IGCSE AQA English Literature: 2026 Exam Changes and Trends | IGCSE AQA 英语文学：2026年考试变化与趋势

📚 IGCSE AQA English Literature: 2026 Exam Changes and Trends | IGCSE AQA 英语文学：2026年考试变化与趋势

The 2026 examination cycle for AQA’s IGCSE English Literature marks the full consolidation of the updated specification (9275), first examined in 2025. Students and teachers must navigate refined set text lists, a reshaped poetry anthology, and a stronger emphasis on unseen analysis and comparative reading. Understanding these shifts is essential for effective preparation.

AQA IGCSE 英语文学 2026 年考试周期标志着更新后规格（9275）的全面落实，该规格于 2025 年首次开考。师生需要适应调整后的指定文本清单、重塑的诗歌选集，以及对非熟悉文本分析和比较阅读的更强侧重。把握这些变化对于高效备考至关重要。

1. The Shift to the New 9275 Specification | 新规格 9275 的全面实施

From 2025 onwards, the legacy IGCSE specification (8710) was phased out and replaced by the 9275 syllabus. By 2026, this new framework is firmly in place, with no transitional arrangements. The key structural change is the clear division into two papers: Poetry and Modern Prose (Paper 1), and Modern Drama and Literary Heritage Texts (Paper 2).

自 2025 年起，旧的 IGCSE 规格（8710）被逐步淘汰，由 9275 教学大纲取代。到 2026 年，这一新框架已完全确立，不再设有过渡安排。关键的结构性变化是清晰划分为两份试卷：诗歌与现代散文（试卷一），以及现代戏剧与文学遗产文本（试卷二）。

This reconfiguration aims to balance genre coverage while giving equal weight to unseen material and set-text study. Teachers should note that the new specification places greater demand on students’ ability to move between familiar and unfamiliar texts within timed conditions.

这一重构旨在平衡体裁覆盖，同时给予非熟悉材料和指定文本学习同等的权重。教师应注意，新规格对学生在限时条件下在熟悉与不熟悉文本之间转换的能力提出了更高要求。

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2. Updated Set Text Lists for 2026 | 2026 年更新的指定文本列表

AQA periodically refreshes its set text choices to diversify voices and maintain contemporary relevance. For the 2026 exams, the most notable additions appear in the Modern Drama section, with plays such as ‘Leave Taking’ by Winsome Pinnock and ‘The Empress’ by Tanika Gupta joining the previously available options like ‘An Inspector Calls’ and ‘Blood Brothers’. These new texts reflect the exam board’s commitment to representing Britain’s multicultural heritage.

AQA 定期更新指定文本选择，以丰富多元声音并保持当代相关性。对于 2026 年考试，最显著的新增出现在现代戏剧部分，Winsome Pinnock 的《Leave Taking》和 Tanika Gupta 的《The Empress》等剧作加入了此前已有的《An Inspector Calls》《Blood Brothers》等作品行列。这些新文本反映了考试局对展现英国多元文化传承的承诺。

Modern prose options retain enduring favourites such as ‘Lord of the Flies’, ‘Of Mice and Men’, and ‘Never Let Me Go’, but students should verify the exact paper-specific list for 2026, as some titles may rotate out. Literary heritage texts continue to feature Shakespeare, 19th-century novels, and a selection of poetry from the literary canon.

现代散文部分保留了《Lord of the Flies》《Of Mice and Men》《Never Let Me Go》等经典作品，但学生应核实 2026 年试卷适用的具体清单，因为部分书目可能轮换。文学遗产文本仍以莎士比亚、19 世纪小说以及经典诗歌选篇为主。

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3. Poetry Anthology: People and Places & Struggle for Freedom | 诗歌选集：人与地 & 为自由而斗争

The 9275 specification uses a dedicated AQA Poetry Anthology split into two thematic clusters: ‘People and Places’ and ‘Struggle for Freedom’. In the exam, students answer one question on the cluster they have studied, comparing a named poem with one other of their choice from the anthology. This requires deep familiarity with the entire cluster and the ability to draw connections across poems.

9275 规格使用专门的 AQA 诗歌选集，分为两个主题组别：“人与地”和“为自由而斗争”。考试中，学生根据所学组别回答一个问题，将一首指定诗歌与选集中自选的一首进行比较。这要求学生非常熟悉整个组别，并具备在不同诗歌之间建立联系的能力。

The 2026 exam will continue to prize thematic comparison and the exploration of poets’ methods. Candidates who simply memorise isolated quotations without understanding the broader cluster themes will struggle to reach the highest bands.

2026 年考试将继续重视主题比较和对诗人写作方法的探究。仅仅机械记忆孤立引文而不理解组别整体主题的考生，将难以达到最高分数段。

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4. Unseen Poetry – A Key Trend | 非熟悉诗歌——重要趋势

Unseen poetry now carries significant weight in Paper 1. For 2026, students must be prepared to analyse one or two unseen poems, which may involve a comparison. This reflects a broader educational trend towards assessing genuine reading and interpretation skills rather than rehearsed essay responses.

