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EnglandEnglish LiteratureQuick questions
Exam technique
Quick questions on Command words and mark schemes: decoding the question - Eduqas A-Level English Literature
7short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What are decode the command words?Show answer
Eduqas questions use a small set of recurring command words and phrases, each signalling the objectives in play.
What is read the two-part structure?Show answer
Two Eduqas tasks use a two-part structure (the pre-1900 poetry and the Shakespeare questions), and the structure is itself an instruction. Part (i) signals close analysis of a printed extract (AO2 dominant); part (ii) signals a wider response across the whole text (AO1 leading, with AO5 in the Shakespeare task). Treating both parts the same way is a common, costly error: the structure tells you to switch from microscope to telescope.
What is command word to answer?Show answer
Faced with "Compare how your two poets present memory", a candidate reads "compare" as AO4 central, and plans an idea-led structure with both poets in each paragraph, rather than two separate accounts. Faced with "Analyse how Shakespeare presents power in this extract", they read "analyse" as AO2 dominant and stay in close analysis of the printed lines.
What is descriptor to target?Show answer
Knowing the AO4 top band rewards "sustained and integrated" comparison, a candidate makes connection run through every paragraph of the drama comparison, rather than comparing only at the end, because "integrated" is the explicit target.
What is q1?Show answer
What do "analyse" and "compare" each signal? [2 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
What does "in the light of this view" require? [2 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
A question says "Explore the presentation of ambition across your set play." Explain how you would read it and what you would target. [short response]
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