British Novel: What The Question Is Asking (Edexcel GCSE English Literature)

British Novel: What The Question Is Asking

The examination requires you to write about a Post-1914 British play or novel. You have a choice from four play texts or four novel texts. The novels are:

• Animal Farm – George Orwell 

• Lord of the Flies – William Golding 

• Anita and Me – Meera Syal 

• The Woman in Black – Susan Hill 

• Coram Boy – Jamila Gavin 

• Boys Don't Cry – Malorie Blackman

In Section B you are required to answer one essay question on the text you have studied. 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 B on your chosen text 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. You should spend approximately 50 minutes on Section B, which is focused on a Post-1914 British play or novel that you have studied. You are required to answer one essay question from a choice of two. 

• The question will focus on one or more of the following areas: 

  • Plot

  • Setting(s)

  • Character(s) 

  • Theme(s) 

• Each question will be preceded by a short quotation from the text:

  • You should use this quotation as a stimulus for your response

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

  • For Section B you are assessed on AO1, AO3 and AO4

  • The maximum marks for the question are 40:

    • AO1 (16 marks) and AO3 (16 marks) are the dominant assessment objectives, accounting for a total of 32 marks

    • There is also a mark out for 8 for AO4, which assesses the accuracy of spelling, punctuation and grammar

You should aim to spend approximately 50 minutes on Section B. The suggested timings are: 

Breaking down the question

For this question, you will be given two question options, each containing a quotation. You will then be asked to consider the novel using this quotation. The most common mistake students make in exams is not thoroughly understanding the question. By paying close attention to the question and understanding it thoroughly, you can significantly enhance your exam performance.

Below is an example of this task from the Post-1914 section:

Top tips

• Make a short plan before embarking on writing the essay, but avoid spending too long on it 

• Strong answers focus on the quotation in the question, and present a well-considered discussion that specifically addresses this prompt

• The examiner is looking for a personal judgement which is informed and evidenced through references to the text

• Start your answer using the wording of the question:

  • This demonstrates to the examiner that you have understood both the question and the text

• Ensure you are answering the question, rather than what you think is being asked:

  • Avoid the temptation to write about your preferred area for discussion, rather than responding to the question you have been set

  • The quotation in the question will usually propose that a particular theme or idea is central or important to your novel

  • Therefore, make sure your answer focuses on this particular theme or idea, not one that you think is more important

• Consider your own impressions in relation to the quotation before you begin to write, rather than forming an opinion during the course of writing your response

• Ensure all points are fully developed and, where possible, consider alternative interpretations

• Ensure your response keeps a clear focus on the question and does not attempt to retell the plot:

  • 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

• Integrate the contextual comments throughout your response rather than having bolt-on paragraphs:

  • The integration of context within paragraphs (rather than a couple of “context sentences” at the end of a paragraph) will move your response to a higher level

  • Often AO3 is naturally illustrated through the actions, events, themes and characters of the play

• Keep your textual references succinct:

  • Textual references should be accurate and discerning and should fully support the points you make

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

• Also make sure that your selection of quotations is 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

• Allow yourself several minutes to proofread your work to check for any errors, given that AO4 is worth fully 8 marks