How to answer set text exam questions - EdexcelUnderstanding the questions

Read the extract

The section of the exam focused on the set text will start with a short extract. It is important to read this carefully before attempting to answer any questions, as some of them will be directly related to it. It can be useful to try to picture how the scene might look on stage while reading, as the questions will focus on personal interpretation.

Type of question

In this section, there are 45 marks available split across five questions, all of which need to be answered. Each question provides progressively more marks:

• 4-mark question
• 6-mark question
• 9-mark question
• 12-mark question
• 14-mark question

Different questions require a response from different perspectives:

• performer - consider how physical and vocal skills might be used to portray a character, how the performer uses space and their stage positioning
• designer - focus on the design ideas that are appropriate to the play and the type of staging selected

Command words - explain, give suggestions and discuss

Each question will feature exam command words, which relate to how a question should be answered. There are a range of command words in the written exam:

• explain
• give suggestions
• discuss

To explain is to set out the purposes or reasons behind a point that has been made. An explanation of a costume design could look like this:

By dressing the character in this way, I would be able to convey to the audience that the character had fallen on hard times. This would also provide the audience with a key understanding about the historical context of the play and how challenging life could be for working-class people at this time.

To give suggestions is to present appropriate ideas to create an effect on stage. Sometimes the question may ask for a specific number of suggestions and it is vital that enough suggestions are provided to achieve full marks. For example:

Give three suggestions of how you would use vocal skills to convey a character.

This question would require a suggestion of three distinct skills, eg tone, pace and pitch.

To discuss is to present the key points surrounding an idea. For example:

Discuss how a performer playing a character may use their vocal and physical skills to present the character’s emotions.

In this instance, a range of points should be made, showing an understanding of:

• the specifics of the question, ie vocal and physical skills
• the character’s emotions
• the play in general