How would an A* GCSE student be likely to perform in A level English Literature?
English language and literature discussion, revision, exam and homework help.
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How would an A* GCSE student be likely to perform in A level English Literature?Hi, I'm doing English Literature in Sixth form starting September, and I am really looking forward to it as I thoroughly enjoyed it all the way throughout GCSE, especially the poetry analysis and comparison. I'd just like to know if I'd struggle with A level despite the fact I'm predicted an A* and have gained such a grade in controlled assessments and mocks. Obviously I don't know what final grade I will achieve until August, so perhaps shouldn't comment on my performance until then, but is there anyone who could kindly offer advice? I also know that I'd have to put the work in to succeed, of course
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Re: How would an A* GCSE student be likely to perform in A level English Literature?It's very difficult to say. I have friends who got As and A*s in English literature GCSE and are now predicted As and A*s at A-Level, but then I got an A at GCSE but a D at AS. It really depends on how you personally find the course, A-Level is very different from GCSE. Don't want to be disheartening, just telling you my experiences! Either way if you work your hardest then you should be proud of whatever you get, be that an A or an E
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Re: How would an A* GCSE student be likely to perform in A level English Literature?Ooh that's interesting and very helpful, thank you!(Original post by funsongfactory)
It's very difficult to say. I have friends who got As and A*s in English literature GCSE and are now predicted As and A*s at A-Level, but then I got an A at GCSE but a D at AS. It really depends on how you personally find the course, A-Level is very different from GCSE. Don't want to be disheartening, just telling you my experiences! Either way if you work your hardest then you should be proud of whatever you get, be that an A or an E
I'd rather you be honest than just tell me what I want to hear haha, so that's fine 
Thanks again
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Re: How would an A* GCSE student be likely to perform in A level English Literature?My A level teaching groups have been composed of only A and A* GCSE students for some years now (about 10 - 12) and it's quite hard to predict how well people are going to do at the start. Some people have actually peaked at that point and struggle to get higher. By the end, they've all got between A* and B, but it's not always been easy, nor have the highest marks always gone to the ones who started out as front runners from the outset.(Original post by Lucy96)
Hi, I'm doing English Literature in Sixth form starting September, and I am really looking forward to it as I thoroughly enjoyed it all the way throughout GCSE, especially the poetry analysis and comparison. I'd just like to know if I'd struggle with A level despite the fact I'm predicted an A* and have gained such a grade in controlled assessments and mocks. Obviously I don't know what final grade I will achieve until August, so perhaps shouldn't comment on my performance until then, but is there anyone who could kindly offer advice? I also know that I'd have to put the work in to succeed, of course Thank you.
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Re: How would an A* GCSE student be likely to perform in A level English Literature?I'm pretty sure everyone at my school who got an A* has gone on to do pretty well at AS level. We haven't got results for A2 yet obviously but I don't expect them to get less than As. I got an A* for GCSE and actually found AS kind of hard, because I hated the book and for some reason I struggled to write good essays. I still managed to get an A overall, but it's definitely harder than GCSE. This year has been SO much better personally. I stopped overthinking it and the essays just flowed. I'm somewhat optimistically aiming for A* and though it was hard last year, it's been my favourite subject by far this year, and I've probably put the least effort into it, with the best results (for mocks and grades etc...not sure about the exam yet!). I find English is strange like that. You have to enjoy it to reach your full potential IMO. If you love English and don't get too stressed about it, it should come relatively naturally. You sound like you have a really good attitude though, so I'm sure you'll do really well. I find English quite an unpredictable subject like that, but enthusiasm most definitely helps! Good luck
Last edited by Boom.Squish; 23-06-2012 at 21:27. -
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Re: How would an A* GCSE student be likely to perform in A level English Literature?getting an a* at gcse does not mean you will automatically do well at AS level. the most common example of this is maths where many people who gain an a* at gcse go on to be a c/d student or even drop maths as a whole. this is simply because gcse scores are not a good indicator for A level performance.
