What qualities do I need to show in a top-band Edexcel A-level English Literature answer? (Edexcel)

To achieve top-level marks in English Literature A-level, you need to have an awareness of the five Learning Objectives, or key skills, that the examiners are looking for. These include, in my own words: (AO1) an authentic and imaginative response to the text being studied; (AO2) an awareness of how language/form/structure are used by writers to create meaning; (AO3) an understanding of how the context in which a text is written informs its content; (AO4) an ability to write in an integrated, connected style between texts (for Prose and Modern Poetry questions only); (AO5) an understanding of the main arguments put forward by critics, and some attempt to agree/disagree with their points of view (for Shakespeare question only).

But, in simple terms, what does this really mean? All the examiners are realistically searching for is a close engagement with a text - that you understand what the writer is trying to achieve, how they attempt to achieve this, how these attempts are informed by the political/cultural/social factors during the time in which they were writing. The most helpful piece of advice I can give when attempting to reach the higher levels of the assessment criteria, is to know the text as well as you can. Enjoy the piece of writing! These texts have been chosen for your exam for a reason - try to find out what this is! Learn huge swathes of text. Learn niche historical facts about the text to show-off to your friends. Learn and enjoy!

If you show the examiner that you have enjoyed what you have learnt about - that you are passionate about the text, and that you have been excited about the message expounded by a work, you are guaranteed to get marks for interaction/original engagement (AO1). Essays that show a passion for the text are undoubtedly going to achieve better than those which are being written primarily because you need to get the grade to get into uni. If you write in a positive tone, showing an appreciation of the writer, I do not see how you can go wrong!