Component 1: Poetry—Written examination: 2 hours (30% of qualification)
Section A: Poetry pre-1900 (open-book, clean copy)
One two-part question based on the reading of one pre-1900 poetry text from a prescribed list: John Donne
Section B: Poetry post-1900 (open-book, clean copy)
One question from a choice of two based on the reading of two post-1900 poetry texts: Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes
Component 2: Drama—Written examination: 2 hours (30% of qualification)
Section A: Shakespeare (closed-book) One two-part question based on the reading of one Shakespeare play: Hamlet.
Section B: Drama (closed-book)
One question from a choice of two based on the reading of a pair of plays: one pre-1900 and one post-1900: A Streetcar Named Desire and The Duchess of Malfi
Component 3: Unseen Texts—2 hours (20% of qualification)
Section A: Unseen prose
One question from a choice of two, analysing an unseen passage of prose, taken from one of two prescribed periods for study
Section B: Unseen poetry
One question from a choice of two, analysing an unseen poem or poetry extract
Component 4: Prose Study—Non-examination (20% of qualification)
One 2500-3500 word assignment based on the reading of two prose texts from different periods, one pre-2000 and one post2000, nominated by the centre and discussed with students.