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EnglandEnglish LiteratureQuick questions
Component 03: Literature post-1900 (NEA)
Quick questions on The post-1900 coursework (NEA): close reading and comparison - OCR A-Level English Literature
8short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What are the text requirements?Show answer
The NEA is built on three post-1900 texts, and the rules are precise:
What is task 1?Show answer
Task 1 is based on a single text and assessed for AO1 and AO2, with AO2 dominant. It comes in two forms, and you choose one:
What is task 2?Show answer
Task 2 is a comparative essay on two of your post-1900 texts (at least one post-2000), assessed on all five AOs equally. This makes it the most balanced task in the qualification: a strong Task 2 integrates a controlling comparative argument (AO1), analysis of each text's method (AO2), context of production and reception (AO3), genuine integrated comparison (AO4), and engagement with interpretations (AO5). Because no objective dominates, none can be neglected, and the idea-led, both-texts-live structure from the Component 02 comparison applies here too.
What is a model Task 2 integration?Show answer
"A strong comparative NEA essay holds all five objectives together: it argues a single comparative position on how two post-1900 texts treat a concern (AO1), analyses the method by which each conveys it (AO2), grounds the divergence in contexts of production and reception (AO3), keeps both texts live in an idea-led structure (AO4), and tests the reading against a critical interpretation (AO5). Because no objective dominates, the essay must do all five well rather than excelling at one." The balance is the task's distinctive demand.
What is a weak approach upgraded?Show answer
A Task 2 that pours in context while neglecting close analysis and comparison would underperform, because all AOs are equal. Upgraded, the essay balances comparative argument, method analysis, context, comparison and interpretation, so every objective is satisfied.
What is q1?Show answer
What are the text requirements for the NEA? [2 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
How are Task 1 and Task 2 assessed differently? [2 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Compare two post-1900 texts (at least one post-2000) on a focused question of your devising, integrating all five objectives. [20 marks]