Level 1 exemplars and comments

Paper 1

Sample 1:

Part I, Section A, Question 4

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Sample 1:

Part I, Section A, Question 4

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Sample 1:

Part I, Section A, Question 4

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Sample 1:

Part I, Section A, Question 4

4

Sample 1:

Part I, Section A, Question 4

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Sample 1:

Part I, Section A, Question 4

Comments

Despite some attempt to discuss the symbolic implications of the fire, the spears and painted faces,

and Piggy’s glasses in Lord of the Flies, this response lacks clarity. For example, there is a lack of

precise and coherent elaboration with regard to why Piggy’s glasses represent intelligence and

knowledge and why they aggravate “the savage nature of the tribe”. Overall, ideas are repetitive and

there is considerable story-telling and a number of digressions which obscure the overall argument.

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Sample 2:

Part I, Section D, Question 22

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Sample 2:

Part I, Section D, Question 22

Comments

The candidate does not clearly show how mental and physical suffering are portrayed in “Everyday

Use” and Othello. A few claims are made that these two forms of sufferings exist in the texts, but

hardly any evidence is offered to substantiate them. Overall the answer is too brief.

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Paper 2

Sample 1:

Section A, Question 1

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Sample 1:

Section A, Question 1

10

Sample 1:

Section A, Question 1

Comments

(i) Response is off-topic. The candidate simply comments in general terms about Iago’s desire

for revenge. Answer is a very basic summary of the entire plot.

(ii) Demonstrates a misunderstanding of the lines.

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Sample 2:

Section C, Question 8

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Sample 2:

Section C, Question 8

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Sample 2:

Section C, Question 8

Comments

(i) Answer is mostly a repetition of lines from the poem. Comment about “courage” suggests

misinterpretation.

(ii) The brief response here reveals confusion with the term ‘tone’.

(iii) Fails to point out any structural details.

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Paper 3

Sample 1:

Extended Essay: Guilt, in The Call, directed by Brad Anderson and Looking for Alaska, by John

Green

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Sample 1:

Extended Essay: Guilt, in The Call, directed by Brad Anderson and Looking for Alaska, by John

Green

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Sample 1:

Extended Essay: Guilt, in The Call, directed by Brad Anderson and Looking for Alaska, by John

Green

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Sample 1:

Extended Essay: Guilt, in The Call, directed by Brad Anderson and Looking for Alaska, by John

Green

Comments

The essay aims to discuss the concept of guilt but a detailed definition of what guilt is is missing.

The contexts that have made the characters guilty are not explained adequately, resulting in a very

general description of the psychology of the characters. The phrase, ‘the characters are guilty of

their actions’ has been repeated many times but the actual circumstances they are in have not been

explored. The essay also states that the author and the director have tried to make the

readers/audience feel sympathetic for the guilty feelings of the characters but it fails to explain how

the author/director achieves that. Concrete textual references are missing. More detailed discussion

of techniques is needed.

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Sample 2:

Analytical Study/Review: The Book Thief – A battle of a young girl

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Sample 2:

Analytical Study/Review: The Book Thief – A battle of a young girl

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Sample 2:

Analytical Study/Review: The Book Thief – A battle of a young girl

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Sample 2:

Analytical Study/Review: The Book Thief – A battle of a young girl

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Sample 2:

Analytical Study/Review: The Book Thief – A battle of a young girl

Comments

This film review mentions the plot, the performance of the actors and how the film is different from

the book of the same title. However, the review is lacking details and explanations thus making it

superficial and descriptive. The review contains generalised phrases such as, ‘the effortless

performance of the actors’, ‘the film is a flawless success’, etc, which are not elaborated with

examples from the film. Discussion of the filmic techniques is also limited and is restricted to a few

isolated shots.

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