AQA GCSE English Literature (8702)
AQA GCSE English Literature (8702) is a closed-book course assessed by Paper 1 (Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel) and Paper 2 (modern texts and poetry, including unseen poems). Our AQA GCSE English Literature course follows the 8702 specification and covers Shakespeare, the 19th-century novel, modern prose or drama, the poetry anthology and unseen poetry. You prepare for Paper 1 (Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel) and Paper 2 (modern texts and poetry), with essay plans, quotation banks and timed practice. Lessons are live and one-to-one with a verified subject tutor, who works through exam-style questions with you, marks your answers against the AQA mark scheme and shows you where marks are won and lost. Your tutor gives written feedback on full essays using the assessment objectives AO1 to AO4. Suitable for Year 10 and Year 11 students and resit candidates.
Reviewed by S. Chakraborty, M.Sc. and B.Ed., University of Calcutta; English Language and Literature specialistLast updated
$13 – $29
per hour
Free demo class · pay only if you continue
What you will learn
Learning outcomes
- Analyse literary texts critically
- Understand themes characters and plot development
- Analyse writers use of language form and structure
- Understand relevant historical and social contexts
- Analyse Shakespeare plays effectively
- Analyse a 19th-century novel
- Analyse modern prose or drama texts
- Interpret and compare poetry
- Analyse unseen poetry
- Select relevant textual evidence
- Integrate quotations effectively
- Develop clear literary arguments
- Write structured analytical essays
- Compare writers ideas and methods
- Use literary terminology accurately
- Develop critical reading skills
- Improve written communication
- Plan responses under timed conditions
- Answer AQA exam-style questions effectively
- Develop GCSE English Literature exam techniques
Prerequisites
- Basic English reading comprehension
- Ability to read literary texts independently
- Basic essay-writing skills
- Basic understanding of literary techniques
- Ability to express ideas in written English
- Willingness to read and discuss literature
Tags
Course structure
Syllabus(5 modules)
- Shakespeare
- Structuring the
- Shakespeare Essay
- Shakespeare’s Methods & Techniques
- Shakespeare: Context The AQA GCSE Shakespeare Mark Scheme
- Shakespeare: Model Answers
- Macbeth: Overview
- Macbeth: Plot Summary
- Macbeth: Themes
- Macbeth Key Theme: Ambition
- Macbeth Key Theme: The Supernatural
- Macbeth Key Theme: Appearance versus Reality
- Macbeth Key Theme: Corruption of Nature Macbeth: Characters
- Macbeth Character Analysis
- Macbeth Key Character Profile: Lady Macbeth
- Banquo Character Analysis
- Duncan Character Analysis
- Macduff Character Analysis
- Macbeth: Context
- Macbeth: Writer's Methods & Techniques
- Macbeth: Key Quotations
- Macbeth: Character Quotations
- Romeo & Juliet: Overview
- Romeo & Juliet: Plot Summary
- Romeo & Juliet: Themes Romeo and Juliet Key
- Theme: Love Romeo and Juliet Key
- Theme: Conflict Romeo and Juliet Key
- Theme: Honour
- Romeo and Juliet Key Theme: Fate
- Romeo & Juliet: Characters
- Romeo Character Analysis
- Juliet Character Analysis
- The Nurse Character Analysis
- Tybalt Character Analysis
- Romeo & Juliet: Context
- Romeo & Juliet: Writer's Methods & Techniques
- Romeo & Juliet: Key Quotations
- Romeo & Juliet: Character Quotations
- The Merchant of Venice: Overview
- The Merchant of Venice: Plot Summary
- The Merchant of Venice: Themes
- The Merchant of Venice: Characters
- The Merchant of Venice: Context
- The Merchant of Venice: Writer's Methods and Techniques
- The Merchant of Venice: Key Quotations
- The Merchant of Venice: Character Quotations
- Much Ado About Nothing: Overview
- Much Ado About Nothing: Plot Summary
- Much Ado About Nothing: Themes
- Much Ado About Nothing: Characters
- Much Ado About Nothing: Context
- Much Ado About Nothing: Writer's Methods and Techniques
- Much Ado About Nothing: Key Quotations
- Much Ado About Nothing: Character Quotations
- The Tempest: Overview
- The Tempest: Plot Summary
- The Tempest: Themes
- The Tempest: Characters The Tempest: Context
- The Tempest: Writer's Methods and Techniques
- The Tempest: Key Quotations
- The Tempest: Character Quotations
- Julius Caesar: Overview
- Julius Caesar: Plot Summary
- Julius Caesar: Themes
- Julius Caesar: Characters
- Julius Caesar: Context
- Julius Caesar: Writer's Methods and Techniques
- Julius Caesar: Key Quotations
- Julius Caesar: Character Quotations
What is AQA GCSE English Literature (8702)?
