Free WJEC GCSE English Literature (3720) Exam Questions and Answers

Correct answer: Open question: accept any valid points of view. Answers should focus on one or two relevant times when finding out the truth is important in Much Ado About Nothing, supported by knowledge of the play and some awareness of social, cultural and historical context.

Explanation

Marked out of 20. 0 marks: nothing worthy of credit. 1-4 marks: very brief with hardly any relevant detail. 5-9 marks: simple, general points based on patchy narrative. 10-14 marks: more focused on relevant times when finding out the truth is important, with some discussion and perhaps empathy (for 13-14); any reference to context will probably be implicit. 15-20 marks: rooted in sound knowledge of the play, with thorough and thoughtful discussion of times when finding out the truth is important; some awareness of contextual features, although this may still be relatively implicit. Be flexible and reward valid alternatives.

Correct answer: Open question: any valid times when friendship is important in Much Ado About Nothing, e.g. Claudio and Don Pedro, Benedick and Claudio, Hero and Beatrice, Margaret, Leonato and Don Pedro, the friends' plan to bring Beatrice and Benedick together, or Benedick standing by Beatrice and challenging Claudio.

Explanation

Be flexible in accepting a range of points of view; reward valid alternatives. 0 marks: nothing worthy of credit. 1-4: very brief with hardly any relevant detail. 5-9: simple, general points based on patchy narrative. 10-14: more focused on relevant times when friendship is important, with some discussion and perhaps empathy (for 13-14); any reference to context is probably implicit. 15-20: rooted in sound knowledge of the play, supporting the discussion of times when friendship is important; thorough and thoughtful at the top of the range, with some awareness of contextual features, though this may still be implicit.

Correct answer: Open question, so there is no single correct answer. A good answer discusses characters who discover the truth about themselves and others. Examples: Beatrice and Benedick, Claudio, Leonato, Don Pedro. It judges how far this is what the play is about. It can argue the play is really about other issues such as trust and love.

Explanation

Comment is free, so be flexible and reward valid alternatives. 0 marks: nothing worthy of credit. 1-4 marks: simple general storytelling. 5-9 marks: relies on narrative, with some relevant discussion of events, awareness of the play's context and perhaps empathy towards the top of the band. 10-14 marks: secure, selective knowledge of the play supports discussion of characters who discover the truth about themselves and others, probably in narrative-driven accounts. At the top of this band, discussion is thorough and thoughtful and addresses the significance of some discoveries. Context may only be implicit. 15-20 marks: well referenced, discussing relevant discoveries with some sensitivity and, towards the top, evaluative. A case can be built that the play is not about this at all but about trust and love, and this should be valued if well supported. There is an increasingly clear grasp of the play's context.

Correct answer: Open question, so there is no single right answer. A strong answer discusses how important friendship is in Much Ado About Nothing and says how far it agrees. Examples include the bonds between Claudio, Benedick, Don Pedro and the soldiers, between Hero and Beatrice, and between Hero and her gentlewomen. It also considers where friendship fails, for example when Claudio and Don Pedro turn on Hero. It comments on the play's context.

Explanation

Comment is free, so be flexible and reward valid alternatives. 0 marks: nothing worthy of credit. 1-4 marks: simple general story telling. 5-9 marks: reliant on narrative, with some relevant discussion of friendship, awareness of the play's context and perhaps empathy towards the top of the band. 10-14 marks: secure, selective knowledge of the play to support discussion of the importance of friendship, probably in narrative-driven accounts. At the top of this band the discussion is thorough and thoughtful and addresses the degree of importance. Context may be only implicit. 15-20 marks: well referenced and sensitive discussion of the importance of friendship. Towards the top the answer is evaluative, shows a clear sense of how far the candidate agrees with the statement, and has an increasingly clear grasp of the play's context. Assessment covers critical response (AO1), language, structure and form (AO2) and social, cultural and historical contexts (AO4).

Correct answer: Hornby creates a tense, threatening but comic mood and atmosphere. Strong answers discuss the narrator's perspective, the humour of the scene and the situation between the two boys, and how these are created through language choices.

Explanation

Marked out of 10 (50% reading/response, 50% language and structure). 0 marks: nothing worthy of credit. 1 mark: brief responses and very simple comments. 2-4 marks: underdeveloped or dependent on paraphrase, with some awareness. 5-7 marks: selects and highlights detail to support judgements; at 7 the discussion of the extract is thorough and thoughtful. 8-10 marks: closely read, sensitive and increasingly analytical of Hornby's skill, possibly discussing the narrator's perspective and/or the humour of the scene and the situation between the two boys and how it is created, including through language choices. Reward valid alternatives.

