Exam-board-aware support: OCR, Pearson Edexcel and wider AS/A-Level caveats
Exam board matters. The official examples reviewed show that AS English Literature is not one single exam experience: OCR AS is closed text, while Pearson Edexcel AS is open book. Good tutoring should therefore start with the student’s exact board, set texts and paper format. This page uses OCR and Pearson examples because those current materials were verified; students using AQA, WJEC/Eduqas, CCEA or another qualification should share the current specification with the tutor before lessons begin.
- OCR AS H072: two closed-text papers, both worth 50%, with Shakespeare, pre-1900 poetry, post-1900 drama and prose, and an unseen prose link.
- Pearson Edexcel AS: two open-book papers, with Poetry and Drama worth 60% and Prose worth 40%.
- Open-book exams still need strong selection, timing and argument; having the text does not replace close knowledge.
- Closed-text exams need secure recall, quotation choice and confident use of textual detail.
- Nation and board availability can differ, so board-specific claims should match the student’s current course.
- OCR AS English Literature H072
- Exam-only. Component 1 is Shakespeare and poetry pre-1900, closed text, 1 hour 30 minutes, 50%. Component 2 is drama and prose post-1900, closed text, 1 hour 45 minutes, 50%.
- Pearson Edexcel AS English Literature
- Exam-only. Component 1 is Poetry and Drama, open book, 2 hours, 60%. Component 2 is Prose, open book, 1 hour 15 minutes, 40%.
- Full A-Level continuation
- AS and A-Level study are connected, but full A-Level courses can add wider assessment demands, including non-examination assessment on some specifications.
- Other UK boards
- AQA, WJEC/Eduqas, CCEA and school-specific specifications should be checked against the student’s current specification and set texts before tuition starts.