AQA GCSE English Literature Exams - 20th and 23rd May 2013 OFFICAL THREAD

hey
I think if you go onto aqa for example
http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/subjects/AQA-47101H-W-MS-JAN12.PDF
it shows you the bands at the begining , if you want an A/A* you should be aiming for band six and a high/ mid band five.

I was told not to write like more than 4 pages as it increases your chance of repititon , so aim for between 1 3/4 to 3 pages , its quality not quantity!

In of mice and men to hit marks you need to refer back to the era , and the many themes asscoiated with the great depression such as violence (shooting Lennie , the fight and shppting candy's dog), loneliness, dreams etc , also refer to steinbeck in your essay for example rather than say , ' the use of the word terrier' say ' stienbeck use of the noun terrier...' put some english vocabulary in your essay , mention the microchosm, examiners love that

look at websites like shmoop and enotes and get revising , they really help

i'm doing AIC not kindertransport , so good luck!
(excuse my awful spelling)

Thankyou this was very helpful! :biggrin:

thought I'd just mention, is the mark scheme you gave in relation to all of the questions in the paper? or does the success criteria vary at all? like, should I approach each question in the same way?

Reply 1241

tatwriter

Original post by ineedhelp4

thank you!! :biggrin:

but i don't get how slim links to 1930's america?

Every character 'links' to 1930's America as they live there and then! That's just exam talk for talk about 1930's America and how that applies to Slim. Therefore, by talking about the American dream you get marks, same with the Great Depression.

All the characters in OMAM are symbolic. Slim represents the voice of reason and is Steinbeck's proof that not only non intelligent people (like Lennie) ended up in these situations.

Reply 1242

Cynical.

Original post by DanielleB97

In Section B, are the marks split 15 then 15 for part a then part b or could you get. for example, 17 and 13 if your answer for part a was stronger?

Both parts are marked as a whole.

Reply 1243

JustaDreamer

10

Original post by Evieb97

Do we spend 45 mins on each? :smile:

Yep I think so, best of luck :smile:

Reply 1244

tatwriter

Original post by artyom

The questions that would appear *if* Mr Birling would come up in the exam, may be something like "What is the importance of Arthur Birling and how does Priestley present him?" or a question contrasting the characters of Eric and Mr Birling. I'm just hoping they both don't come up in the exam. I'd try to find a quote and then interpret it.

Here is the document for your effort to reply, lol.

Thank you! I really hope that it's not a comparing question, that's too much like the poetry for my liking! Although I like the questions that say 'How does Priestley present [Insert Character]' because all you have to do is basically describe the character (in very detailed, argued points).

Do you have any idea if Eva Smith is likely to come up in a question? We did a timed essay at school on her and my teacher couldn't actually think of any improvements for me to make (she gave me full marks!).

Reply 1245

MotherFukker

HELP ME!
What do I write for section a) (is it about context or devices etc...)
What do I write for section b) (same thing)

Reply 1246

DanielleB97

Original post by Cynical.

Both parts are marked as a whole.

Thanks for answering. My teacher was been almost zero help on OMAM, and we haven't even been given the book to reread. She expects us to remember it from last summer :frown:

Reply 1247

Cynical.

Original post by DanielleB97

Thanks for answering. My teacher was been almost zero help on OMAM, and we haven't even been given the book to reread. She expects us to remember it from last summer :frown:

If you google 'Read Of Mice and Men Online' there are a few pdfs knocking about.

Reply 1248

ineedhelp4

Original post by tatwriter

Every character 'links' to 1930's America as they live there and then! That's just exam talk for talk about 1930's America and how that applies to Slim. Therefore, by talking about the American dream you get marks, same with the Great Depression.

All the characters in OMAM are symbolic. Slim represents the voice of reason and is Steinbeck's proof that not only non intelligent people (like Lennie) ended up in these situations.

okay thank youu and do you think they'll be able to ask a question like that about very minor characters like whit and carlson?

Reply 1249

tatwriter

Original post by MotherFukker

HELP ME!
What do I write for section a) (is it about context or devices etc...)
What do I write for section b) (same thing)

Section A is about one text and you answer the question. Try and get: Historical Context, Structure, Language AND Devices in there.

