Modern text essay: GCSE English Literature
Choice of two questions; whole-text essay, no extract
The short version
Plan three ideas that answer the question, with quotations from across the text.
Key idea
If it says “how far”, you need a judgement (yes / yes but). If it names a character, do not wander into a theme the question did not ask.
Go a bit deeper
Q1: How far is Mr Birling responsible? — you need the whole chain (Sheila, Eric, Gerald, Mrs B) as well as him, plus the ending. Q2: How does Priestley present the Inspector? — lighting, doorbell, final speech, the phone call. If you only remember Eva’s story, pick Q1.
Worked example
Worked example
Grade 2–3: You pick a question and tell the story of the book. Grade 5–6: You have three points that use the question word. Grade 9: You judge (especially on “how far”) and the ending of the play/novel is in the plan, not an afterthought.
Lessons in this topic
- Choosing the question
- Essay shape with no extract
In the app each lesson is video (when we have a real YouTube id) then intro, learn and summary steps.
What the examiner wants
No extract: you must know the shape of the whole text from memory.
Try these questions
Cover the answers and have a go first. Worked solutions are underneath.
Paper 2 modern section gives you
“How far” needs
You should pick the question
Common mistakes
- Choosing “the Inspector” because he is “deep” then writing a plot of Eva’s jobs is a mismatch. The question is the Inspector as a dramatic method.
Answers and working
Frequently asked questions
Is this open book?
No. AQA English Literature is closed-book. You get an extract on Paper 1; you must still write about the whole text. Learn short exact quotations.
Which exam board is this Modern text essay page for?
The ideas are board-agnostic for AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC and CCEA. Paper lengths and question numbers differ — check your specification.
Is English Literature tiered?
No. GCSE English Literature is untiered. Everyone sits the same papers. AO4 SPaG is awarded on certain questions — check the paper.
Learn, try, get feedback, fix the mistake
Open the stepped lesson, then the quiz with hints. Required-practical and calculation questions use the same method you will need in the paper.
Learn Modern text essay on ReviseEasy →Related revision
More GCSE revision
ReviseEasy is a GCSE revision website, not a Maths-only site. Lessons, quizzes and flashcards are live for Maths, Combined Science, Triple Biology, Chemistry and Physics, English Language and English Literature. History, Geography and languages are next.