1. My TSR
  2. Study help and revision tips
  3. A-level and GCSE exams

Students react after GCSE English Literature Paper 1 on 12 May 2025

Graphic of students using magnifying glass to read information

Forgotten those quotes already…

So that’s the first one done. GCSE English Lit is in the bag - but how did it rate?

In the post-exam chat, it seems there were some pretty welcome questions. Macbeth’s ambition, kindness in A Christmas Carol… this might have been exactly the paper you were hoping for.

We've found some of today's top reactions to the GCSE English Literature Paper 1 exam - scroll down to take a look. Or tap the links just below to check the Paper 1 chat on The Student Room.

Exam discussion on The Student Room

Want to check in on a different subject or exam paper? Find students discussing all the exams from this summer's GCSEs here.

Also see:

Oh, that feeling when the first paper goes right to plan…

@ybgmansi Macbeth question was too beautiful @Zak @Edwardc @R 📦 #fyp #gcse #englishlit #english #exams #backflip #flips #jesuslovesyou #xybca ♬ original sound - Peter_Gr1ff1n28
@content_mchine It felt sooo good. Please tell me everyone did the question about Crooks… #gcse #english #paper1 #igcse #meme ♬ LeBron James theme song - LeCrozzy
@urmomandurdadand I cooked I ate I devoured hold me backkk #relatable #fyp #pass #grade9 #gcse ♬ original sound - ￶

A lot of people had been praying for the Macbeth ambition angle, and the AQA paper didn’t disappoint

@.griddymerchant We've dreamed for miracles🙏🙏🙏 #shakespeare #macbeth #gcse #reletable #meme #football #barcalona #fyp #viral #trending ♬ I Will Survive - Remix - Gloria Gaynor
@juss.fb tooo light🥹 #englishliterature #englishlitpaper1 #litpaper1 #Meme #gcses #gcses2025 #relatable ♬ original sound - fb愛
@sniperkz7 YES THE BEST QUESTION🔥🔥🔥 #exam #macbeth #english #school #funny #car ♬ original sound - song recommendations
@.rosiecotsen ambition 🤩🤩 #fyp #gcse2025 #aqaenglishgcse #macbeth ♬ original sound - Ella

But of course, you can't always get what you want

@userlegm4638595 #englishlit #paper1 #macbeth #ambition #fyp ♬ original sound - rubes
@l1ly_spamzshitee #gcse #english #englishlit #englishliterature #fyp #relatable #macbeth #jekyllandhyde #paper1 #cooked #leftnocrumbs #GCSE #british #munch #blonde #2025leavers #leavers ♬ Super Bass - Nicki Minaj
@dave1dk Atleast generosity came up for Christmas Carol 😜 #fyp #gcse2025 #englishliterature #english #gcse ♬ WTHELLY - Rob49
@the.rizzlers.co.uk wth edexcel wth not cool 🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀 #macbeth #notcool #fyp #gcse #english #emotional #emo #ihateexams #xyzabc ♬ QKThr - Aphex Twin

And no matter what, there's always a silver lining somewhere...

What people are saying about GCSE English Literature Paper 1 on The Student Room

OMG! What a gift of questions on Macbeth and Jekyll and Hyde, I think it went well! Hope fully it did for everyone else! Well done guys!

Cooper_white

4-0 Down and you score a double Hat-trick type questions for Macbeth and Jekyll and Hyde today

Harry_=

is it just me that thought the exam could’ve gone better? the questions were really nice but as a first gcse the practice questions i did were so much better than what i wrote in the exam

bigbao

More GCSE exam reactions on The Student Room

Ask a question in the English Literature and English Language Exams forum
Your question will be posted in the English Literature and English Language Exams forum
Awesome! Your question has now been posted. View your post here
  5. Please choose where you want to post your question.
    Please choose your study level.
    Please enter what your question is about.
    Please enter your question.
    Your message must have two characters or more.
People are talking about this article Have your say
Article by Nik Taylor on Monday 28 April 2025
Last edited by Nik Taylor on Tuesday 13 May 2025