2025 Ultimate Guide to AQA English Literature Paper 1 Section A (with 'Macbeth' Example)

[@JL52050]

Video summary [00:00] - Paper 1 Section A assesses knowledge of a Shakespeare play - The exam is 1 hour 45 minutes long and marked out of 64 - Section A has 34 marks available, including 4 for spelling, punctuation, and grammar - Section B has 30 marks available for the 19th century novel question - Students should spend around 55 minutes on the Shakespeare question - The exam is closed book, but an extract is provided for analysis - Assessment objectives include reading, understanding, and responding to texts, analyzing language, and showing understanding of relationships between texts - The most important thing is to answer the question and prioritize a conceptualized response [02:41] Conceptualized response with clear line of argument is crucial in answering literature questions - High quality answers address main theme and use entire text - Dip in and out of extract and whole text to demonstrate understanding - Question on witches limited due to few appearances - Witches seem powerful at start but power diminishes as play progresses - Thesis statement should address witches' power throughout entire play [05:21] The illusion of power in witches is explored in the play through appearances versus reality - The concept is a two-part line of argument - An introduction can clarify the thesis and help stay on track - Supporting references can be paraphrases or direct quotations - AO2 requires analysis of language, form, and structure or writer's methods [08:01] The expansion of the mark scheme is to help understand how to bring relevant methods into your answer - Assessment objective remains AO2 language structure and form - Language analysis includes figurative language and Shakespeare's use of words for effect - Structure analysis is about how the text is organized and where events take place - Freitag's pyramid can be applied to both five act plays and novels - Knowledge of structure can be used to answer questions about presentation of characters [10:41] The witches play a key role as catalysts in the tragedy of Macbeth, and their positioning within the play is important for character progression. - The witches play a key role in the tragedy as a catalyst for events - Higher performing students skillfully discuss the extract's location in the text - Shakespeare's use of dramatic irony creates a gap between prophecy and enactment - The play's structure prompts deeper questions about appearances versus reality [13:21] Tips for answering English literature exam questions - Consider the question in relation to the whole text, including the extract - Bring in relevant methods and keep referring back to the question and introduction - Think about the extract's relevance to the wider text - Context can refer to various aspects of the text - Consistent accuracy in spelling, punctuation, and clear expression is crucial for full marks

[@Minded_Stylish]

thanks bro 🙏

[@ash.exe.07]

ty for the notes lmao

[@JL52050]

Np guys hope it went well

[@emilyAmihan]

LOVE YOU

[@emsx8]

Here for my English Lit paper 1 on Mondayy, kinda scared but also excited!

[@entirelyt]

same

[@testtest-xz8ce]

@@entirelyt same

[@hamzaal-menahi788]

same wallahi

[@Sul.z76]

Not excited, fearful I failed my last lit paper

[@Ilostmyaccsonice]

​@user-ox9vg8on9y If you work hard you will PASS just believe

[@gen1136]

I haven't revised and i have this mock tommorow. I NEED this

[@glorpazoid21]

its my last day of christmas break and i have done NO REVISION, my mocks start tomorrow, im pretty sure this guy is whats getting me into 6th form

[@iquit8602]

3 days before my exams im trembling

[@rdtqx]

@@iquit8602same bro I’m done for I have a few months left till gcse and most of my mock grades are like 1’s and 2’s

[@ROCKY2047]

whats on paper 1- macbeth and a christams carol right?@@iquit8602

[@Clips.m8]

how did it go then??

[@Springcleaner101]

What happened

[@BeyonceOsuji]

Good luck for tomorrow everyone🎉

[@izzi0the0reo]

thank you omg i have my english literature paper 1 mock tommorow!

[@TheserialM]

Mocks tomorrow revising 😢*stressed* but this video is probaly my desperate surviving grace

[@ardaismail193]

Me too good luck

[@TheserialM]

Thx u too

[@Ruby_y2486]

Same good luck everyone

[@robertellis8333]

Facts

[@CorpseBun]

Woop for me is tmr😭

[@hatty680]

Good luck for tommorrow

[@donut_barbarian]

Same my mock is tomorrow too in the morning and this video has saved my grade

[@editedsongs4u538]

What were the questionsss

[@CobaltXMusic]

Last minute revision for English Lit, hoping to get a 7 overall!

[@lilymay4495]

what did u get !!

[@CobaltXMusic]

@@lilymay4495 6 lol I was like 2 points off a 7 sad times

[@Plug4_4]

@@CobaltXMusicwhat questions were on the paper?

[@unasthesniper4379]

I have my mocks tomorrow which this video was a saviour

[@mrbruff]

Great!