i myself got an a* in english lit and managed to do this with a below par effort and i didnt even read the novel. however if i was to do english lit at AS i would almost defiantly get a c/d.
my advice would be if you enjoy english literature and have a real passion for it while being relatively good at the subject then you should do well at a level. -
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Re: How would an A* GCSE student be likely to perform in A level English Literature?Yeah that's very understandable! Thank you for your input, I really appreciate it.(Original post by carnationlilyrose)
My A level teaching groups have been composed of only A and A* GCSE students for some years now (about 10 - 12) and it's quite hard to predict how well people are going to do at the start. Some people have actually peaked at that point and struggle to get higher. By the end, they've all got between A* and B, but it's not always been easy, nor have the highest marks always gone to the ones who started out as front runners from the outset.
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Re: How would an A* GCSE student be likely to perform in A level English Literature?Well I got an A* at GCSE and I didn't find A-level much different from GCSE, other than different topics and harder texts. If you love english literature and are naturally good at it then you should be fine
Of course it can be really unpredictable, but you seem to have a great attitude, so you should be fine
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Re: How would an A* GCSE student be likely to perform in A level English Literature?If you want to ensure your success have a look what texts you will be studying at AS and A2 and read them. It really helps with coursework ect If you've already read the books! I got an A* at GCSE but got a C in the AS exam wit a B overall. My class later found out that our teacher had been teaching us all wrong and she's now been demoted to GCSE classes
But the second year despite being harder has been alot better and I feel like I've done well, I got A's in all my AS courseworks and an A* in the A2 one. So yes If you get an A* at GCSE you will be capable of high grades at A level, but the work load is of course greater and more difficult.
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Re: How would an A* GCSE student be likely to perform in A level English Literature?Congratulations on your amazing grades!(Original post by Boom.Squish)
I'm pretty sure everyone at my school who got an A* has gone on to do pretty well at AS level. We haven't got results for A2 yet obviously but I don't expect them to get less than As. I got an A* for GCSE and actually found AS kind of hard, because I hated the book and for some reason I struggled to write good essays. I still managed to get an A overall, but it's definitely harder than GCSE. This year has been SO much better personally. I stopped overthinking it and the essays just flowed. I'm somewhat optimistically aiming for A* and though it was hard last year, it's been my favourite subject by far this year, and I've probably put the least effort into it, with the best results (for mocks and grades etc...not sure about the exam yet!). I find English is strange like that. You have to enjoy it to reach your full potential IMO. If you love English and don't get too stressed about it, it should come relatively naturally. You sound like you have a really good attitude though, so I'm sure you'll do really well. I find English quite an unpredictable subject like that, but enthusiasm most definitely helps! Good luck
That was really helpful and you've encouraged me to a further extent and made me look forward to it even more. Yes I agree that it can be strange like that! Thank you for everything, much appreciated Also good luck, I'm sure you'll get your A*
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Re: How would an A* GCSE student be likely to perform in A level English Literature?If you really love English Literature, then you should be fine. I got an A for Eng Lit at GCSE and an A at A Level. I found the AS Level work challenging at first but very enjoyable; much more so than GCSE. And my Eng Lit exam was one of the exams where my pen just flew along the page. You need to put a lot of work into it, doing lots of reading and taking notes on what you read. But if you enjoy that, I wouldn't worry!(Original post by Lucy96)
Hi, I'm doing English Literature in Sixth form starting September, and I am really looking forward to it as I thoroughly enjoyed it all the way throughout GCSE, especially the poetry analysis and comparison. I'd just like to know if I'd struggle with A level despite the fact I'm predicted an A* and have gained such a grade in controlled assessments and mocks. Obviously I don't know what final grade I will achieve until August, so perhaps shouldn't comment on my performance until then, but is there anyone who could kindly offer advice? I also know that I'd have to put the work in to succeed, of course Thank you.
