BREAKDOWN FOR CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE IN ENGLISH (9695), BASED ON THE 2024–2026 SYLLABUS

BREAKDOWN FOR CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE IN ENGLISH (9695), BASED ON THE 2024–2026 SYLLABUS

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Assessment Objectives & Marks Allocation

AO1: Knowledge and understanding

AO2: Analysis of language, form, structure

AO3: Personal response

AO4: Communication

AO5: Evaluation of opinion (only assessed at A Level)

Objective	AS Level Weighting	A Level Weighting
AO1	25%	20%
AO2	25%	20%
AO3	25%	20%
AO4	25%	20%
AO5	0%	20%
Total	100%	100%

 

Paper Structure & Route Details

AS Level; AS LITERATURE 9596 SUMMARY

• Paper 1: Drama and Poetry
• Duration: 2 hours; Total: 50 marks.
• Two sections:
• Section A: Drama—one essay question on a set play (with a passage-based option).
• Section B: Poetry—one essay on a set poem or collection (also with a passage-based option).
• Each section contributes 25 marks.
• Assesses AO1–AO4. (DOWWLOAD )

• Paper 2: Prose and Unseen
• Duration: 2 hours; Total: 50 marks.
• Section A: Prose—essay on a set text (with an optional passage-based question).
• Section B: Unseen text—respond to an unseen prose, poetry or drama excerpt.
• Each section is worth 25 marks.
• Also assesses AO1–AO4. (DOWNLOAD)

Text Coverage for AS Level:

Learners study three set texts (one drama, one poetry collection, one prose text) and prepare for one unseen piece. (DOWNLOAD TO SEE THE TEXTS)

A Level; A-LEVEL LITERATURE 9596 SUMMARY

• Paper 1 & Paper 2 carry through from AS, but now each accounts for 25% of the A Level qualification.

• Paper 3: Shakespeare and Drama
• Two-hour paper; 50 marks.
• Section A: Shakespeare; Section B: another Drama set text.
• Assesses all five AOs (AO1–AO5).
• Contributes 25% of A Level. 

• Paper 4: Pre‑ and Post‑1900 Poetry and Prose
• Two-hour paper; 50 marks.
• Section A: pre‑1900 texts (poetry and/or prose).
• Section B: post‑1900 texts (poetry and/or prose).
• Candidates must answer one question on poetry and one on prose.
• Assesses AO1–AO4 (no AO5).
• Counts for 25% of A Level. 

Text Coverage for A Level:

Students engage with four further set texts beyond AS, covering Shakespeare, additional drama, pre‑20th-century and post‑20th-century poetry and prose. ( DOWLOAD TO SEE SET TEXTS )

Route Options: AS vs A Level

There are three possible pathways:

1. AS‑only: Sit Paper 1 and Paper 2 in one exam series—qualifies for AS Level (grades A–E). 
2. Staged A Level:
• Year 1: Take AS‑level Papers 1 & 2.
• Year 2: Complete A Level with Papers 3 & 4 in a later series. 
3. One‑stage A Level: Take all four papers—Papers 1, 2, 3, and 4—in a single series.