[@Mind_Sparks-q3q]

is this paper going to come in the actual mock im not sure what to revise or this is just a practice paper@@mrbruff

[@mrbruff]

@@Mind_Sparks-q3q This is just a practice paper

[@Floof_aka_Sofa]

This video was very helpful in describing how to write an analytical essay, especially because teachers sometimes skim over how to do this and leave me confused on how to actually improve my structure skills. I don't blame them either, really- what can you really fit into an hour of learning, especially with all the literature content which needs to be covered? So thanks for this in-depth explanation, it helped describe exactly how an essay in this paper should be written to achieve top marks. You really saved me here! :)

[@mrbruff]

Great!

[@PeaceR0]

Hi everyone, I was wondering if having a slightly vague point (which still answers the question) can allow me to get higher than a Level 2 out of 6? I did my English Literature Paper 1 mock 2 weeks ago and I recieved my grade back and it was barely a pass. When I asked my teacher she said that I had Level 5 ideas but my point was not clear enough so she marked me down. As far as I'm concerned AQA doesn't take marks away from candidate responses but she says that AQA does. I'm rather confused right now. Hope someone can help!

[@nayangupta8615]

I don't think "marked down" is the right wording, it might have been a lack of an in-depth explanation from your original point to be able to gain the marks from. The in-depth explanation has to be focused, so technically... yes AQA can only give out a certain amount of marks if you write about a broad (vague) point and don't narrow down to finer things. If you don't focus on specific phrases or topics, you don't show the examiner that you have a deeper understanding of the texts (one of the assessment objectives 0:59) . In the video, Mr Bruff lists the assessment objectives which is basically a rough mark scheme that the examiner works from to give marks. I try to remember to always make direct references to the question and only highlight quotes that are relevant to the question (so I can get those Level 5/6 marks!) Hope this helps 👍

[@imyst8157]

last year when i watched i was on a grade 8, exams tomorrow and im finished

[@Fin1878F1]

Ready for English Lit Mock Tomorrow now with this!

[@navayahvu2519]

Thank you so much 😊

[@louiserawman258]

Would it be recommended to only bring in a quote if I intend on analysing it, to further answer the question, not to just back up something I've said happened (been doing the latter for a long time )

[@mrbruff]

Yes!

[@raaidahmed]

5:45 there is 3 points after the thesis correct me if im wrong?

[@mrbruff]

I would consider this a two-part argument. Part 1: the witches initially appear powerful. Part 2: This power is illusory. I would incorporate a discussion of the theme this represents (in my example, appearances versus reality) into the second part. It's always important to write about how the text has been deliberately crafted to present certain ideas or themes, so I wouldn't consider that a separate thesis point, but rather an integral one.

[@alltyper]

What structure should i follow for this paper pls help me

[@alisson3662]

I’m cooked🫡

[@lilasicl]

same dude english lit paper 1 tmr im so failing

[@GeezerVR]

I'm fucked

[@Crapulence1]

Did u lot pass?

[@DreamNakzz]

Thank you very useful

[@mrbruff]

No problem!

[@Swen_mations]

This too hard, am skipping mocks

[@ouswah.143]

L-O-S-E-R

[@aladdinsanee]

skip the real exams too - lower the grade boundaries

[@hamzaal-menahi788]

@@aladdinsanee wallahi help us my nigga

[@sully-x8g]

@@hamzaal-menahi788 wrd

[@pop_out]

is lit paper 1 macbeth and inspector calls

[@hamzaal-menahi788]

nah fam wallahi u have lost the plot my man paper1 is chrismas carol and macbeth paper 2 is unseen poetry, power and conflict poetry and an inspector calls good luck my nigga thank me later

[@mrbruff]

On AQA it’s Shakespeare and 19th C novel.

[@RarityUnknownEdits]

@@hamzaal-menahi788I love the way you worded that, aggressive aid

[@suba7424]

@@hamzaal-menahi788😂

[@PieMan24-rl9eq]

I bet the question is gonna be on ladymacbeth

[@psivy5942]

how'd you know

[@ellio.t]

correct

[@Springcleaner101]

Good luck guys

[@farmersnot2525]

Last revision lit

[@kd-dd1hi]

I feel like literature is easier than language

[@mrbruff]

There is a lot more crossover of skills - not so many different things to have to do.

[@xosadiexo]

Got a mock today im gonna fail

[@HMOODYX-yo2ho]

Am cooked

[@HammadKobir]

cooked

[@charliewilliams5672]

soon it will be christmas time (griddy pog sus)

[@laavanya5206]

Can you do an analysis on search for my tongue pls? @mrbruff

[@hamzaal-menahi788]

wtf

[@razz_tv1859]

wtf

[@zbordepegeamm]

i am done for 🫡

[@OmariMuwafi]

same icl