Introduction to the 2028 NEA Set List

Welcome to your guide for the Component 04 Independent Study! If you are sitting your A Level exams in 2028, you are working with a brand-new list of non-fiction set texts. This list is exciting because it features contemporary voices and a wide variety of styles, from graphic memoirs to investigative journalism. This chapter will help you get to know the 12 prescribed books you can choose from for your comparative essay.

Why is this important? For Task 1 of your NEA, you must write a comparative essay (1500–2000 words). One of the two texts you compare must come from this official OCR list. The great news for 2028 students is that every single book on this new list was published after the year 2000, which automatically helps you meet one of the core exam requirements!

Note: If you are looking for information on the original writing task, please see the chapter on Original non-fiction writing and introduction (Task 2).

The Official 2028 Prescribed Non-Fiction List

For examinations from 2028 onwards, you must choose one text from the following list to form the basis of your Task 1 essay:

1. Raymond Antrobus, The Quiet Ear
2. Kit de Waal (ed.), Common People
3. Richard Flanagan, Question 7
4. Anna Funder, Wifedom
5. Sabba Khan, The Roles We Play
6. Ana Kinsella, Look Here
7. Dara McAnulty, Diary of a Young Naturalist
8. Georgia Pritchett, My Mess is a Bit of a Life
9. Patrick Radden Keefe, Say Nothing
10. Jenn Shapland, My Autobiography of Carson McCullers
11. Tara Westover, Educated
12. Lea Ypi, Free: Coming of Age at the End of History

Quick Tip: Don't feel overwhelmed! You only need to study one of these in depth for your essay. Take some time to look at the blurbs or read the first few pages of a few different ones to see which voice speaks to you.

Understanding the "Post-2000" Rule

The OCR syllabus has a specific rule for the NEA: at least one of the two texts you compare must have been published after the year 2000.

Because every text on the 2028 list above is a 21st-century publication, you have already met this requirement just by picking your set text! This gives you total freedom when choosing your second, "free-choice" text. Your second book can be brand new, or it can be a classic from hundreds of years ago.

Key Takeaway

All 12 books on the 2028 list are post-2000 texts. This makes your planning much simpler than in previous years!

Diverse Genres and Styles

One of the best things about the 2028 list is the variety of modes and genres. This allows you to pick a text that matches your interests:

  • Graphic Memoirs: Sabba Khan’s The Roles We Play uses both visuals and words, which is fantastic for discussing multimodality.
  • Nature Writing: Dara McAnulty’s Diary of a Young Naturalist offers a unique perspective on the natural world and neurodiversity.
  • Investigative Journalism: Patrick Radden Keefe’s Say Nothing reads like a thriller but is a true account of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
  • Personal Memoirs: Books like Tara Westover’s Educated or Lea Ypi’s Free explore upbringing, education, and political change.
  • Anthologies: Common People (edited by Kit de Waal) is a collection of different voices, allowing you to look at how different writers handle the same theme.

How to Pair Your Set Text

Once you have chosen a book from the list above, you need to find a free-choice text to compare it with. Here are the rules for that second text:

  • It must be non-fiction (since the set list is non-fiction).
  • It must be published in book form.
  • It can be from any genre (e.g., another memoir, a collection of letters, a travelogue, or a biography).

Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't pick a second text that is exactly like your first one. The strongest essays often find "points of connection" between texts that are slightly different. For example, you might compare a modern memoir about family (like Educated) with a much older collection of family letters from the 18th century.

Summary Checklist for 2028 Students

Before you start writing, make sure you can tick these boxes:

  • I have chosen one text from the official 12-book list for 2028.
  • I have chosen a second non-fiction book that is not on the list.
  • I am prepared to write 1500–2000 words comparing them.
  • I have checked my choices with my teacher (who will use the OCR Text and Task Proposal Service).

Did you know? This component is "synoptic," which means it’s your chance to show off everything you’ve learned about AO1 (terminology), AO2 (analysis), AO3 (context), and AO4 (connections) all in one big project!

For more details on the rules regarding your second book, see the chapter: Choosing texts and tasks: post-2000 and free-choice rules.