In short: this course gives one-to-one online tutoring for AQA GCSE English Literature (8702). A verified English tutor teaches your Shakespeare play, 19th-century novel, modern text and poetry, closed-book quotation skills and essay technique, marking practice answers against the AQA mark scheme.
AQA GCSE English Literature (8702) is a closed-book GCSE assessed by two exams: Paper 1 on Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel, and Paper 2 on modern texts and poetry. It is graded 9 to 1 and has no tiers.
This course helps you know your set texts in depth and write analytical essays to time, one to one with a verified English tutor who marks your work against the assessment objectives.
Official specification: AQA GCSE English Literature 8702.
For wider support, see our English literature tutoring page, or the Edexcel GCSE English Literature course if your school follows Pearson.
What's on AQA GCSE English Literature Paper 1 and Paper 2?
The two papers cover four set texts plus poetry, and you can't take the texts into the exam.
| Paper | Sections | Time and weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Shakespeare (e.g. Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet) and the 19th-century novel (e.g. A Christmas Carol, Jekyll and Hyde) | 1 hour 45 minutes, 64 marks, 40% |
| Paper 2 | Modern prose or drama (e.g. An Inspector Calls), the poetry anthology and unseen poetry | 2 hours 15 minutes, 96 marks, 60% |
The assessment objectives explained
Every answer is marked against assessment objectives, so tutors teach you exactly what each one rewards.
- AO1: a critical, personal response with well-chosen quotations
- AO2: analysis of the writer's language, form and structure
- AO3: links to context
- AO4: accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar (on Shakespeare and the modern text)
How to write a top-band English Literature essay
Top-band answers are conceptualised: they build an argument about the writer's ideas rather than retelling the plot. Tutors teach a clear structure.
- Start with a thesis about the writer's purpose.
- Use short, embedded quotations.
- Zoom in on specific words and techniques.
- Link analysis to context and the whole text.
- Conclude by returning to the writer's message.
What does a top-band paragraph look like?
A top-band paragraph makes an argument about the question, embeds a short quotation, analyses specific words and methods, and links to context. Here is an illustrative example on Hyde in Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
| Element | Example |
|---|---|
| Point | Stevenson presents Hyde as inhuman and evil from his first appearance. |
| Quotation | Enfield says Hyde seemed "like Satan". |
| Analysis | The simile links Hyde to the devil, suggesting pure evil rather than ordinary wrongdoing. |
| Context | Victorian readers, shaped by religious ideas of sin, would see Hyde as a moral warning. |
| Link | This sets up the novel's question of whether evil lies within respectable men like Jekyll. |
Where do students lose marks in AQA GCSE English Literature?
Students most often lose marks by retelling the plot, using long quotations without analysis, naming techniques without explaining their effect, bolting on context and running out of time on Paper 2.
| Mark-loser | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Retelling the plot | Make an argument in every paragraph |
| Long quotations | Embed short quotations and zoom in on words |
| Feature-spotting | Explain each method's effect |
| Bolted-on context | Link context to your point |
| Timing on Paper 2 | Plan time across modern text, anthology and unseen poetry |
Poetry: the anthology and unseen poems
Tutors help you compare poems from your AQA anthology cluster (Power and Conflict or Love and Relationships) and give you a method for unseen poetry, so you can analyse any poem confidently under time pressure. For wider support, see our English Literature subject page.
How the lessons work
Lessons are live and one to one on video. Your tutor works through your set texts, builds a quotation bank with you, and gives written feedback on timed essays against the AQA mark scheme. Need help with a specific essay? See essay help.
