Get your child exam-ready for OCR AS English Literature.
Live, one-to-one online sessions with a specialist tutor, matched to your child's exact OCR syllabus and target grade. Book a trial in minutes.
OCR AS Level English Literature explained.
OCR AS Level English Literature is a standalone qualification for Year 12 students studying literary texts across prose, poetry, and drama. It forms part of the broader A-Level pathway set by OCR, one of the UK's leading awarding bodies.
OCR AS Level English Literature is a one-year qualification awarded by OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations). Students study a selection of set texts across different literary forms and periods, developing skills in close reading, critical analysis, and academic writing.
OCR AS Level English Literature is assessed entirely by written examination. Students sit two papers, each testing close reading and essay technique. The grading scale runs from A to E for a pass, with an unclassified grade below. There is no coursework component at AS Level.
OCR AS Level English Literature exams are sat in the May/June series each academic year. Most students begin structured exam preparation in the spring term, with tutoring support often starting several months earlier to build essay technique and text knowledge steadily.
A group class can't do this.
Lessons built around the gaps
The tutor identifies exactly which texts, question types, or essay skills are holding your child's grade back and targets those first.
Real past-paper essay technique
Every session uses OCR past papers and mark schemes so students practise the exact question styles and assessment objectives they'll face on the day.
Parents kept in the loop
After every session, parents receive a written update covering what was covered, what improved, and what the next lesson will focus on.
A rigorous literary qualification for sixth-form students.
OCR AS Level English Literature is a qualification set by Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations (OCR) for students in Year 12, typically aged 16 to 17. It is widely studied in British-curriculum schools across the UK and internationally, including in GCC international schools.
Assessment is entirely examination-based, with two written papers covering set texts in prose, poetry, and drama. Grades run from A to E. The AS Level can be taken as a standalone qualification or as the first year of the full OCR A Level in English Literature.
Tuitional tutors work directly to the OCR AS English Literature specification, covering each set text, assessment objective, and essay mark scheme your child's school follows. Every lesson is mapped to the exact syllabus, so there's no wasted time on content that won't appear in the exam.
What a one-to-one OCR AS English Literature lesson actually looks like.
Every session follows a tested four-phase structure: recap, teach, apply, review. The tutor adapts each phase to the texts and essay skills your child needs most that week.
Book a trial lessonA typical 60-minute session
- 0-5 min
Recap and quick diagnostic
The tutor reviews the previous session's homework and asks two or three targeted questions to identify any lingering gaps before the new content begins.
Example: The tutor asks the student to quote and comment on one key passage from 'The Great Gatsby' to check retention of narrative voice analysis from the previous lesson.
- 5-25 min
Teach the target topic
The tutor introduces or deepens one specific skill or text focus, using annotated extracts and model essay paragraphs to show exactly how OCR mark schemes reward strong responses.
Example: Teaching Assessment Objective 2 (AO2) through a close reading of a selected poem from the OCR Poetry Anthology, focusing on how language choices create meaning.
- 25-50 min
Apply it to past-paper questions
The student attempts a timed OCR past-paper question, then the tutor marks it live against the real mark scheme, pointing out exactly where marks are gained or lost.
Example: Timed 25-minute response to an OCR AS English Literature Paper 1 extract question on a set prose text, marked against the published band descriptors.
- 50-60 min
Review, set homework, report
The tutor summarises the session's progress, sets a focused homework task, and logs detailed notes for the parent's post-session report.
Example: Homework set to plan and write a full timed essay on the representation of power in 'Othello' for OCR Drama component preparation.
After the lesson
Parents receive a written session report covering the texts and skills covered, the homework set, and the focus for the next lesson. The session recording is also available to review at any time.
Four simple steps.
Tell us the goal
Share your child's OCR syllabus, set texts, and target grade.
Get matched
We match you to a specialist OCR English Literature tutor.
Trial lesson
Attend a trial session with no obligation to continue.
Start weekly sessions
Book at times that suit your family, anywhere in the GCC.
The qualification that builds the essay skills universities look for.
OCR AS Level English Literature is set by Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations. It assesses students through two written exam papers covering prose, poetry, and drama set texts, with grades awarded from A to E. It is sat at the end of Year 12.
The AS Level functions as a standalone qualification or as the first stage of the full OCR A Level pathway. Strong performance at AS Level demonstrates a student's analytical writing ability and prepares them for the extended critical demands of A2 study and university English courses.
Why families across the GCC trust Tuitional for AS Level.
My daughter struggled with essay structure for her OCR English Literature papers. Her Tuitional tutor completely changed how she approached close reading and analysis. Within six weeks she was writing with real confidence, and her practice paper marks improved noticeably before the May exams.
The tutor explained OCR assessment objectives in a way that finally made sense to my son. He stopped writing vague essays and started quoting and analysing with purpose. We noticed the difference after just three sessions.
I was really nervous about the poetry paper but my tutor made each poem feel manageable. We worked through the OCR anthology methodically and I went into the exam knowing exactly how to structure my answers.
Scheduling was easy and the tutor always came prepared with past-paper questions. My daughter's written English and her ability to argue a critical point improved every week.
OCR AS English Literature tutoring — your questions, answered.
The things parents and students ask us most, in plain language.
?Do your tutors follow the exact OCR AS English Literature syllabus?+
Yes. Every tutor works directly to the OCR AS Level English Literature specification, including your child's specific set texts, assessment objectives, and exam paper formats. Nothing taught drifts from the real syllabus your child's school follows.
?Can tutoring help with both OCR exam papers?+
Yes. Tuitional tutors cover both OCR AS English Literature papers, including prose, poetry, and drama set texts. Sessions are planned to build essay technique and close reading skills for each paper's specific question types and assessment objectives.
?How many sessions will my child need before the exams?+
It depends on your child's current level and how much time remains before the exam series. Most students benefit from weekly sessions starting several months before the May/June sitting. Your tutor will map a realistic plan after the first session.
?My child is mid-year and behind. Is it too late to start?+
No. Tuitional supports mid-year enrolment and students joining at any point in the academic year. The tutor will prioritise the most exam-critical content first and build from there, making the most of the time available before the OCR exam series.
?Are sessions recorded if my child wants to review them?+
Yes. Every Tuitional session is recorded and accessible to the student and parent at any time. Students can revisit explanations of difficult texts or essay feedback between sessions, which is particularly useful when revising for OCR Literature exams.
?How much does OCR AS Level English Literature tutoring cost?+
AS Level tutoring at Tuitional starts from AED 65 per hour. You can pay per session or choose a package with no lock-in. Visit our tutoring packages page for current options and to find the right plan for your child.
Book a trial OCR AS English Literature lesson today.
Tell us your child's set texts and target grade. We'll match them with the right tutor and get a trial session booked at a time that suits your family.
- Matched to your exact OCR AS syllabus
- Live one-to-one sessions, never pre-recorded
- Sessions recorded and available to review anytime
- Flexible scheduling across GCC time zones