CIE GCSE English Literature Essay Checklist
Have you fulfilled the criteria below? You’ve reached Level 8 (23-25 marks)!
____ Do I incorporate well-selected references to the text skilfully and with flair? (AO1)
____ Do I sustain a critical understanding of the text showing individuality and insight (AO2)
____ Do I respond sensitively and in considerable detail to the way the writer achieves her/his
effects (AO3)
____ Do I sustain a personal and evaluative engagement with task and text (AO4)
Have you fulfilled the criteria below? You’ve reached Level 7 (20-22 marks)!
____Do I integrate much well-selected reference to the text? (AO1)
____Do I show a clear critical understanding of the text? (AO2)
____Do I respond sensitively and in detail to the way the writer achieves her/his effects? (AO3)
____Do I sustain a perceptive, convincing and relevant personal response? (AO4)
Have you fulfilled the criteria below? You’ve reached Level 6 (17-19 marks)!
____ Do I support points with careful and relevant reference to the text? (AO1)
____ Do I show a clear understanding of the text and some of its deeper implications? (AO2)
____ Do I make a developed response to the way the writer achieves her/his effects? (AO3)
____ Do I make a well-developed, detailed and relevant personal response? (AO4)
Have you fulfilled the criteria below? You’ve reached Level 5 (14-16 marks)!
____Do I show some thoroughness in the use of supporting evidence from the text? (AO1)
____ Do I show understanding of the text and some of its deeper implications? (AO2)
____ Do I makes some response to the way the writer uses language? (AO3)
____ Do I make a reasonably developed relevant personal response? (AO4)
Have you fulfilled the criteria below? You’ve reached Level 4 (11-13 marks)!
____Do I use some supporting textual detail? (AO1)
____Do I show some understanding of meaning? (AO2)
____Do I make a little reference to the language of the text? (AO3)
____Do I begin to develop a relevant personal response? (AO4)
Have you fulfilled the criteria below? You’ve reached Level 3 (8-10 marks)!
____ Do I make a little supporting reference to the text? (AO1)
____ Do I make some relevant comments? (AO2)
____ Do I show a basic understanding of surface meaning of the text and language? (AO3)
____ Do I show attempts to communicate a basic personal response? (AO4)
Have you fulfilled the criteria below? You’ve reached Level 2 (5-7 marks)!
____ Do I demonstrate knowledge by making a little reference to the text? (AO1)
____ Do I make a few straightforward comments? (AO2)
____ Is there some evidence of a simple personal response? (AO4)
Have you avoided the criteria below? You’ve reached Level 1 (1-4 marks)!
____ Do I demonstrate knowledge by limited textual reference? (AO1)
____ Do I only show understanding of simple/literal meaning? (AO2)
____ Is there awareness of surface meaning of text and language? (AO3)
____ Do I show a limited attempt to respond? (AO4)
Have you fulfilled the criteria below? You’ve reached Level 8 (23-25 marks)!
____ Do I incorporate well-selected references to the text skilfully and with flair? (AO1)
____ Do I sustain a critical understanding of the text showing individuality and insight (AO2)
____ Do I respond sensitively and in considerable detail to the way the writer achieves her/his
effects (AO3)
____ Do I sustain a personal and evaluative engagement with task and text (AO4)
Have you fulfilled the criteria below? You’ve reached Level 7 (20-22 marks)!
____Do I integrate much well-selected reference to the text? (AO1)
____Do I show a clear critical understanding of the text? (AO2)
____Do I respond sensitively and in detail to the way the writer achieves her/his effects? (AO3)
____Do I sustain a perceptive, convincing and relevant personal response? (AO4)
Have you fulfilled the criteria below? You’ve reached Level 6 (17-19 marks)!
____ Do I support points with careful and relevant reference to the text? (AO1)
____ Do I show a clear understanding of the text and some of its deeper implications? (AO2)
____ Do I make a developed response to the way the writer achieves her/his effects? (AO3)
____ Do I make a well-developed, detailed and relevant personal response? (AO4)
Have you fulfilled the criteria below? You’ve reached Level 5 (14-16 marks)!
____Do I show some thoroughness in the use of supporting evidence from the text? (AO1)
____ Do I show understanding of the text and some of its deeper implications? (AO2)
____ Do I makes some response to the way the writer uses language? (AO3)
____ Do I make a reasonably developed relevant personal response? (AO4)
Have you fulfilled the criteria below? You’ve reached Level 4 (11-13 marks)!
____Do I use some supporting textual detail? (AO1)
____Do I show some understanding of meaning? (AO2)
____Do I make a little reference to the language of the text? (AO3)
____Do I begin to develop a relevant personal response? (AO4)
Have you fulfilled the criteria below? You’ve reached Level 3 (8-10 marks)!
____ Do I make a little supporting reference to the text? (AO1)
____ Do I make some relevant comments? (AO2)
____ Do I show a basic understanding of surface meaning of the text and language? (AO3)
____ Do I show attempts to communicate a basic personal response? (AO4)
Have you fulfilled the criteria below? You’ve reached Level 2 (5-7 marks)!
____ Do I demonstrate knowledge by making a little reference to the text? (AO1)
____ Do I make a few straightforward comments? (AO2)
____ Is there some evidence of a simple personal response? (AO4)
Have you avoided the criteria below? You’ve reached Level 1 (1-4 marks)!
____ Do I demonstrate knowledge by limited textual reference? (AO1)
____ Do I only show understanding of simple/literal meaning? (AO2)
____ Is there awareness of surface meaning of text and language? (AO3)
____ Do I show a limited attempt to respond? (AO4)
