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The key to a successful response is to focus on the question and understand what you are being asked to do. Use the marks available for each question as a guide on how much to write.

Example question one

Read lines 1 - 8

List five things in this part of the text about the father’s appearance. (5 marks)

This type of question is not looking for a close analysis of the text or a detailed response. This task aims to check your reading skills and ability to pick out the relevant information from a named part of the passage. Don’t spend too long on this type of question: the number of marks available should be your guide. These types of questions usually have a low number of marks. Remember to read the question very carefully – this question is asking you to focus on the appearance of the father, so if you wrote about his emotions you would lose marks.

Example question two

Read lines 9 - 16

How does the writer show the mother is angry? (5 marks)

You must refer to the language used in the text to support your answer.

This question is asking you to focus on one part of the passage. You must use short quotations to support your points. For each example, choose a few words or phrases from the text that demonstrate that the mother is angry. Explore and analyse how language in these quotations is used to create effects.

Example question three

Read lines 17 - 29

What impression do you get of family life from these lines? (10 marks)

You must refer to the text to support your answer.

You are being asked to focus on a longer section of the passage. This question is focusing on the reader’s impression of family life, so focus carefully on language choice, how the reader responds and use evidence to support your points. There are more marks available for this question, so you need to give a more developed, analytical answer.

Example question four

Read lines 30 - 45

How does the writer make these lines exciting? (10 marks)

You should write about:

• what happens to build the excitement
• the writer’s use of language to create a sense of excitement
• the effects of the reader

If you’re asked to focus on a particular section of a passage, then focus your analysis on that bit. Use the bullet points to focus your answer. When you’re looking at language remember to examine particular words and phrases used. What patterns of words do you notice? Look at sentence structures and notice how the writer is using these to create excitement. Are there lots of short sentences to build pace? Do longer sentences keep us hanging on?

As well as action, think about how characters contribute to a sense of excitement, how setting is important and how ideas are presented by the writer.

Example question five

Read lines 46 to the end

In the last twenty lines or so of the passage, the writer encourages the reader to feel a sense of respect for the character of Helen.

To what extent do you agree with this view? (10 marks)

You should write about:

• your own impressions of Helen as she is presented here and in the whole of the passage
• how the writer has created these impressions

This question is asking for a more personal response, so you are evaluating as well as analysing. Use the bullet points as your guide. You still need to use quotations to support each point you make; look closely at the word choices the author makes and explore how these affect the reader.