The English Literary Studies text study comprises two parts:

• Part A – Comparative Text Study (15%) — critical essay
• Part B – Critical Reading (15%) — exam

Part A – Comparative Text Study (15%) — critical essay

Part A of the text study is assessed externally. Materials should be submitted online for marking.

A comparative text study that compares one of the texts studied in the shared studies with another text individually chosen by the student, in a response of a maximum of 1500 words. This response is a critical essay, in which the two texts are discussed in relation to each other. Students frame their own question and develop their response during the year, and submit the completed response for external assessment.

Teachers and external assessors appointed by the SACE Board assess the comparative text study, with reference to the performance standards.

The following specific features of the assessment design criteria for this subject are assessed in the comparative text study:

• knowledge and understanding — KU1, KU2, and KU3
• analysis — An1, An2, and An3
• application — Ap2 and Ap3

Student work should be their own. All externally assessed investigations must be verified by a teacher. See Supervision and verification of student work.

Part B: Critical Reading (15%) — exam

Part B of the text study is an e-exam that is assessed externally. See the calendar for date of the examination.

It is a critical reading of one or more short texts. The short texts may be in a variety of forms (e.g. prose, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, texts with graphic or visual elements, or excerpts from film or soundtracks). 

It is a 100-minute examination.

The following specific features of the assessment design criteria for this subject may be assessed in the examination:

• knowledge and understanding — KU1, KU2, and KU3
• analysis — An1, An2, and An3
• application — Ap2 and Ap3.