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Re: How would an A* GCSE student be likely to perform in A level English Literature?Yes of course, I don't like to get my hopes up too much because it doesn't always turn out as planned haha! Thank you very much(Original post by amg_22)
getting an a* at gcse does not mean you will automatically do well at AS level. the most common example of this is maths where many people who gain an a* at gcse go on to be a c/d student or even drop maths as a whole. this is simply because gcse scores are not a good indicator for A level performance.
i myself got an a* in english lit and managed to do this with a below par effort and i didnt even read the novel. however if i was to do english lit at AS i would almost defiantly get a c/d.
my advice would be if you enjoy english literature and have a real passion for it while being relatively good at the subject then you should do well at a level.
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Re: How would an A* GCSE student be likely to perform in A level English Literature?Well you've made me feel a bit more hopeful haha, so thank you(Original post by battycatlady)
Well I got an A* at GCSE and I didn't find A-level much different from GCSE, other than different topics and harder texts. If you love english literature and are naturally good at it then you should be fine Of course it can be really unpredictable, but you seem to have a great attitude, so you should be fine
I appreciate your help and advice!
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Re: How would an A* GCSE student be likely to perform in A level English Literature?Not to take anything away from the hard work your students may have put in but for your whole A level group to come out with no less than B is impressive!(Original post by carnationlilyrose)
My A level teaching groups have been composed of only A and A* GCSE students for some years now (about 10 - 12) and it's quite hard to predict how well people are going to do at the start. Some people have actually peaked at that point and struggle to get higher. By the end, they've all got between A* and B, but it's not always been easy, nor have the highest marks always gone to the ones who started out as front runners from the outset. -
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Re: How would an A* GCSE student be likely to perform in A level English Literature?Thank you all for giving me such great advice and encouragement, it really means a lot! I promise I'll try my hardest, and of course bear in mind everything that has been said
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Re: How would an A* GCSE student be likely to perform in A level English Literature?GCSEs are sometimes a good indicator of what you'll achieve, but more often than not I find that they're a load of crap that no one should pay the slightest bit of attention to. There are people in my class who got A* at GCSE and are now struggling to get a C. On the other hand, there are people who barely got onto the course (my college only allows you to take the subject if you have a B or above) who are now top of the class. What I've found is that a lot of the A* GCSE students fell back on work once they were in Year 12, thinking that they could sail through A Level like they did in their GCSEs. Do not think this. In terms of content, I didn't find the gap between GCSE and A Level all that big, but the exams are a bitch and you're going to have to really put in the effort in order to please the examiner and get the best grades possible.
Do you know what texts you will be studying in Year 12? I found that familiarising myself with the plays/novels/poetry beforehand really helped me (there honestly was a girl in my class who came to the AS English exam last month having just finished The Great Gatsby. She hadn't bothered to read it until quite literally the last minute. You could sort of get away with that at GCSE, but not A Level.) If you get started before everyone else, put the effort in and revise like crazy, more likely than not you'll be fine, but don't look at GCSEs as a reliable indicator of how you'll do at A Level. They can be useful to predict A Level grades, but usually they are way off the mark. -
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Re: How would an A* GCSE student be likely to perform in A level English Literature?Thanks. I've been doing it a long time, so you get to know how it's done.(Original post by Beebumble)
Not to take anything away from the hard work your students may have put in but for your whole A level group to come out with no less than B is impressive! -
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Re: How would an A* GCSE student be likely to perform in A level English Literature?I had 2 A*s in Lit and Lang at GCSE taken a year early, and a high B in an AS unit which was used to test our particular teaching group. Changed sixth form, English course was horrid, and despite getting As in essays, I ended up with a C. It seems like it's dependent on the course you do and teaching you have, a some luck on the part of examiners' marking. Just get to know your course well and you should have a good chance of getting a good grade.
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