2026 AQA A-LEVEL ENGLISH LITERATURE A
PAPER 2A: TEXTS IN SHARED CONTEXTS – WW1
AND ITS AFTERMATH
QUESTION PAPER & MARK SCHEME (MERGED)
100% VERIFIED OFFICIAL PAPER | LATEST 2026 UPDATE | GRADE A+
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. EXAM INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS.................... PAGE 1
2. OPTION 1: POETRY SET TEXT............................ PAGE 3
3. OPTION 1: DRAMA AND PROSE CONTEXTUAL LINKING......... PAGE 6
4. OPTION 2: DRAMA SET TEXT.............................. PAGE 8
5. OPTION 2: PROSE AND POETRY CONTEXTUAL LINKING........ PAGE 10
6. OPTION 3: PROSE SET TEXT.............................. PAGE 12
7. OPTION 3: DRAMA AND POETRY CONTEXTUAL LINKING........ PAGE 14
8. MARK SCHEME OVERVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES....... PAGE 16
9. MARK SCHEME – OPTION 1 QUESTIONS.................... PAGE 18
10. MARK SCHEME – OPTION 2 QUESTIONS.................... PAGE 24
11. MARK SCHEME – OPTION 3 QUESTIONS.................... PAGE 30
12. QUICK REFERENCE ANSWER KEY.......................... PAGE 36
SECTION 1: EXAM INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS
A-level
ENGLISH LITERATURE A
Paper 2A Texts in shared contexts: WW1 and its aftermath
Thursday 22 May 2025 Morning
Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
Materials
For this paper you must have:
• an AQA 12-page answer book
• a copy of the Insert for use with Section B (enclosed)
• a copy of each of the set texts you have studied for this paper. These texts must not be
annotated and must not contain additional notes or materials.
,Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is
7712/2A.
• Read all of the questions. Then choose either Option 1 or Option 2 or Option 3. Answer one
question from Section A and both questions from Section B from your chosen option. You must
answer questions from only one option.
• Do all rough work in your answer book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 75.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
• In your response you need to:
– analyse carefully the writers’ methods
– explore the contexts of the texts you are writing about
– explore connections across the texts you have studied
– explore different interpretations of your texts.
IB/G/Jun25/G4007/E4 7712/2A
SECTION 2: OPTION 1 – POETRY SET TEXT
Option 1
Section A: Poetry Set Text
Answer one question in this section.
UP THE LINE TO DEATH – ed. Brian Gardner
Either
0 1 ‘The most powerful poems focus on passive endurance rather than active combat.’
Examine this view of the anthology.
You must write about at least two poems in your answer.
[25 marks]
or
, 0 2 Examine the significance of fate and chance in Up the Line to Death.
You must write about at least two poems in your answer.
[25 marks]
SCARS UPON MY HEART – ed. Catherine Reilly
or
0 3 Examine the view that the poets in this anthology present men as victims rather than
heroes.
You must write about at least two poems in your answer.
[25 marks]
or
0 4 Examine the view that, in this anthology, women never challenge male authority.
You must write about at least two poems in your answer.
[25 marks]
SECTION 3: OPTION 1 – DRAMA AND PROSE CONTEXTUAL LINKING
Option 1
Section B: Drama and Prose Contextual Linking
Read the Insert. Answer both questions in this section.
Read the Insert carefully. It is taken from Covenant with Death, a novel by John Harris
(1916–1991), published in 1961. In the extract, Mark Fenner and his friend Murray, who both
volunteered to fight in 1914, are part of an unplanned concert before the Battle of the Somme.
Answer both questions.
0 5 Explore the significance of team spirit and shared values in this extract.
Remember to include in your answer relevant detailed analysis of the ways that Harris shapes
meanings.
[25 marks]
and
0 6 Compare the significance of team spirit and shared values in two other texts you have
studied.
PAPER 2A: TEXTS IN SHARED CONTEXTS – WW1
AND ITS AFTERMATH
QUESTION PAPER & MARK SCHEME (MERGED)
100% VERIFIED OFFICIAL PAPER | LATEST 2026 UPDATE | GRADE A+
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. EXAM INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS.................... PAGE 1
2. OPTION 1: POETRY SET TEXT............................ PAGE 3
3. OPTION 1: DRAMA AND PROSE CONTEXTUAL LINKING......... PAGE 6
4. OPTION 2: DRAMA SET TEXT.............................. PAGE 8
5. OPTION 2: PROSE AND POETRY CONTEXTUAL LINKING........ PAGE 10
6. OPTION 3: PROSE SET TEXT.............................. PAGE 12
7. OPTION 3: DRAMA AND POETRY CONTEXTUAL LINKING........ PAGE 14
8. MARK SCHEME OVERVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES....... PAGE 16
9. MARK SCHEME – OPTION 1 QUESTIONS.................... PAGE 18
10. MARK SCHEME – OPTION 2 QUESTIONS.................... PAGE 24
11. MARK SCHEME – OPTION 3 QUESTIONS.................... PAGE 30
12. QUICK REFERENCE ANSWER KEY.......................... PAGE 36
SECTION 1: EXAM INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS
A-level
ENGLISH LITERATURE A
Paper 2A Texts in shared contexts: WW1 and its aftermath
Thursday 22 May 2025 Morning
Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
Materials
For this paper you must have:
• an AQA 12-page answer book
• a copy of the Insert for use with Section B (enclosed)
• a copy of each of the set texts you have studied for this paper. These texts must not be
annotated and must not contain additional notes or materials.
,Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is
7712/2A.
• Read all of the questions. Then choose either Option 1 or Option 2 or Option 3. Answer one
question from Section A and both questions from Section B from your chosen option. You must
answer questions from only one option.
• Do all rough work in your answer book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 75.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
• In your response you need to:
– analyse carefully the writers’ methods
– explore the contexts of the texts you are writing about
– explore connections across the texts you have studied
– explore different interpretations of your texts.
IB/G/Jun25/G4007/E4 7712/2A
SECTION 2: OPTION 1 – POETRY SET TEXT
Option 1
Section A: Poetry Set Text
Answer one question in this section.
UP THE LINE TO DEATH – ed. Brian Gardner
Either
0 1 ‘The most powerful poems focus on passive endurance rather than active combat.’
Examine this view of the anthology.
You must write about at least two poems in your answer.
[25 marks]
or
, 0 2 Examine the significance of fate and chance in Up the Line to Death.
You must write about at least two poems in your answer.
[25 marks]
SCARS UPON MY HEART – ed. Catherine Reilly
or
0 3 Examine the view that the poets in this anthology present men as victims rather than
heroes.
You must write about at least two poems in your answer.
[25 marks]
or
0 4 Examine the view that, in this anthology, women never challenge male authority.
You must write about at least two poems in your answer.
[25 marks]
SECTION 3: OPTION 1 – DRAMA AND PROSE CONTEXTUAL LINKING
Option 1
Section B: Drama and Prose Contextual Linking
Read the Insert. Answer both questions in this section.
Read the Insert carefully. It is taken from Covenant with Death, a novel by John Harris
(1916–1991), published in 1961. In the extract, Mark Fenner and his friend Murray, who both
volunteered to fight in 1914, are part of an unplanned concert before the Battle of the Somme.
Answer both questions.
0 5 Explore the significance of team spirit and shared values in this extract.
Remember to include in your answer relevant detailed analysis of the ways that Harris shapes
meanings.
[25 marks]
and
0 6 Compare the significance of team spirit and shared values in two other texts you have
studied.
