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It is always a good idea to plan your answer carefully before you begin writing it. Planning will save you time as you will have a clear idea of what to write and it means you will make your points in a logical manner. You must always refer to the assessment objectives to ensure you have met the criteria.

Higher tier question

Look closely at the way Jo speaks and behaves in this extract. What does it reveal to the audience about her feelings at this point in the play?

Foundation tier question

What do you think of Jo’s behaviour and the way she speaks in this extract? Remember you must give reasons for what you write and you must also support your answer with words and phrases from the text.

Here is a plan you could use for your answer:

1. Introduction - What is happening in this scene? Give a brief overview.
2. Comment on the way Jo behaves and what this reveals to the audience.
3. Comment on the way Jo speaks and what this reveals to the audience.
4. Conclusion. Here you should provide a general summing up of your points and comment on how you think Jo feels in this scene.

Higher tier sample answers

Here are two sample answers that refer to point four of the essay plan

Sample answer one

In conclusion, it is possible to note that by the end of the scene Jo has mixed emotions. She feels a mixture of both happiness at the prospect of being a mother, and sadness that soon she will have to face being a single mother. She is angry when she remembers the many times Helen left her alone in order to go out and enjoy herself and she is also worried in case her own baby is deficient in some way, just like her father was.

Feedback comments – good, but improvements need to be made

This answer shows a good understanding of the scene and of the way Jo feels but it is too brief and to the point.

There is no reference to the audience, and as this is a focus of the question, the audience should be mentioned in the final paragraph of the essay.

Knowledge of Jo’s concerns is shown but more understanding of why she feels like this should be included in the final paragraph.

It is never a good idea to repeat words that are similar or the same, such as ‘mixture’ and ‘mixed’. Alternatives need to be found.

Sample answer two

In conclusion, this scene allows the audience to see how confused at times Jo feels about the birth of her baby. Unfortunately, Jo’s mother Helen has not provided her with a good role model to follow; this is implied in the remarks Jo makes about how the children are not to blame for their filthy clothes, hair and faces. Jo is no doubt remembering how she herself has often been left alone to fend for herself and the audience will share these thoughts with Jo. Similarly, Jo is worried that her baby will be born like her father and like the boy who sits on the steps outside the flat. In other words, he might be born mentally deficient and it is possible this also prevents Jo from truly enjoying her pregnancy. However, there are also times when the audience can tell that Jo is happy, such as when she shouts, whee, and dances around the room when the baby kicks her. It seems then that Jo displays a rather ambiguous attitude to the birth of her baby.

Feedback comments – this a much improved answer.

This answer links to the title with its comment on the audience and this is exactly what the examiner wants to see.

This answer is much more detailed than the first answer and covers the main points that would be needed in a conclusion.

This answer contains effective use of words such as ‘implies’ which is exactly the kind of language examiners expect at this level.

Use of words such as ‘ambiguous’ helps add depth to answers and helps fulfil assessment objectives.

Foundation tier sample answers

Here are two sample answers that refer to point one of the essay plan.

Sample answer one

This is a scene from the play A Taste of Honey by Shelagh Delaney. Shelagh was only eighteen years old when she wrote this play. Lots of the play was improvised when it was being rehearsed as it was performed by an innovative theatre company called The Theatre Workshop which was run by Joan Littlewood. The play was a huge success and went on to win many awards. In this scene the main character, a girl called Jo, is in her flat with her best friend, Geof. They are chatting to one another and Jo feels her baby kick.

Feedback comments – some interesting ideas but improvements need to be made.

This answer contains much irrelevant information. The examiner does not need to know the background of the play or the playwright; the focus must be solely on the extract itself. Calling the playwright by their first name is too informal. You should either use their full name or use their surname.

This answer does not touch upon the question until the last few sentences. These sentences show understanding but they are a little vague. More focus needs to be placed on what the characters are actually discussing.

Sample answer two

This scene takes place in Jo’s flat. During the extract the audience can see Jo’s mood is very changeable. She is restless and sometimes moody, moaning to her friend Geof about how hot she is. She is also disgusted about the way some of the local children are dressed and comments on how filthy they are. She suggests that the children are not to blame for their appearance and this links to the poor way Jo herself was treated by her own mother. In this extract Jo is also upset that she is soon to be a mother herself and reveals that she is confused about what it means to be a good mother. Her own mother, Helen has not set her a very good example.

Feedback comments – a much improved answer

This answer is detailed and does not contain irrelevant information. This answer provides the examiner with an interesting introduction to the scene and it also contains some brief textual references.

This answer provides a solid introduction to the way Jo feels and why she feels as she does, providing plenty of opportunity to develop ideas further in later paragraphs.

You should now read over the assessment objectives again before attempting to answer the extract question yourself. You should try to complete it in timed conditions. Remember to keep in mind how important planning is and use everything you have learned in this section to write your own answer.