English — Literature 9695
Explore poetry, prose and drama. Analyse language, form and structure, and build interpretations supported by textual evidence.
What you'll cover
- AS papers
- A Level papers
- Year-specific subject content
Published syllabus exam years: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031. Confirm exam-series and centre availability with your school and Cambridge.
Cambridge International AS & A Level English Literature 9695 paper map
2027–2028 and 2029–2031 syllabuses · 2029–2031 Version 2
5 of 5 sections have teaching and practice
Start the learning pathwayStudy options and assessment
Four original paper pathways and a set-text planning guide map all five syllabus entries for exams in 2027–2028 and 2029–2031. The guide covers the year-specific lists and route requirements; it does not teach the individual prescribed works. Use the official syllabus for the year you will sit. The 2027–2028 edition uses five assessment objectives; the 2029–2031 Version 2 uses four revised objectives. The Paper 3 response rule also changes in 2029. Set texts rotate by year and school choice; these lessons use only original StudyForA examples and do not teach or reproduce any prescribed work. Original StudyForA practice is independent study, not Cambridge question papers, official marking or grades. The syllabus page does not identify your school's chosen texts. Use the appropriate official set-text list and editions assigned by your centre; Paper 4 requires one poetry text and one prose text. The new guide teaches year and route selection, but a text-by-text teaching sequence and individual set-text study guides remain pending. Extended essays need teacher feedback, and no timed full-paper simulation is included.
Use the official syllabus for the year you will sit. The 2027–2028 edition uses five assessment objectives; the 2029–2031 Version 2 uses four revised objectives. The Paper 3 response rule also changes in 2029. Set texts rotate by year and school choice; these lessons use only original StudyForA examples and do not teach or reproduce any prescribed work. From 2027, Cambridge offers the syllabus in June and November; the March series ended after 2026. The 2027–2028 set-text lists differ from the 2029–2031 lists, and 2029–2031 set texts vary by exam year. Check Section 3 of the exact syllabus and confirm your centre's choices.
Choose your paper route
- AS Level onlyPaper 1 + Paper 2
Take both AS components in the same exam series; this route is standalone.
- A Level staged over two yearsYear 1: Papers 1 + 2 · Year 2: Papers 3 + 4
Carry-forward and entry rules apply; confirm them with your exams officer.
- A Level in one seriesPapers 1 + 2 + 3 + 4
All four written papers are taken in the same exam series.
Use the set-text list for the exact assessment year and the choices made by your centre. Use the official syllabus for the year you will sit. The 2027–2028 edition uses five assessment objectives; the 2029–2031 Version 2 uses four revised objectives. The Paper 3 response rule also changes in 2029. Set texts rotate by year and school choice; these lessons use only original StudyForA examples and do not teach or reproduce any prescribed work.
View syllabus coverage
The AS-only route uses Papers 1 and 2. A Level can be taken in a staged route or in one series using Papers 1–4. All four papers are two hours and 50 marks; Papers 1 and 2 each contribute 50% of AS or 25% of A Level, while Papers 3 and 4 each contribute 25% of A Level. This map covers exam skills and uses original practice extracts; it does not replace the year-specific set texts or official criteria. Original StudyForA practice is independent study, not Cambridge question papers, official marking or grades. The syllabus page does not identify your school's chosen texts. Use the appropriate official set-text list and editions assigned by your centre; Paper 4 requires one poetry text and one prose text. The new guide teaches year and route selection, but a text-by-text teaching sequence and individual set-text study guides remain pending. Extended essays need teacher feedback, and no timed full-paper simulation is included.
AS papers
- Paper 1 · Drama and PoetryPAPER-1
- Paper 2 · Prose and UnseenPAPER-2
A Level papers
- Paper 3 · Shakespeare and DramaPAPER-3
- Paper 4 · Pre- and Post-1900 Poetry and ProsePAPER-4
Year-specific subject content
- Year-specific set texts and centre choicesSET-TEXTS
Supplemental StudyForA lessons
- Literary analysis foundationsFOUNDATIONS · Supplemental StudyForA practice, not a syllabus section
Practice the papers
Practice the papers
- Drama and PoetryPaper 1 · 1 lessons
2 hours · 50 marks · one answer on a selected drama text and one on a selected poetry text. 50% of AS or 25% of A Level.
- Prose and UnseenPaper 2 · 1 lessons
2 hours · 50 marks · one response on a selected prose text and one on unseen prose, poetry or drama material. 50% of AS or 25% of A Level.
- Shakespeare and DramaPaper 3 · 1 lessons
2 hours · 50 marks · one Shakespeare and one Drama response. 25% of A Level. The essay/extract rule changes from 2029.
- Pre- and Post-1900 Poetry and ProsePaper 4 · 1 lessons
2 hours · 50 marks · one response from each period section, with one poetry text and one prose text. 25% of A Level.
Lessons and worked examples
Choose where to begin
Choose a lesson, try the practice and explain the idea without your notes. Your study checks help you decide what to review.
- 01
Paper 1 · Drama and Poetry
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 02
Paper 2 · Prose and Unseen
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 03
Paper 3 · Shakespeare and Drama
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 04
Paper 4 · Pre- and Post-1900 Poetry and Prose
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 05
Select and plan 9695 set texts
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 06
Metaphor and layered interpretation
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 07
Narrative perspective and reliability
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 08
Dramatic irony and audience knowledge
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started
These checks record your study activity and self-assessment, not a mastery score. Check the course coverage map for available lessons and remaining topics.
Practise this subject
Topic tests: Easy, Normal and Difficult
Choose a topic, save your answers and compare your reasoning with worked models. See available tests and any coverage gaps.
Browse 5 topics →AS & A Level Literature in English 9695 · Starter Paper
3 questions · 50 min · Timed practice
Written practice with explained models
Write your own answers before opening the models. These original practice lessons need teacher marking and do not provide an automatic grade.