Part A: What The Question Is Asking (Edexcel GCSE English Literature)

Shakespeare Part A: What The Question Is Asking

The GCSE Shakespeare examination requires you to write about a Shakespeare play from a set list of six texts. They are: 

• Macbeth 

• The Tempest 

• Romeo and Juliet 

• Much Ado About Nothing 

• Twelfth Night 

• The Merchant of Venice

In part (a) you will be asked to comment on an extract from your chosen Shakespeare play. This is a closed-book examination, meaning that you will not have access to a copy of the text in the exam. 

The guide below will enable you to approach Section A part (a) on your chosen Shakespeare play with confidence. This is divided into:

• Overview

• Breaking down the question

• Top tips

Overview

The Edexcel GCSE English Literature examination consists of two sections and lasts for 1 hour and 45 minutes. All of the questions in Section A have two parts, (a) and (b), and you need to answer both parts of the question on the Shakespeare text you have studied. Overall, you should aim to spend 55 minutes on Section A. A total of 40 marks are available for Section A: 20 marks are awarded for part (a) and 20 marks are awarded for part (b).

• In part (a) of Section A, you are required to analyse a short extract (approximately 30 lines) from the play in close detail:

  • You should only refer to the extract in this part of the question

• It is important that you understand which assessment objectives are being examined in each part of of this section:

  • For part (a) you are assessed on AO2 only

  • Your response should therefore only explore Shakespeare’s use of language, structure and form and its dramatic effects

  • You must not include comments on context (AO3) as this is not required for this question

• Remember, the extract has been specifically chosen for you to use to answer your essay, which means it will contain many lines that you can use as evidence in your essay 

You should aim to spend approximately 28 minutes on part (a). The suggested timings for part (a) are:

Breaking down the question

It is tempting to jump straight in and start answering the question immediately. However, completing the steps below first will ensure you answer the question in the way that examiners are looking for.

1. When you first open your exam paper, you should look at the question:

   1. This may sound very obvious but it’s important to read the question through several times

   2. The single biggest error that students make on exams is that they don't read the question through well enough, leading them to answer the question they believe they are being asked, instead of the one that they are actually being asked

2. Identify the keywords of the question:

   1. The keywords are the focus of the question and will relate to particular themes, characters or ideas

3. Read the contextual information within the extract:

   1. This contextual information will help you to understand what is happening in this scene

4. Contextualise the extract further before reading it:

   1. Knowing where the extract appears in the play will help you to better comprehend the extract

   2. You should consider what occurs in the play before and after this particular point

5. Read the extract with all of the above information in mind:

   1. This will make it easier for you to select the most pertinent quotes within the extract

Below is an example of this task from the Shakespeare section:

Top tips

• You must only discuss the extract in part (a) and you must refer closely to it throughout your answer

  • You are more likely to perform well on the paper if you keep in mind the dominant assessment objective for each part of Section A:

  • For part (a) this is AO2 (and only AO2), which is worth 20 marks

  • This means you need to comment on structure, form and language

• Your response should cover all three and evidence should be selected from across the entire extract

• Your use of subject terminology must be integrated and precise, but do not get distracted by technical terms:

  • This is called “feature spotting” and will not get you marks, unless you are able to demonstrate your understanding of why Shakespeare may have used a particular technique and what the effect of its use is

• Keep your textual references succinct:

  • One- or two-word examples are often much more successful than longer quotations

• Make sure that your selection of quotes is precise and directly relevant to the focus of the question:

  • Deconstruct the quotations you choose, analysing each one in detail

  • You can include word-level analysis, exploring the effect of single words, but you also need to think about how elements combine to create meaning

• Ensure your response directly answers the question set:

  • Strive to provide an informed, personal response, steering clear of mere repetition of pre-prepared material

  • Continually refer back to the question in order to maintain your focus

• Make sure you grasp the distinction between the terms “poetry”, “prose”, “verse” and “blank verse”

  • These terms are not interchangeable and your inability to differentiate between them will put you at a disadvantage

• “Think more; write less”: 

  • It’s important to note that the expectation is not to write as much as possible within the give time

  • Always focus on quality rather than quantity

• Compose your response with careful attention and accuracy:

  • The time invested in planning, reading and reviewing your response can have a significant positive impact on your overall grade