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Mastering the NEA: A Comprehensive Guide to AQA English Literature A Level Coursework

Subject: English

Age range: 16+

Resource type: Unit of work

Last updated

27 October 2023

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Dive into the world of AQA English Literature A Level coursework with “Mastering the NEA”. This meticulously crafted scheme of work is designed not only to illuminate the intricacies of the Non-Exam Assessment (NEA) component but also to provide educators with a clear, structured pathway to guide their students towards academic success.

Key Content Breakdown:

Introduction to the NEA:

• Overview of the NEA component
• Importance in the AQA English Literature A Level curriculum
• Weightage and significance in the overall grade

Text Selection Guidance:

• Criteria for choosing appropriate texts
• Tips for pairing prose and poetry
• Avoiding texts from the examined components

Crafting the Comparative Essay:

• Structuring the essay for optimal coherence and flow
• Techniques for drawing meaningful comparisons
• Addressing assessment objectives in the essay

Teacher’s Role in the NEA Process:

• Balancing guidance with student independence
• Providing constructive feedback on drafts
• Encouraging critical thinking and original analysis

Plagiarism Prevention and Academic Integrity:

• Educating students on the importance of originality
• Tools and techniques to check for plagiarism
• Ensuring the authenticity of student submissions

Assessment and Moderation:

• Understanding the marking criteria
• Tips for consistent and objective marking
• Preparing for AQA moderation

Additional Resources and Support:

• Exemplar essays for classroom discussion
• Checklists and templates for students
• Further reading and professional development opportunities for educators

With “Mastering the NEA”, educators are equipped with a holistic tool that not only covers the essentials of the coursework but also provides insights, tips, and resources to enhance the teaching and learning experience. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or new to the AQA specification, this scheme of work promises to be an invaluable addition to your teaching toolkit.

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Summer 2022 nea: a level english literature.

Isobel Woodger, OCR English Subject Advisor

Here at OCR we’ve had lots of queries from centres in recent weeks about marking coursework, or non-exam assessment (NEA). For A Level English Literature (H472), this means Component 3: Literature post-1900.

There have been questions about how to apply the mark scheme. This isn’t surprising as it hasn’t been assessed for two years, so a larger number of teachers than normal will be submitting marks for moderation for the first time. We’ve also had questions about administrative requirements, and most particularly about whether any allowances should be made when marking for the abnormal and difficult circumstances many students have had to contend with while completing their assignments. 

Regarding that last point, the JCQ (Joint Council for Qualifications) has recently released guidance , which makes it clear that all NEA must be marked in the same way as before the pandemic disruption. This is really important, as it will help ensure that all students’ work is marked to the same standards. 

As the JCQ guidance also says, the 2022 grading process that takes place after marking, when the grade boundaries are set, will provide a safety net. So please don’t think that by marking your students’ work to pre-pandemic standards this year, you are in any way doing them an injustice. (For more on 2022 grading, please see this Ofqual article from September last year.) 

In the light of that recent JCQ announcement, and the queries we’ve had from you, we thought it would be helpful to provide a quick summary of the support available to ensure that you are marking to the correct standard.

Guides to applying the mark scheme

There are several resources that will help you have confidence in your application of the mark scheme for H472:

• A free on-line standardisation course is available on OCR Train . This can be completed in your own time and includes a series of tests designed to ensure that you are correctly allocating levels to pieces of work. 
• We have our Teacher Guide for Literature post-1900 as well as a guide on task setting available on our Assessment page , under the NEA banner. 
• Our examiners’ reports and candidate exemplars are also available on our Assessment page , both of which contain helpful guidance in determining appropriate levels for Tasks 1 and Task 2. 
• Each year we run CPD sessions on marking H472/03, which include additional exemplar scripts as well as advice and guidance. You can access the materials from past courses on the CPD section of our website .

Administrative points to remember

General information on NEA administration is available on our website . There is a candidate cover sheet on the Administration section of our English Language web page. 

For A Level English Language specifically there are a couple of points to remember:

• All titles chosen by students entering H472 this summer needed to be formally approved by us (we ask you to submit them by 31st January). This is done by using the Text and task tool on our website. If you’re preparing for next year’s cohort, a guide to using the tool is available. 
• The two tasks must cover the study of three whole texts: a poetry, prose and drama text . All of these must be first performed or published after 1900, with at least one first performed or published in or after 2000. 
• No core set texts from the specification may be used , even if these are not studied for the exam. (Suggested texts in Component 2 can be used if not being prepared for use in examinations.) Likewise, no texts in translation are permitted . 
• If you are not sure whether you have approval for all your students’ titles this year, please email us at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to check!

Looking forward to next year’s cohort

We hope that your students enjoy researching and writing their investigations for H472. This independent study remains an important part of A Level English Literature, helping to develop important independent study skills, as well as enabling students to study texts of real personal interest. Each year we’re always thrilled to see new texts and combinations that students are passionate about. 

We have written a blog post exploring ways to encourage student independence of text choice and task construction. Additionally, we introduced our Expanding your NEA library resources two years ago which students seem to really have engaged with. We have published three lists so far which you can find on our Assessment page under NEA:

• July 2020 : highlighting 30 texts by Black authors writing in English from around the world. 
• October 2020 : highlighting 15 contemporary texts by authors of colour from the last decade. 
• June 2021 : highlighting 30 texts, 10 alternatives to each of these popular texts: The World’s Wife , A Streetcar Named Desire , and Atonement .

Finally, we will, as always, be offering CPD on H472 in the next school year. Keep an eye on the Professional Development section of our website and be sure to have signed up for English updates (details below) to get details of when these become available.

Stay connected

If you have any questions, you can email us at [email protected] , call us on 01223 553998 or tweet us @OCR_ English . You can also sign up to subject updates and receive information about resources and support.

About the author

Isobel has particular responsibility for the A Level English qualification suite. She previously worked as a classroom teacher in a co-educational state secondary school, with three years as second-in-charge in English with responsibility for Key Stage 5. In addition to teaching all age groups from Key Stage 3 to 5, Isobel worked with the University of Cambridge’s Faculty of Education as a mentor to PGCE trainees. Prior to this, she studied for an MA in film, television and screen media with Birkbeck College, University of London while working as a learning support assistant at a large state comprehensive school.

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• A Level English: Expanding your NEA library
• English: Tips and tricks for tackling the A Level Literature NEA