AQA English Literature Mark Scheme Breakdown
Assessment Objectives (AOs) are your roadmap to success in A-Level English Literature. Think of them as five different skills you need to master, each worth different marks that add up to 25 total.
AO1 and AO2 are your heavy hitters, worth 7 and 6 marks respectively. AO1 rewards you for sophisticated terminology and mature expression, whilst AO2 focuses on analysing how writers create meaning through their techniques. These two combined make up over half your marks.
AO3, AO4, and AO5 each contribute 3-6 marks and cover context, connections between texts, and different interpretations. The Band 5 descriptor uses words like "perceptive," "assured," and "sophisticated" - this is the language of excellence you're aiming for.
Quick Tip: Notice how Band 5 responses are "perceptive" across all assessment objectives - this means going beyond surface-level analysis to show deeper understanding.