GCSE English Literature revision
GCSE English Literature is two exams on AQA, Edexcel and OCR. Between them they cover a Shakespeare play, a 19th-century novel, a modern play or novel, anthology poems and unseen poetry. Your board decides which text sits on which paper. Edexcel and OCR's first English Literature paper is on 12 May 2027. Pick your board to see your papers.
- 1 set textMacbeth
- 4 boards comparedAQA, Edexcel, OCR, Cambridge IGCSE
- First GCSE written paper, 2027
- 10 May 2027
- First English Literature paper (Edexcel, OCR)
Dates follow the JCQ common timetable. English Literature dates are from the Pearson Edexcel and OCR final summer 2027 timetables.
Set texts
Set texts in the Library
What each page holds, the papers its text sits on and when its facts were checked.
- GCSE
- AQA 8702, Paper 1
- Edexcel 1ET0, Paper 1, Section A
- OCR J352, Paper 2, Section B
- Notes
- 20 flashcards
- 3 practice questions with mark schemes
- Write an answer, get it marked
- 4-board comparison
- Common mistakes
Also on MacbethMacbeth quotesCharacter analysisThemes
Checked · Exam facts from AQA 8702, Pearson Edexcel 1ET0, OCR J352
Five plot questions on Macbeth to test yourself
Test yourself on 29 Macbeth quotesAnswer a Macbeth exam question and get it marked
Studying another text? The study tool turns your own annotations into notes, flashcards and practice questions it can mark. Open the study tool
Papers
GCSE English Literature papers by board
Each card gives a paper's sections. For Edexcel, OCR and Cambridge IGCSE it also gives the length, marks, weight and whether you may take the text in.
AQA 8702
- Paper 1
Sections
- Shakespeare
- 19th-century novel
- Paper 2
Sections
- Modern text
- Anthology poetry
- Unseen poetry
For AQA's paper lengths, marks and weights, see AQA's specification at a glance.
Pearson Edexcel 1ET0
- 1ET0/01Closed book
- Length
- 1 h 45 min
- Marks
- 80
- Weight
- 50%
Sections
- A:Shakespeare
- B:Post-1914 play or novel
- 1ET0/02Closed book
- Length
- 2 h 15 min
- Marks
- 80
- Weight
- 50%
Sections
- A:19th-century novel
- B:Anthology and unseen poetry
Source: Pearson Edexcel GCSE English Literature 1ET0 (specification Issue 2), checked .
OCR J352
- J352/01Closed book
- Length
- 2 h
- Marks
- 80
- Weight
- 50%
Sections
- A:Modern prose or drama
- B:19th-century novel
- J352/02Closed book
- Length
- 2 h
- Marks
- 80
- Weight
- 50%
Sections
- A:Anthology cluster and an unseen poem
- B:Shakespeare
Source: OCR GCSE English Literature J352, specification at a glance, checked .
Cambridge IGCSE 0475
- Paper 1Closed book
- Length
- 1 h 30 min
- Marks
- 50
- Weight
- 50%
Sections
- A:Poetry
- B:Prose
Route: A, B, C
- Paper 2Closed book
- Length
- 1 h 30 min
- Marks
- 50
- Weight
- 50%
Sections
- Drama
Route: A
- Paper 3Clean copy allowed
- Length
- 45 min
- Marks
- 25
- Weight
- 25%
Sections
- Drama
Route: B, C
- Paper 4
- Length
- 1 h 15 min
- Marks
- 25
- Weight
- 25%
Sections
- Unseen prose or poem
Route: B
- Component 5
- Marks
- 25
- Weight
- 25%
Sections
- Coursework
Route: C
Source: Cambridge IGCSE Literature in English 0475, 2027 syllabus, checked . For 2027 exams. Cambridge sets texts for each exam year, and from 2028 the papers change and both written papers become open text. Routes (our letters): A is Papers 1 and 2. B is Papers 1, 3 and 4. C is Papers 1 and 3 plus Component 5.
Macbeth is not a Cambridge IGCSE set text for 2027. On Eduqas it sits in Component 1, Section A. Eduqas's papers are not listed yet.
Exams
Find your exam
2027 exam dates, a grade calculator, answer marking and pages for AQA, Edexcel and OCR.
Written by Amin Mudassir, Founder of Aripsy · Last checked ·
How to use this page
- 01
Pick your board and note which paper your set text sits on.
- 02
Open the set text's page for the summary, notes, key quotes and flashcards.
- 03
Answer a practice question in the box on that page and get an estimated mark, with the points you earned and missed.
Where the exam facts come from
The Edexcel, OCR and Cambridge papers come from each board's own specification, linked under its cards. Set texts change, so check your board and texts with your school.