Section B will give you an extract. You answer the question by analysing the extract for the first question and then the second question iscompletely about how the text as a whole relates to Historical context.

Reply 1250

LeighaA

Ive got the exam in the morning and i dont know whats going to come up so im revising everything, but its really hard as ive got a drama exam straight after too.

Reply 1251

artyom

Original post by tatwriter

Do you have any idea if Eva Smith is likely to come up in a question? We did a timed essay at school on her and my teacher couldn't actually think of any improvements for me to make (she gave me full marks!).

I sure hope that she does, then I would answer the question what I would consider "really well". Questions based on Eva Smith has not been seen on past papers. But, I'm rather anxious that AQA would put some questions on Eric or Birling to tick me off. and the fact that my class barely did any practice on answering Unit 1 style questions.

Reply 1252

fbrep2012

3

Original post by artyom

No one here has any interpretations related to Mr Birling? I would really appreciate if someone could help me out here, as I don't know the things I could write on Mr Birling, apart from the obvious characteristics and his capitalistic ideology. I would upload revision notes and some essays I had collaborated into one word document in return. Though it may not be finished, it does have a bit over 7,000 words. The document only contains notes on An Inspector Calls and Of Mice and Men, however.

i've studied and analysed all characters in detail for tomorrows exam, has well as alternative interpretations. For Birling...

.Capitalist ( of course, as you know)
.likes the sound of his own voice... seen early in the play, the lengthy speeches he makes. But, those speeches shorted when the inspector is present, as the inspector takes control and gains authority.
Reinforcing my previous point, he often interrupts people, e.g. eric
.Does not accept any responsibility for Eva's death.... because of pride and his capitalistic view of 'every man of himself'

Need anymore? let me know!

Reply 1253

MotherFukker

Can someone please Help me- I am clueless about how to structure both parts a) and b)
for part a) i am doing AIC - for this what should i include and write about
for part b) i am doing tkam - same thing for both sections on part b)

Reply 1254

tatwriter

Original post by ineedhelp4

okay thank youu and do you think they'll be able to ask a question like that about very minor characters like whit and carlson?

I don't think they'll ask you a question just on Whit or Carlson but they might ask you to focus on one of them in comparison to another character?

I've heard that there might be a mention of Whit in one of the questions so I'm hoping if there is it's the first question (the bit about the language in the text)

I think it all depends how nice AQA are being this year and, judging by my French listening last week, they are in the mood to be rather nasty this year.

Reply 1255

icantexplain

Original post by MotherFukker

HELP ME!
What do I write for section a) (is it about context or devices etc...)
What do I write for section b) (same thing)

Section a you get to choose 1 question from 2
Section B answer both. Section b part a will give you a short extract from the passage.. part b will ask about context
These are past exam questions, I'm doing OMAM and the woman in black :smile:

Section A:
Either
1) How does hill create a sense of isolation in the novel?
OR
2) How does Hill present the setting of Eel Marsh house and why do you think it is important?

Section B:
1) Part a) What methods does Steinbeck use in this passage to present Candy?
2) And then Part b) How do you think Steinbeck uses the character of Candy In the novel as a whole to convey important ideas about society at that time

Hope that helped :biggrin:

Reply 1256

cjslions

2

Guys could Eva smith come up??

Reply 1257

BP_Tranquility

5

For Of Mice and Men, could they ask a question regarding the American Dream or would it have to be a combination of nature/ American Dream? :smile:

Reply 1258

artyom

Original post by fbrep2012

i've studied and analysed all characters in detail for tomorrows exam, has well as alternative interpretations. For Birling...

.Capitalist ( of course, as you know)
.likes the sound of his own voice... seen early in the play, the lengthy speeches he makes. But, those speeches shorted when the inspector is present, as the inspector takes control and gains authority.
Reinforcing my previous point, he often interrupts people, e.g. eric
.Does not accept any responsibility for Eva's death.... because of pride and his capitalistic view of 'every man of himself'

Need anymore? let me know!

Thanks for your reply. I have to ask, can you talk about his reaction to the death of Eva Smith as an example of the contrast in socialist and capitalist ideas between Mr Birling and Inspector Goole? I'm worried that I would not get enough points to write down on my exam which is tomorrow.