Four components, 400 raw marks, no scaling. Component 1 is open book on prescribed editions; Component 2 is closed book. Sections B of Components 1 and 2 are sold as board prescribed pairs, not single texts. The board publishes marks at component level only, so no section mark split is shown. The AS sibling B720QS is withdrawn, final award summer 2027.
every component mapped before a word is written
Component 1: Poetry
120 minutes · 120 marks · 30 per cent
Section A: Poetry pre-1900
Choose one text. Open book, clean copy, prescribed edition. Two-part question: close analysis then whole text
Section B: Poetry post-1900
Choose one prescribed pair. Prescribed sections only. AO4 assessed here
Component 2: Drama
120 minutes · 120 marks · 30 per cent
Section A: Shakespeare
Choose one play. Closed book. Extract question from the Collins Alexander text, then whole play essay
Section B: Drama
Choose one prescribed pair, one play pre-1900 and one post-1900. Closed book. AO4 assessed here
Component 3: Unseen Texts
120 minutes · 80 marks · 20 per cent
Section A: Unseen prose
One question from two, by prescribed period. No set texts. Contextual and critical extracts supplied
Section B: Unseen poetry
One question from two. Any period. No set texts and AO4 is not assessed anywhere in this component
Component 4: Prose Study
80 marks · 20 per cent
Prose Study assignment (80 marks)
NEA, 2500 to 3500 words. Two prose texts by different authors, one pre-2000 and one post-2000, nominated to the board by end September