GCSE English Literature tutor online: who this AQA course is for, prerequisites and study plan
A GCSE English Literature tutor online gives you live 1-to-1 lessons on your AQA 8702 set texts, with marked essays, quotation practice and support with unseen poetry.
This course suits Year 10 and Year 11 students on AQA 8702, and post-16 learners resitting.
Prerequisites: basic reading, essay writing and some knowledge of literary techniques.
Course length: 40 one-hour lessons across 5 modules.
| Stage | Topics | What you can do afterwards |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shakespeare | Write an essay on an extract and the whole play |
| 2 | The 19th-century novel | Analyse your novel with context |
| 3 | Modern texts | Analyse character and theme in your text |
| 4 | The poetry anthology; unseen poetry | Compare poems and analyse unseen poems |
Where it leads: see the Edexcel GCSE English Literature course if your school follows Edexcel, or our English literature tutoring page.
AQA GCSE English Literature (8702): frequently asked questions
What is the AQA GCSE English Literature specification code?
The specification code is 8702.
Is AQA GCSE English Literature closed book?
Yes. You can't take your set texts into the exam, so learning key quotations is important.
How long are the AQA English Literature exams?
Paper 1 is 1 hour 45 minutes and Paper 2 is 2 hours 15 minutes.
Which texts can a tutor help with?
Tutors cover all the AQA set texts, such as Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, A Christmas Carol, Jekyll and Hyde, An Inspector Calls and Blood Brothers, plus the poetry anthology.
How many quotations should I learn?
Aim for a focused bank of short, flexible quotations for each key character and theme rather than long passages.
How do I compare poems in the exam?
Compare ideas and methods throughout your answer, using connectives such as 'similarly' and 'in contrast', rather than writing about each poem separately.
What does AO2 mean?
AO2 rewards analysis of the writer's language, form and structure, and their effect on the reader.
Can a tutor mark my practice essays?
Yes. Tutors mark your essays against the AQA mark scheme and explain how to move up a level.
How much does an English Literature tutor cost?
The price depends on the tutor and session length. You see the hourly rate before booking, with no subscription.
Where can I find AQA GCSE English Literature past papers?
AQA publishes recent AQA GCSE English Literature past papers, mark schemes and examiner reports on its website, and schools can access more through their secure portals. Use them under timed conditions, then mark your answers carefully with the mark scheme. Your tutor sets past-paper questions topic by topic, then full timed papers closer to your exam.
How long are the AQA GCSE English Literature papers?
Paper 1 is 1 hour 45 minutes (64 marks, 40%); Paper 2 is 2 hours 15 minutes (96 marks, 60%).
What is on Paper 1?
Section A Shakespeare and Section B the 19th-century novel, each with an extract and a whole-text question.
What is on Paper 2?
Modern prose or drama, the poetry anthology and unseen poetry.
How do I learn quotations for a closed-book exam?
Choose short, flexible quotations by theme and character, and practise using them in timed paragraphs.
How do I analyse unseen poetry?
Read for the overall meaning first, then analyse language, structure and form, and link each point to the question.
What are the AQA GCSE English Literature grade boundaries?
AQA publishes grade boundaries for AQA GCSE English Literature after each exam series, and they change from year to year with paper difficulty. They show the raw marks needed for each grade. Your tutor marks full past papers and compares your scores with recent boundaries to estimate your grade and target the topics that matter most.
How do I write about context?
Link context to your point and quotation, explaining how it shapes the writer's meaning.
Can you help with A Christmas Carol and Macbeth?
Yes. Tutors cover all AQA set texts, including popular choices such as A Christmas Carol and Macbeth.
Do you offer lessons in my time zone?
Yes. Lessons are online, so you can book times that suit your time zone and school week.
How often should I have lessons?
Weekly lessons suit most students; add extra sessions before mocks and final exams.
Can I get a GCSE English Literature tutor online?
Yes. You can learn with a 1-to-1 GCSE English Literature tutor online through live video lessons. Your tutor works through your own set texts, helps you learn quotations for the closed-book exam and marks your essays against the assessment objectives.
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