Assessment Objectives
Understanding the five Assessment Objectives (AOs) is crucial for exam success. Every question tests specific AOs.
AO1
Articulate informed, personal and creative responses
Articulate informed, personal and creative responses to literary texts, using associated concepts and terminology, and coherent, accurate written expression.
Key Skills:
- Use appropriate literary terminology
- Develop a coherent argument
- Express ideas clearly and accurately
- Show personal engagement with texts
AO2
Analyse ways meanings are shaped
Analyse ways in which meanings are shaped in literary texts, through form, structure and language.
Key Skills:
- Analyse how writers use language
- Explore effects of structural choices
- Consider genre conventions and form
- Close reading of specific passages
AO3
Demonstrate understanding of contexts
Demonstrate understanding of the significance and influence of the contexts in which literary texts are written and received.
Key Skills:
- Historical and social context
- Biographical context where relevant
- Literary and cultural movements
- Reception history and critical traditions
AO4
Explore connections across literary texts
Explore connections across literary texts, informed by linguistic and literary concepts and methods.
Key Skills:
- Compare and contrast texts
- Identify thematic connections
- Explore literary traditions and influences
- Synthesise ideas across texts
AO5
Explore literary texts informed by different interpretations
Explore literary texts informed by different interpretations.
Key Skills:
- Engage with critical perspectives
- Consider alternative readings
- Evaluate different interpretations
- Develop your own critical position
AO Weighting by Component
| Component | AO1 | AO2 | AO3 | AO4 | AO5 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Component 1: Poetry | 15 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 60 |
| Component 2: Drama | 15 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 60 |
| Component 3: Unseen | 10 | 15 | --- | 10 | 5 | 40 |
| Component 4: NEA | 10 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 40 |