非熟悉诗歌如今在试卷一中占有重要分值。到了 2026 年，学生必须准备好分析一或两首非熟悉诗歌，其中可能涉及比较。这反映了一种更广泛的教育趋势，即评估真正的阅读和阐释技能，而非模式化的论文回答。

The poems chosen are typically modern but not obscure, often dealing with universal experiences. Teachers are encouraged to build regular unseen practice into their schemes of work, focusing on how poets create meaning through language, structure, and form.

所选诗歌通常具有现代性但不晦涩，往往处理普遍性体验。鼓励教师将定期的非熟悉诗歌练习纳入教学计划，聚焦于诗人如何通过语言、结构和形式创造意义。

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5. Assessment Objectives – What’s New? | 评估目标——新变化？

The 9275 specification realigns the familiar AOs. AO1 (articulate informed, personal responses) and AO2 (analyse language, form, and structure) remain central, but AO3 (show understanding of context) is now integrated rather than standalone. Crucially, AO4 (comparison) is explicitly assessed in the poetry sections, making comparative skills a non-negotiable element of success in 2026.

9275 规格重新调整了为人熟知的评估目标。AO1（表达有见地的个人见解）和 AO2（分析语言、形式和结构）仍居核心地位，但 AO3（展现对语境的理解）如今为融入式考查而非独立设题。关键的是，AO4（比较）在诗歌部分明确评估，使比较技能成为 2026 年取得成功的必备要素。

The weightings have shifted slightly to give more marks to critical analysis (AO2) and less to contextual knowledge alone. This means students must embed contextual insights naturally within their analytical arguments rather than offering separate historical background paragraphs.

分值权重略有变化，更多分数赋予批判性分析（AO2），而纯语境知识的比重降低。这意味着学生必须在分析论证中自然地融入语境见解，而非单独陈述历史背景段落。

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6. Modern Prose and Drama: Diverse Voices | 现代散文与戏剧：多元声音

A clear trend for 2026 is the diversification of experiences represented in modern texts. Prose options such as ‘Never Let Me Go’ raise questions about identity and ethics, while drama texts like ‘The Empress’ foreground the Windrush generation and colonial histories. Examiners are keen to see candidates engage thoughtfully with these contexts and the writer’s craft.

2026 年的一个明显趋势是现代文本所呈现体验的多样化。散文选项如《Never Let Me Go》引发对身份认同和伦理的追问，而戏剧文本如《The Empress》则凸显 Windrush 一代和殖民历史。考官希望看到考生对这些语境和作家技巧进行深思熟虑的探讨。

In Paper 1 Section B (Modern Prose) and Paper 2 Section A (Modern Drama), students write in detail about one text. The questions often include an extract, but also demand whole-text knowledge, reflecting the trend towards integrated assessment.

在试卷一 B 部分（现代散文）和试卷二 A 部分（现代戏剧）中，学生需就一部文本进行详细作答。题目通常包含一段摘录，但也要求通篇知识，反映了综合性评估的趋势。

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7. Literary Heritage: Balancing Classic and Contemporary | 文学遗产：经典与当代的平衡

For 2026, the Literary Heritage section (Paper 2 Section B) still offers Shakespeare, the 19th-century novel, and a selection of heritage poetry. However, the way questions are framed encourages students to consider why these texts remain relevant, prompting a contemporary critical stance. For example, a question on ‘Macbeth’ might probe themes of power and mental instability through a modern psychological lens.

对 2026 年而言，文学遗产部分（试卷二 B 部分）仍提供莎士比亚、19 世纪小说和经典诗歌选集。然而，命题方式鼓励学生思考这些文本为何仍具现实意义，促使他们采取当代批判立场。例如，关于《Macbeth》的问题可能通过现代心理学视角探讨权力和精神不稳定等主题。

The classic novels, such as ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘Frankenstein’, remain popular choices, but candidates must avoid purely descriptive responses. The trend is towards critical engagement with the text as a constructed artefact rather than a straightforward story.

经典小说如《A Christmas Carol》和《Frankenstein》仍是热门选项，但考生必须避免纯描述性作答。趋势在于对文本作为精心构建之人工制品进行批判性审视，而非仅仅将其看作一个直白的故事。

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8. Exam Format and Timing | 考试形式与时间安排

Paper 1 (Poetry and Modern Prose) lasts 1 hour 45 minutes and carries 60 marks. Section A requires responses to a taught anthology poem and comparison, plus unseen poetry. Section B is the modern prose essay. Paper 2 (Modern Drama and Literary Heritage Texts) also lasts 1 hour 45 minutes for 60 marks, with one question on modern drama and one on the chosen heritage text.

