- A level Maths
- A level English
- A level Chemistry
- A level Biology
- A level Geography
- A level History
- A level Physics
- A level Economics
- A level Business Studies
- A level Computing
- A level Sociology
- A level Politics
- A level Accounting
- A level Archaeology
- A level Art and Design
- A level Communication
- A level Dance
- A level Drama
- A level Design
- A level Electronics
- A level Environmental Studies
- A level General Studies
- A level Geology
- A level French
- A level Classical Civilisation
- A level German
- A level Graphic Products
- A level Health and Social Care
- A level ICT
- A level Italian
- A level Law
- A level Leisure Studies
- A level Media Studies
- A level Music
- A level Physical Education
- A level Citizenship Studies
- A level English Language and Literature
- A level Performing Arts
- A level Philosophy
- A level Psychology
- A level Religious Studies
- A level Spanish
What A-Level English Entails
A-Level English Literature is usually structured with six modules split across two years, with both coursework and examinations as assessments, however some institutions are following the new four module A-level english outcome as specified by the examining body AQA. This A-level english course quite often focuses on literature in the English language, with work provided by different English-speaking countries.
A typical modular structure for A-level english literature will include a modern novel, Shakespeare, texts in context (quite often Victorian poetry), texts in time, literary connections (often a comparative essay for coursework) and reading for meaning. The A-level english course itself is quite relaxed, with the literature being picked by your institution from a list of recommended literature from the examining body.
The exception to this is the literary connections coursework, where you can often choose your own two books to make comparisons on. You exams are usually around two hours, in which you answer questions in an essay format. You can often choose your questions based on what you would prefer to answer, as they give you multiple options.
A-Level english language is not so different, with six modules offered over the course of two years with examinations and coursework as the final assessments. The purpose of the A-level english language subject is to develop language skills and give the student the ability to create written work that can be targeted at a specific audience in a specific format.
A-level English language is known to be one of the most popular A-level subject choices, and with good reason, as it is a fun and easy-to-understand course with high academic respect. The modules A-level English language covers includes discovering language, representation and language (coursework), language explorations and language investigations and interventions (coursework).
The two coursework options give you the opportunity to be creative in an otherwise academic subject. It is commonplace to only accept students onto A-level English courses if they have grade C or above in English at GCSE.
AS-level English courses in both literature and language consists of three modules that are then combined with the results of the three modules at A2-level in order to gain a full A-level english grade. The AS-level english is the first year of the course and although you may decide not to take your English course into the second year, having an AS-level in English is beneficial when applying for courses and jobs.
For a large amount of institutions the bulk of the A-level English coursework is assigned in the AS-level year, with some examinations also taking place. Your AS-level English language will introduce you to the modes and methods of English language, helping you understand the concepts of audience, purpose, field, genre and mode, all important tools if you are considering any job that requires writing or presentations.
This ability is further progressed in the second module, representation and language, where you learn how to write to cater to a specific audience. AS-Level English literature covers three modules that are assessed by examination.
Studying A-Level English Online
A-level English subjects are one of the more popular options and are widely available online as distance learning courses, where you cover four modules with coursework and examination assessments. There are resources made accessible to you online that you can utilise fully to get the best grade, including online tutor guidance, an online student community, past examination papers and revision tools.
The A-level english modules that are chosen are done so to fully suit the needs of the distance learning student, which is helpful in a subject that relies heavily on external resources. Distance learning A-level English courses quite often require a minimum of 4 GCSE grades with a grade C or above in your chosen English subject. There is a fee associated with studying A-level English online as a distance learning course.
There are also a multitude of resources available online for the school student of either of the A-level English subjects, with online support from tutors, revision websites, past papers, pop quizzes and access to resource materials.
What Advantages Can A-Level English Offer You?
Having A-level English as a subject can offer you a host of employment opportunities, as well as giving you a distinct advantage when applying to universities. Having a qualification in A-level English is advantageous in any career before you even start it, as a well-written CV and cover letter can often make the difference between you and another candidate.
If you are intending to be self-employed as a proof-reader, freelance writer or author, then having A-level English can really develop your skills and give you higher credibility.
Almost any career can be accessed with A-level English, however career opportunities that require an English A-level include journalist, columnist, screenwriter, editors and teaching, with several other careers, particularly in the media and publishing industries, where having an A-level english is a huge advantage.
There are a number of university courses that require an English A-level, including journalism, creative writing, English literature and English language, amongst others and again there are a huge number of courses where it would give you a clear advantage.