What’s the Difference Between A Level English Literature and Language and A Level English Literature?
What’s the Difference Between A Level English Literature and Language and A Level English Literature?
Created:Updated: 11-August-2025
Many students (and parents) are unsure about the difference between A Level English Literature and Language and A Level English Literature. While the names are similar, the focus and skills developed in each course are quite distinct.
Choosing the right one can depend on your interests, strengths, and career or university plans.
What Does A Level English Literature Cover?
English Literature focuses entirely on the study of literary texts—novels, plays, and poetry—often from a range of time periods and genres.
You’ll analyse themes, characters, structure, and language in depth, and explore the historical and cultural contexts of each work.
- Study classic and modern literature in detail
- Focus on interpretation, critical analysis, and essay writing
- Assessment is usually exam-based with some coursework
View our A Level English Literature course
What Does A Level English Literature and Language Cover?
This combined course blends the study of literary texts with an exploration of non-literary and linguistic content.
In addition to novels, plays, and poetry, you’ll analyse non-fiction, journalism, spoken language, and even create your own original writing.
- Mix of literature and language analysis
- Study fiction and non-fiction, written and spoken texts
- Opportunities for creative and analytical writing
View our A Level English Literature and Language course
Key Differences at a Glance
| Aspect | English Literature | English Literature & Language |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Pure literary analysis | Blend of literary analysis and linguistic study |
| Texts Studied | Novels, plays, poetry | Novels, plays, poetry, non-fiction, spoken texts |
| Skills Developed | Interpretation, critical thinking, essay writing | Interpretation, language analysis, creative writing |
| Career/Uni Relevance | Strong for literature, history, law, humanities | Strong for journalism, media, communications, creative writing |
Which One Should You Choose?
If you love reading and analysing literature in detail, English Literature may be the best fit.
If you enjoy both literature and the study of language—and want opportunities for creative writing—then English Literature and Language could be the better choice.
Both are respected qualifications and can lead to a wide range of university courses and careers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take both A Level English Literature and A Level English Literature and Language?
It’s unusual to take both because of the overlap, but some schools and private candidates do. Check with universities if you’re unsure about subject combinations.
Which is considered harder?
It depends on your strengths—Literature requires sustained reading and critical analysis, while the combined course demands versatility across different text types and creative tasks.
Do both carry the same UCAS points?
Yes—both are full A Level qualifications and are equally valued in terms of UCAS tariff points.