Post by sir on Jun 22, 2009 6:01:54 GMT -5
WJEC GCSE English Literature Exam – The Novel
Your English Literature exam has three sections A, B and C. Section A tests your exam novel, section B tests the play and section C is an unseen poetry analysis. Questions in sections A and B are worth 30 marks each and you should spend about an hour on each of these. Section C is worth 10 marks and you should spend about 30 minutes on this. This page gives you advice about how to tackle the novel.
You are not allowed to take the novel or the play with you into the exam. It is a “closed-book” exam. You must, therefore, know the book well.
The question on the novel is divided into parts a, b and c. Part a is based on an extract (approx. one page of the novel) and you have to answer that part of the question. Part a is worth 10 marks and you are advised to spend about 20 minutes on it. Then you choose either part b or part c, both worth 20 marks. You should give yourself about 40 minutes to answer part b or c. Part b is sometimes an “empathy question” in which you imagine you are one of the characters and you write from his or her point of view. Part c is an essay type question based on your understanding of the whole novel.
Foundation and Higher Tier Questions: The questions are similar for both tiers (i.e. divided into 3 parts etc) but the foundation tier extract question (part a) gives you a little more help by being broken down into 2 questions such as:
• What are your thoughts and feelings as you read this extract? Give reasons for what you say by referring closely to the extract.
• Choose parts of the extract that you think are effective. Write about them explaining why you find them effective. (Or it might ask you about your thoughts and feelings about particular characters in the extract.)
The higher tier extract question often focuses on how mood and atmosphere are created in the extract. In foundation tier papers, questions in parts b and c are also broken down into bullet points to help you. Higher tier questions are not usually broken down; you have to mentally supply your own bullet points.
Part a – The Extract Question: We highly recommend that you use a text highlighter pen to mark important phrases and lines from the extract as you read it. Read the question first, then read the extract, highlighting important parts.
A good way to start your answer might be to say briefly where this extract comes in the novel in terms of what has happened just before it. This is called “putting the extract into context”; do not spend long on it – a few lines only. You then need to focus on the actual question.
To reach grade C and higher you need to analyse the text closely, explaining your reactions and where they come from in the extract. This means exploring what happens in it, what the characters say in it and the ways in which language is used in the extract. Language, here, covers things like the choice of words, length and structure of sentences, and punctuation used for effect.
If your focus is mostly on explaining what the extract is about, you will not get higher than a D or an E.
Parts b and c. Empathy Questions – You cannot rely on having one of these but they appear much more often than not, in part b. These questions tell you to imagine you are a particular character and then to write your thoughts and feelings about a specified focus (e.g. an incident or events in the book).
To reach grade C or higher you need to sound like the character, using language as he or she would, as well as to write from inside that character’s head, seeing the incident (or whatever) from their point of view.
If you don’t sound at all like the character you will not reach the higher grades.
Essay Questions – These could focus on how particular characters are presented in the novel or a particular theme or other focus, such as the relationship between characters.
To reach grade C or higher you need to write analytically and with plenty of detailed reference to the text in support of your points. You need to show knowledge and understanding, as well as a sensitive personal response.
Your English Literature exam has three sections A, B and C. Section A tests your exam novel, section B tests the play and section C is an unseen poetry analysis. Questions in sections A and B are worth 30 marks each and you should spend about an hour on each of these. Section C is worth 10 marks and you should spend about 30 minutes on this. This page gives you advice about how to tackle the novel.
You are not allowed to take the novel or the play with you into the exam. It is a “closed-book” exam. You must, therefore, know the book well.
The question on the novel is divided into parts a, b and c. Part a is based on an extract (approx. one page of the novel) and you have to answer that part of the question. Part a is worth 10 marks and you are advised to spend about 20 minutes on it. Then you choose either part b or part c, both worth 20 marks. You should give yourself about 40 minutes to answer part b or c. Part b is sometimes an “empathy question” in which you imagine you are one of the characters and you write from his or her point of view. Part c is an essay type question based on your understanding of the whole novel.
Foundation and Higher Tier Questions: The questions are similar for both tiers (i.e. divided into 3 parts etc) but the foundation tier extract question (part a) gives you a little more help by being broken down into 2 questions such as:
• What are your thoughts and feelings as you read this extract? Give reasons for what you say by referring closely to the extract.
• Choose parts of the extract that you think are effective. Write about them explaining why you find them effective. (Or it might ask you about your thoughts and feelings about particular characters in the extract.)
The higher tier extract question often focuses on how mood and atmosphere are created in the extract. In foundation tier papers, questions in parts b and c are also broken down into bullet points to help you. Higher tier questions are not usually broken down; you have to mentally supply your own bullet points.
Part a – The Extract Question: We highly recommend that you use a text highlighter pen to mark important phrases and lines from the extract as you read it. Read the question first, then read the extract, highlighting important parts.
A good way to start your answer might be to say briefly where this extract comes in the novel in terms of what has happened just before it. This is called “putting the extract into context”; do not spend long on it – a few lines only. You then need to focus on the actual question.
To reach grade C and higher you need to analyse the text closely, explaining your reactions and where they come from in the extract. This means exploring what happens in it, what the characters say in it and the ways in which language is used in the extract. Language, here, covers things like the choice of words, length and structure of sentences, and punctuation used for effect.
If your focus is mostly on explaining what the extract is about, you will not get higher than a D or an E.
Parts b and c. Empathy Questions – You cannot rely on having one of these but they appear much more often than not, in part b. These questions tell you to imagine you are a particular character and then to write your thoughts and feelings about a specified focus (e.g. an incident or events in the book).
To reach grade C or higher you need to sound like the character, using language as he or she would, as well as to write from inside that character’s head, seeing the incident (or whatever) from their point of view.
If you don’t sound at all like the character you will not reach the higher grades.
Essay Questions – These could focus on how particular characters are presented in the novel or a particular theme or other focus, such as the relationship between characters.
To reach grade C or higher you need to write analytically and with plenty of detailed reference to the text in support of your points. You need to show knowledge and understanding, as well as a sensitive personal response.