conditions for English Literature Ofqual 20148

Assessment objectives9

GCE Subject Level Conditions and Requirements for English LiteratureAssessment objectives – GCE AS and A levelqualifications in English LiteratureCondition GCE(English Literature)1.2 allows us to specify requirements relating tothe objectives to be met by any assessment for GCE qualifications in EnglishLiterature.The assessment objectives set out below constitute requirements for the purposes ofCondition GCE(English Literature)1.2. Awarding organisations must comply withthese requirements in relation to all GCE AS and A level qualifications in EnglishLiterature they make available.AO1 Articulate informed, personal and creativeresponses to literary texts, using associatedconcepts and terminology, and coherent,accurate written expressionA levelASEach of AO1,AO2 and AO3can betargeted in therange 20-30%Each of AO1,AO2 and AO3can betargeted in therange 20-30%Each of AO4and AO5 canbe targeted inthe range 1015%Each of AO4and AO5 canbe targeted inthe range 1015%AO2 Analyse ways in which meanings areshaped in literary textsAO3 Demonstrate understanding of thesignificance and influence of the contexts inwhich literary texts are written and receivedAO4 Explore connections across literary textsAO5 Explore literary texts informed by differentinterpretationsAssessment objectives Ofqual 201410

Subject content (published byDepartment for Education)11

GCE AS and A level subject content for EnglishliteratureIntroduction1.AS and A level subject content sets out the knowledge, understanding and skills common toall AS and A level specifications in a English literature.Aims and objectives2.AS and A level specifications in English literature must encourage students to develop theirinterest in and enjoyment of literature and literary studies as they: read widely and independently both set texts and others that they have selected forthemselves engage critically and creatively with a substantial body of texts and ways of responding tothem develop and effectively apply their knowledge of literary analysis and evaluation explore the contexts of the texts they are reading and others’ interpretations of them3.In addition, A level specifications must encourage students to develop their interest in andenjoyment of literature and literary studies as they undertake independent and sustained studies todeepen their appreciation and understanding of English literature, including its changing traditions.Subject content4.AS and A level specifications in English literature must build on the knowledge,understanding and skills established at GCSE, introducing students to the discipline of advancedliterary studies, and must require reading of the major literary genres of poetry, prose and drama. Alevel specifications must extend these studies in breadth and depth, further developing students’ability to analyse, evaluate and make connections.Knowledge and understanding5.AS and A level specifications must require students to use their detailed knowledge andunderstanding of individual works of literature to explore relationships between texts and toappreciate the significance of cultural and contextual influences on readers and writers.6.AS and A level specifications must require students to show knowledge and understandingof a range of literary texts. Texts for study must be chosen so that they illuminate one another andenable connections.Published: April 2014