Correct answer: The relationship changes from awkward, mismatched acquaintance to a close, mutually dependent friendship. Strong answers cover how Hornby presents this change across the novel, often with humour.

Explanation

Marked out of 20 (33% reading/response, 67% language, structure and form). 0 marks: nothing worthy of credit. 1-4 marks: patchy, simple narrative with little focus on the question. 5-9 marks: fairly simple narrative with some awareness and discussion of the changing relationship; limited detail; possibly some empathy at the top of the range. 10-14 marks: sound, detailed knowledge of the text supports a discussion of the changing relationship that becomes increasingly thoughtful and thorough. 15-20 marks: assured and evaluative discussion of the changing relationship; how it is presented is addressed with increasing assurance, through overview as well as direct reference, and with increasing sensitivity, probably including some appreciation of how the author makes it humorous at times. Reward valid alternatives.

Correct answer: Mark scheme (AO1 50%, AO2 50%): 0: nothing worthy of credit. 1: simple general comments on characters. 2-4: simple re-telling of the events in the extract with basic discussion of Iago and Cassio for 3-4, such as some awareness of Cassio's naivety and Iago's duplicity, with some reference to apt detail. 5-7: more focused and detailed, apt discussion of each character and their behaviour; for 7, increasingly thoughtful discussion considering points such as Cassio's distress and Iago's false face, with detail such as 'honest man', 'past all surgery'. 8-10: assured and analytical, evaluating how Shakespeare's language highlights Iago's manipulation of Cassio; points may include Cassio's many exclamations, Iago's apparent measured calmness and disingenuous questions; detailed recognition of how Cassio's initial distress plays into Iago's hands.

Correct answer: Mark scheme (AO1 33%, AO4 67%): 0: nothing worthy of credit. 1-4: simple, patchy narrative; may refer to Othello's initial devotion then increasing jealousy, Desdemona's role as daughter and wife, with simple awareness of relevant context. 5-9: simple narrative with personal responses to character(s), perhaps empathy for 8-9; more reference to other characters such as Brabantio, Iago, Cassio and Emilia; for 8-9, awareness of difficulties facing the relationship such as differences in race, class and age. 10-14: secure knowledge of the play supporting discussion of the relationship and how it would be perceived by different audiences; for 13-14 thorough and thoughtful; discussion of Othello's motives and other characters' behaviour rooted in some understanding of context. 15-20: carefully considered, evaluative, cogent and well argued; solidly rooted in clear understanding of context; may explore how Othello's insecurities were fed by Iago to the destruction of the relationship; well chosen references and an overview of the arc of the relationship. Please look for, and reward, valid alternatives.

Correct answer: Mark scheme (AO1 33%, AO4 67%): 0: nothing worthy of credit. 1-4: brief and general, simple narrative; limited coverage of the play, brief references to Iago and how he may be perceived by an audience. 5-9: fairly simple narrative with awareness of Iago's character; increasing reference to key moments (behaviour with Roderigo and Brabantio, then Cassio, Emilia, Othello and Desdemona) and how this may be influenced by context. 10-14: sound knowledge of the text supporting interpretation of Iago; for 13-14 detailed discussion of characters and relationships with apt detail; key moments from throughout the play (beginning, Cyprus, end) focusing increasingly on his motives and how these would be perceived by different audiences. 15-20: assured and evaluative, perhaps original at the top; may address direct address and soliloquy, use of language in different situations; may explore what makes Iago compelling for an audience, influenced by context. Please look for, and reward, valid alternatives.

Correct answer: Mark scheme (AO1 50%, AO2 50%): 0: nothing worthy of credit. 1: simple, general comments. 2-4: simple reorganisation/paraphrase of the extract, with empathy and some discussion for 3-4; awareness of how Claudio asks Don Pedro for support in winning Hero and of Don Pedro's willingness to do so. 5-7: more focused, supported by apt detail; for 7 thorough and thoughtful, discussing how Claudio has fallen for Hero and how (and why) Don Pedro plans to help. 8-10: assured and analytical, appreciating how the older, worldly wise Don Pedro is prepared to help Claudio win Hero's hand; may evaluate Claudio as a lover, the lengths Don Pedro will go to, and his confidence in his plan.