Examinations

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Examiner Reports 2011 May/June Series
(PDF), Last Updated: 11 November 2011

Examiner Reports 2010 May/June Series
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Examiner Reports 2009 May/June Series
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Examiner Reports 2008 May/June Series
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Examiner Reports 2007 May/June Series
(PDF), Last Updated: 01 November 2007

Examination Techniques and Tips

Underline the key terms of the question.
Keep to the key terms when writing your answer.
nclude relevant illustration from elsewhere, but be selective.
Don’t copy out long pieces of text in the Drama or Poetry sections as these are open book sections of the paper. Using relevant quotations which you have memorised in the Prose section will be highly rewarded.
Keep to your argument, dividing your essay into paragraphs for each relevant point.
Avoid narrative: the examining team will never want you to tell the story of an entire play or novel, nor will they want you to give a lengthy character profile.
Keep an eye on the clock, so you don’t run out of time.
Avoid bullet points or note form, if possible.

From the way Russell presents Mickey’s attitude to Eddie on page 86, and elsewhere in Act 2, show how far you agree that Mickey is vindictive.

Presents	invitation to evaluate the dramatist’s techniques, including stage directions
Mickey’s attitude to Eddie	specific focus on character’s behaviour
Page 86	locating instructions of the extract
Elsewhere in Act 2	range of relevant material to be found only in this named portion of the play
Show	with reference to the text, using some illustration as appropriate
How far you would agree	invitation to give your opinion and present a sound argument
Mickey	focus on a particular character in the play Blood Brothers
Vindictive	evaluation of character, guided by a list of bulleted points below the question