May 2024 Paper 2: Sample Response 7 (Q3)

Thursday 15 May 2025

This is the seventh Paper 2 exemplar we are publishing from the May 2024 examination cycle.  The student responds to question #3 for the Timezone 2 exam: The depiction of historical setting is an important aspect of many works. Referring to two works you have studied, discuss how and to what effect this depiction is achieved.

As for this particular exemplar, it is a standard Paper 2 response.  It scores 18 out of 30 points and hits the middle band for each criterion.  Why?  The student is analytical, not descriptive.  The student shows they know the literary works.  They focus on the choices of the authors.  But the interpretation and the analysis of the features just does not go far enough.  There are opportunities for more analysis, more unpacking of the evidence, and more sustained and convincing interpretation. 

Many of our students sit here.  And that’s okay!  This is a literary essay and this alone is to be commended.  To score higher though, there just needs to be more development of the arguments presented.  This essay offers you an opportunity to discuss with your own students how the candidate “frames” the essay - making it literary in nature - while also discussing where the essay falls short of expectations.    

Subscribers can access the newest exemplar by clicking the link below.

Best,

Tim and David


Tags: Tim, Paper 2, Sample Response 7, exemplar, model example


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