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English language or English literature for A level?

Hi, I'm new to TSR :smile:

I'm currently in year 11 studying for my GCSEs in the summer and am now in the process of selecting preliminary A level choices.

Do you think top universities would value an A level in English literature more than an A level in English Language?

Thanks x

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Reply 1

charrrlotte.ox

it depend what you want to do? x

Reply 2

Konnifer

You may spark a debate here ^_^

Imo - English Lit :smile:

(P.S. You've written English Language twice!)

Reply 3

loiiis

I'm bias so I'd say language.
Why not do combined? :s-smilie:

literature 100%!

chris2pyle

Hi, I'm new to TSR :smile:

I'm currently in year 11 studying for my GCSEs in the summer and am now in the process of selecting preliminary A level choices.

Do you think top universities would value an A level in English language more than an A level in English Language?

Thanks x

Ignoring the glaring - and somewhat ironic - mistake in your post (sorry :p:

), it's generally believed that English Literature is the better-respected A-level of the two. That's not to say English Language is a poor A-level choice, mind.

Reply 6

kfin08

Do English Literature. If this matters to you, English literature is more highly regarded than English Language by universities.

Reply 7

dan001

I would say literature

Reply 8

Maya_beans

Well depends. do you want to study books or do you want to learn more about linguistics, writing your own stuff...
imo there both great. if you can do both (i do!) they really support eachother as subjects

Reply 9

Baconator

I did both. But it's language I enjoyed far more and it's language I'm going on to study at degree level. They're completely different subjects in my eyes though; to me it's like asking whether they'd respect geography or history more.

Reply 10

tayalouise

Language is more enjoyable, it has more freedom within the work you do and is far more creative
Literature is more analytical

Reply 11

Geek_Pride

I do english literature, I enjoy it a lot. I think it is also more respected out of the two.
However i wish i also took language, but my 6th form didn't offer that :frown:

Reply 12

vickialice

I do it combined its alot of fun well as fun as classes can be

It's defo eng lit!

I'd recommend English Literature, it's highly enjoyable and while it is quite analytical, it does combine creative writing skills and is a highly respected course in terms of Universities.

I don't, however, have much experience of English Language at A-Level, though at GCSE I did prefer English Literature. It's up to what you enjoy really!

Reply 15

oo_Lucinda_oo

Does your school offer English Language and Literature (combined)?

I did this, it's a good course, especially if you can't make up your mind between the two :p:

What do you prefer studying now? Language or Literature?

Also, it depends what other subjects you want to take TBH, and what you want to do at university.

Reply 16

hunty91

Do Language & Literature combined. It's awesome.

Reply 17

oxymoronic

Neither is 'better', they are different.

I took both of them seperatley as I knew that I loved English, I just didn't know which part of English I loved. Turned out it was Language, and I went on to do a Linguistics degree. I took both of them to A2 though and as someone else said, they complement each other. Language is more linguistics based and why we use language, what language is for, how we learn it and things like that. You learn how to analyse texts in terms of what language has been used to get a certain response. This you can then follow into literature, which is much more floaty and reading based (obviously) but you can do very linguistical interpretations of the literature course too. Thats what I did, especially with Shakespeare as I love his language usage.

If you're wanting to study English (Lit or Lang) or related subjects at university I'd reccomend taking both at AS and then either carrying them both on or making a decision as to which you like better then. Otherwise, if you only want to take one, pick which side of the subject you like best then do that one. Despite what many people believe English Language is respected by all universities. It's not a soft subject, and in many ways is much more useful and applicable to your later degree and life than English Literature as you learn how to use language, and how much language can make a difference.