AQA GCSE English Literature - Essay Checklist
Have you fulfilled the following criteria? You’ve reached Level 6 (26–30 marks)!
_____ Do I have a critical, exploratory, well-structured argument?
_____ Does it take a conceptualised approach to the full task?
_____ Is it supported by a range of judicious references?
_____ Do I show a fine-grained and insightful analysis of language and form and structure?
_____ Is this supported by judicious use of subject terminology?
_____ Do I show convincing exploration of one or more ideas/perspectives/contextual
factors/interpretations?
Have you fulfilled the following criteria? You’ve passed Level 5 (21–25 marks)!
_____ Do I have a thoughtful, detailed and developed argument?
_____ Does it take a considered approach to the full task?
_____ Have I integrated references into my interpretation?
_____ Do I show a detailed examination of the effects of language and/or structure and/or form?
_____ Is this supported by apt use of subject terminology?
_____ Do I examine ideas/perspectives/contextual factors, possibly including alternative
interpretations/deeper meanings?
Have you fulfilled the following criteria? You’ve passed Level 4 (16–20 marks)!
_____ Is my response clear, sustained and consistent?
_____ Is it a focused response to the full task which demonstrates clear understanding?
_____ Have I used a range of references effectively to illustrate and justify explanations?
_____ Is there clear explanation of the effects of a range of writer’s methods?
_____ Are my explanations supported by appropriate use of subject terminology?
_____ Do I show a clear understanding of ideas/perspectives/contextual factors?
Have you fulfilled the following criteria? You’ve passed Level 3 (11–15 marks)!
_____ Is my response explanatory in parts?
_____ Does it focus on the full task?
_____ Does it use a range of points exemplified by relevant references from the text?
_____ Do I identify the effects of a range of writer’s methods?
_____ Is this supported by some relevant terminology?
_____ Do I explain some relevant contextual factors?
Have you fulfilled the following criteria? You’ve passed Level 2 (6–10 marks)!
_____ Is my response relevant?Does it include some focus on the task?
_____ Is it supported by some explanation?
_____ Does it use supporting references from the text?
_____ Do I identify deliberate choices made by the writer?
_____ Do I use subject terminology?
_____ Do I show awareness of some contextual factors?
Have you avoided the following criteria? You’ve passed Level 1 (1–5 marks)!
_____ Is my response narrative and/or descriptive in approach?
_____ Does it show only some awareness of the task?
_____ Does it only provide some appropriate reference to text?
_____ Is there a simple identification of method?
_____ Do I show limited reference to subject terminology?
_____ Are my comments/responses to context simple and usually explicit?
Have you fulfilled the following criteria? You’ve reached Level 6 (26–30 marks)!
_____ Do I have a critical, exploratory, well-structured argument?
_____ Does it take a conceptualised approach to the full task?
_____ Is it supported by a range of judicious references?
_____ Do I show a fine-grained and insightful analysis of language and form and structure?
_____ Is this supported by judicious use of subject terminology?
_____ Do I show convincing exploration of one or more ideas/perspectives/contextual
factors/interpretations?
Have you fulfilled the following criteria? You’ve passed Level 5 (21–25 marks)!
_____ Do I have a thoughtful, detailed and developed argument?
_____ Does it take a considered approach to the full task?
_____ Have I integrated references into my interpretation?
_____ Do I show a detailed examination of the effects of language and/or structure and/or form?
_____ Is this supported by apt use of subject terminology?
_____ Do I examine ideas/perspectives/contextual factors, possibly including alternative
interpretations/deeper meanings?
Have you fulfilled the following criteria? You’ve passed Level 4 (16–20 marks)!
_____ Is my response clear, sustained and consistent?
_____ Is it a focused response to the full task which demonstrates clear understanding?
_____ Have I used a range of references effectively to illustrate and justify explanations?
_____ Is there clear explanation of the effects of a range of writer’s methods?
_____ Are my explanations supported by appropriate use of subject terminology?
_____ Do I show a clear understanding of ideas/perspectives/contextual factors?
Have you fulfilled the following criteria? You’ve passed Level 3 (11–15 marks)!
_____ Is my response explanatory in parts?
_____ Does it focus on the full task?
_____ Does it use a range of points exemplified by relevant references from the text?
_____ Do I identify the effects of a range of writer’s methods?
_____ Is this supported by some relevant terminology?
_____ Do I explain some relevant contextual factors?
Have you fulfilled the following criteria? You’ve passed Level 2 (6–10 marks)!
_____ Is my response relevant?Does it include some focus on the task?
_____ Is it supported by some explanation?
_____ Does it use supporting references from the text?
_____ Do I identify deliberate choices made by the writer?
_____ Do I use subject terminology?
_____ Do I show awareness of some contextual factors?
Have you avoided the following criteria? You’ve passed Level 1 (1–5 marks)!
_____ Is my response narrative and/or descriptive in approach?
_____ Does it show only some awareness of the task?
_____ Does it only provide some appropriate reference to text?
_____ Is there a simple identification of method?
_____ Do I show limited reference to subject terminology?
_____ Are my comments/responses to context simple and usually explicit?
