A. Prose Study
In this section, students will explore various novels and short stories from different periods
and cultures. The following examples are set texts for the examination in 2025.
Examples:
- “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
- “Picnic at Hanging Rock” by Joan Lindsay
- ” Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens
Key Focus Areas:
- Character analysis
- Narrative techniques
- Themes and motifs
- Historical and cultural context
B. Poetry Analysis
Students will study a range of poems from different eras and styles.
Examples:
Songs of Ourselves Volume 2, Part 3 (15 poems)
Songs of Ourselves Volume 1, Part 4 (15 poems)
Key Focus Areas:
- Poetic devices (e.g., metaphor, alliteration, personification)
- Structure and form
- Tone and mood
- Interpretation of meaning
C. Drama Study
This section involves the analysis of plays from various periods.
Examples:
- “A Streetcar Named Desire ” by Tennessee Williams
- “A Midsummer Night’s Dream ” by William Shakespeare
- ‘’Antony and Cleopatra ‘’ by William Shakespeare
Key Focus Areas:
- Character development and relationships
- Dramatic techniques
- Stage directions and their significance
- Themes and social commentary
Exam :
Paper 1: Poetry and Prose (50 marks)
- Students answer 2 questions in total , one question on the poem (Section A) and the
one question on the prose (Section B) studied in class.
Paper 2 :Unseen (25 marks)
- Students answer a question on the text that they have not previously seen or
studied in class; They are expected to write a critical commentary, responding to
all the bullet points (prompts) in the question
Paper 3 : Drama (Open Text) (25 marks)
- Students respond to the drama text studied in class. They are allowed to bring their copy
into the exam room. Their copy must not contain any annotations.
Exam preparation:
- Practice with past papers and sample questions
- Time management strategies for exams
- Techniques for effective close reading and annotation
- Access to model responses