试卷一（诗歌与现代散文）时长 1 小时 45 分钟，分值 60 分。A 部分要求回答学过选集中的一首诗并进行比较，外加非熟悉诗歌分析。B 部分为现代散文论文。试卷二（现代戏剧与文学遗产文本）同样为 1 小时 45 分钟 60 分，一题关于现代戏剧，一题关于所选遗产文本。

Timing discipline is critical. Many students lose marks by spending too long on the anthology poetry comparison and rushing the unseen or the prose essay. The 2026 exam session will reward efficient planning and a clear sense of the mark allocation for each part.

时间管理至关重要。许多学生因在选集诗歌比较上耗时过长，导致非熟悉诗歌或散文论文部分仓促作答而失分。2026 年考试将奖励高效规划和清晰把握各部分分值分配的能力。

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9. Extract-based vs Whole-text Questions | 摘录题与全文分析题

The 2026 papers continue the blend of extract-based and whole-text questions. In the prose and drama sections, an extract is provided as a starting point, but the question always demands references to the wider text. This means students cannot rely solely on the printed passage; they must know the whole plot, characters, and themes in detail.

2026 年试卷继续混合使用摘录题和全文分析题。在散文和戏剧部分，会提供一段摘录作为出发点，但问题总是要求引用更广泛的文本。这意味着学生不能仅依赖给出的段落；他们必须详细掌握整个情节、人物和主题。

A growing trend is the ‘starting from this extract’ phrasing, which explicitly instructs candidates to begin with the printed part and then branch outwards. This tests the ability to relate detail to the larger structure, a skill that distinguishes higher-level work.

一个日益明显的趋势是“从本摘录出发”的表述，明确指示考生从给出的部分开始，然后向外延伸。这考查的是将细节与更大结构联系起来的能力，是区分高水平答卷的一项技能。

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10. Comparative Analysis Skills | 比较分析技能

Comparison is no longer confined to poetry. While AO4 is explicitly marked in the poetry sections, the skill of comparing ideas and writer’s methods is expected across the specification. For instance, in modern prose and drama, thoughtful candidates often draw implicit comparisons between the set text and other works they have read, though not required.

比较已不再局限于诗歌。尽管 AO4 在诗歌部分明确评分，但比较思想观点和作家手法的技能在整个规格中都有所期待。例如，在现代散文和戏剧中，有见地的考生常常在设定文本和他们读过的其他作品之间进行隐含比较，虽然不作强制要求。

For 2026, the assessment trend is to reward candidates who can synthesise thematic links and divergent perspectives. Practising comparative tables, Venn diagrams, and thematic essay grids can build this mental habit effectively.

对于 2026 年，评估趋势是奖励那些能够综合主题联系和不同视角的考生。练习比较表格、维恩图表和主题论文网格可以有效培养这种思维习惯。

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11. Mark Scheme Insights | 评分标准解读

Examiners’ reports consistently emphasise the need for a clear, critical, and well-structured argument that sustains focus on the question. For 2026, top-band marks require ‘convincing, critical analysis’ and a ‘perceptive’ exploration of the writer’s methods, with judicious textual support rather than long quotation dumps.

考官报告一直强调需要有清晰、批判性且结构良好的论证，并紧扣问题。对于 2026 年，最高分段的分数要求“令人信服的批判性分析”和对作家手法的“深刻”探究，并配以恰当的文本依据，而非大段堆砌引文。

The integration of context (AO3) remains a differentiator: successful responses weave contextual knowledge into the analysis, showing how it illuminates the text, rather than appending it. This nuanced application is a hallmark of high-achieving scripts.

语境（AO3）的融入仍是区分度所在：成功的回答将语境知识编织进分析之中，展示其如何阐明文本，而不是硬性附加。这种细腻的运用是高分段答卷的标志。

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12. Preparation Tips for 2026 | 2026 年备考建议

To succeed in the 2026 AQA IGCSE English Literature exams, students should build a broad reading habit, including unseen poetry from diverse poets. Regular timed practice under exam conditions is essential, as is compiling theme-based quotation banks for each set text rather than merely memorising random lines.

要在 2026 年 AQA IGCSE 英语文学考试中取得成功，学生应养成广泛阅读的习惯，包括阅读不同诗人的非熟悉诗歌。定期在考试条件下进行限时练习至关重要，同样重要的是为每个指定文本编制主题式引文库，而非仅仅死记硬背零散的诗句。

Teachers are advised to integrate comparative exercises early, encourage students to discuss the relevance of texts to modern audiences, and use mark schemes to guide peer- and self-assessment. Staying updated with any minor revisions AQA may publish for 2026 through official channels is also prudent.

建议教师尽早融入比较练习，鼓励学生讨论文本与现代读者的相关性，并利用评分标准指导学生互评和自评。同时，谨慎关注 AQA 可能通过官方渠道发布的 2026 年任何细微修订也是明智之举。

Published by TutorHao | English Literature Revision Series | aleveler.com

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