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Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1) English Literature (1ET0)

Edexcel GCSE Literature, every text ready.

Both papers are closed book, so you need the texts in your head. Your tutor quizzes you on plot, characters, themes and quotations, then helps you plan essays that analyse and argue.

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How does the anthology poetry question in Paper 2 work?

Here’s what examiners look for:

  • You study one collection of 15 poems: Relationships, Conflict, Time and Place, or Belonging
  • The exam prints one named poem from your collection
  • You compare it with another poem of your choice from the same collection, for 20 marks

Examiner tip: Prepare pairs in advance: for each poem, know two or three others that link by theme or method, with a few quotations for each.

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Assessment

How Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1) English Literature is assessed

There are no tiers. Everyone takes both papers, each worth 50%, in May and June, and can get grades 9–1.

Specification 1ET0, first examined in 2017. Pearson says its set texts are fixed for the lifetime of the qualification.

All students

  • Paper 1: Shakespeare and Post-1914 Literature

    A Shakespeare extract question and a whole-play question, then one essay on a post-1914 British play or novel

    Time
    1 h 45 min
    Marks
    80
    Weight
    50%

  • Paper 2: 19th-century Novel and Poetry since 1789

    An extract question and an essay on the novel, an anthology poem comparison and a comparison of two unseen poems

    Time
    2 h 15 min
    Marks
    80
    Weight
    50%

There is no coursework. Both papers are closed book: you can’t take your texts into the exam.

From the official Pearson Edexcel syllabus, checked October 2026. Read the syllabus

Syllabus content

What’s on the Pearson Edexcel GCSE English Literature syllabus

  • Shakespeare (one of 6 plays)
  • Post-1914 British play or novel (one of 12)
  • 19th-century novel (one of 7)
  • Poetry anthology (one of 4 collections of 15 poems)
  • Unseen poetry

Where marks are lost

Common Pearson Edexcel GCSE English Literature mistakes

  • Quoting long passages from memory.

    Long quotations waste time and are easy to misremember. Learn short phrases, a few words each, that you can analyse closely.

  • Answering only the extract in the Shakespeare (b) question.

    Part (b) asks how the theme is explored elsewhere in the play. Move away from the extract and use other moments in the play.

  • Forgetting the accuracy marks in Section B of Paper 1.

    Spelling, punctuation and grammar are marked in the post-1914 essay. Leave a few minutes to check your writing.

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  • EllaConfidence builder

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FAQ

Pearson Edexcel GCSE English Literature questions, answered.

Tell your tutor your Shakespeare play, post-1914 text, 19th-century novel and poetry collection, and it quizzes you on each and helps you plan essays.

Ask for two short contemporary poems on a shared theme, compare them, and get feedback on how well you analysed language and structure.

No. English Literature is sat in May and June only.

Yes. The free plan includes 5 tutor messages and 15 minutes of calls a day. Pro and Max give you more when exams get close.

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More Pearson Edexcel GCSE subjects

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