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International A Level English Literature IAS / IAL

Pearson Edexcel – Qualification Codes: WET01/ WET02 (IAS), WET03/ WET04 (IAL)

Why Study This Course?

The Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Level in English Literature provides students with an opportunity to engage critically with a diverse selection of literary texts, spanning different periods, cultures, and genres. Through this course, students will refine their analytical, evaluative, and comparative skills, preparing them for higher education and careers in writing, media, and the humanities.

This course is ideal for students who:

  • Enjoy reading and analysing poetry, prose, drama, and Shakespearean works.
  • Want to develop critical thinking and argumentation skills through literary discussion.
  • Are interested in literary history, thematic analysis, and contextual influences on literature.
  • Are considering university degrees in English, Literature, Journalism, Media Studies, Law, or Education.
  • Wish to gain a globally recognised qualification that supports progression to top universities.

Who is This Course For?

This course is suitable for students who:

  • Have a passion for classic and contemporary literature.
  • Enjoy discussing themes, characters, and language in texts.
  • Are interested in how historical and social contexts shape literature.
  • Want to improve their essay writing, textual analysis, and research skills.

This course fosters critical reading, independent thinking, and structured argumentation, essential for higher education and professional careers.

1. Literary Analysis and Interpretation

  • Understanding themes, narrative structures, and poetic devices.
  • Engaging with historical, political, and social influences on literature.
  • Developing personal responses and critical perspectives.

2. Comparative and Contextual Study

  • Comparing literary movements and stylistic techniques.
  • Exploring the evolution of literature over time.
  • Evaluating critical interpretations of texts.

3. Advanced Writing and Argumentation

  • Constructing well-supported literary essays.
  • Developing persuasive arguments and close textual analysis.
  • Applying academic writing conventions and referencing.

The course assesses students based on the following objectives:

Objective Description Weighting
AO1 Develop coherent, informed, and creative responses to texts 27.5%
AO2 Analyse how meanings are shaped in literary works 27.5%
AO3 Evaluate texts in historical and cultural contexts 22.5%
AO4 Explore connections across literary works 10%
AO5 Engage with alternative critical perspectives 12.5%

Course Structure

The qualification consists of four externally assessed written papers, divided into two levels:

International Advanced Subsidiary (IAS) – Equivalent to AS Level

Unit 1: Post-2000 Poetry and Prose (IAS – 25%)

Exam Duration

2 hours

Assessment Format

External written examination

Skills Assessed

  • Analysing modern poetry and prose.
  • Evaluating themes, form, structure, and language techniques.
  • Making comparative and contextual connections between texts.

Topics Covered

  • Post-2000 Poetry – A selection of modern poems from Poems of the Decade: An Anthology of the Forward Books of Poetry 2002–2011.
  • Post-2000 Prose – One novel from a choice of :
  • Brooklyn – Colm Tóibín
  • The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
  • Life of Pi – Yann Martel
  • Purple Hibiscus – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  • The White Tiger – Aravind Adiga

Unit 2: Drama (IAS – 25%)

Exam Duration

2 hours

Assessment Format

External written examination

Skills Assessed

  • Analysing dramatic techniques, themes, and characters.
  • Understanding historical and social contexts of plays.
  • Engaging with critical perspectives and alternative interpretations.

Topics Covered

  • Pre-1900 Drama – Choose one from :
  • Doctor Faustus – Christopher Marlowe
  • Othello – William Shakespeare
  • The Rover – Aphra Behn
  • She Stoops to Conquer – Oliver Goldsmith
  • Twelfth Night – William Shakespeare
  • Post-1900 Drama – Choose one from :
  • A Raisin in the Sun – Lorraine Hansberry
  • A Streetcar Named Desire – Tennessee Williams
  • Death of a Salesman – Arthur Miller
  • Top Girls – Caryl Churchill
  • Waiting for Godot – Samuel Beckett

International Advanced Level (IAL) – Full A-Level

Unit 3: Poetry and Prose (IA2 – 25%)

Exam Duration

2 hours

Assessment Format

External written examination

Skills Assessed

  • Analysing post-1900 unseen poetry.
  • Comparing thematic prose texts.
  • Understanding literary movements and contextual influences.

Topics Covered

  • Post-1900 Unseen Poetry – Analysing an unfamiliar modern poem.
  • Comparative Prose Study – Choose two novels from one of the following themes :
  • Growing Up: The Color Purple, Great Expectations, What Maisie Knew
  • Colonisation and After: Heart of Darkness, The Lonely Londoners, A Passage to India
  • Science and Society: Frankenstein, The Handmaid’s Tale, Never Let Me Go
  • Women and Society: Beloved, Mrs Dalloway, Wuthering Heights

Unit 4: Shakespeare and Pre-1900 Poetry (IA2 – 25%)

Exam Duration

2 hours

Assessment Format

External written examination

Skills Assessed

  • Evaluating Shakespearean drama and poetic movements.
  • Analysing literary techniques and historical context.
  • Engaging with critical interpretations of classical texts.

Topics Covered

  • Shakespearean Drama – Choose one from:
  • Hamlet
  • King Lear
  • Measure for Measure
  • The Taming of the Shrew
  • Pre-1900 Poetry – Choose one poetry movement:
  • Metaphysical Poets (e.g. John Donne, Andrew Marvell)
  • The Victorians (e.g. Christina Rossetti, Alfred Lord Tennyson)
  • The Romantics (e.g. William Wordsworth, John Keats)