Paper 1 Technique: Love Through the Ages

Paper 1 is the longer of the two exams — 3 hours — and is worth 75 marks (40% of the total A-Level). It is divided into three sections, each worth 25 marks, each demanding a different skill set. Mastering the technique for each section is the key to performing well under pressure.

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Paper 1 at a Glance

Section	Focus	Assessment	Book access	Marks	Suggested time
A	Shakespeare and love	Extract + wider play essay	Closed book	25	60 minutes
B	Unseen poetry	Comparison of two unseen poems	Poems provided	25	45 minutes
C	Comparing set texts	Poetry anthology + prose text comparison	Open book	25	60 minutes

Total: 75 marks in 3 hours

Exam Tip: Time is your most precious resource. Allocate it before you start writing and stick to your plan. A common mistake is spending too long on Section A (because Shakespeare feels important) and rushing Section C (because you run out of time). All three sections are worth equal marks.

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Section A: Shakespeare (25 marks, ~60 minutes)

What You Face

You receive a printed extract from your set Shakespeare play (approximately 30–40 lines). Below the extract is a critical statement about the play — a quotation from a literary critic or a general proposition about the text.

You must write an essay that:

1. Analyses the extract in detail
2. Responds to the critical statement, agreeing, disagreeing, or modifying it
3. Ranges across the wider play to support your argument

This Section Is Closed Book

You do not have the play in front of you. You must write about the wider play from memory. This means:

• You need memorised quotations (aim for 15–20 short, flexible ones)
• You need secure knowledge of the play's structure, plot, and characters
• You need to recall specific scenes and moments beyond the printed extract

Assessment Objectives for Section A

AO	Marks	What this means
AO1	~5	Clear, coherent argument with literary terminology
AO2	~5	Close analysis of Shakespeare's language, form, and dramatic structure
AO3	~5	Understanding of contexts (Elizabethan/Jacobean, theatrical, social)
AO5	~10	Engaging with the critical statement and different interpretations

Key: AO5 carries the most weight in Section A. You must engage meaningfully with the critical statement — not simply agree with it. The best responses present a nuanced argument that acknowledges the statement's validity while complicating or challenging it.

Structuring a Section A Response

Paragraph	Content
Introduction (3–4 sentences)	Respond to the critical statement with your thesis; briefly introduce how the extract relates to the wider play
Paragraph 1	Close analysis of the extract: language, imagery, verse form, dramatic situation
Paragraph 2	Continue extract analysis, focusing on different techniques or a shift within the extract
Paragraph 3	Wider play: connect the extract to themes/events elsewhere (use memorised quotations)
Paragraph 4	Wider play: develop your argument with further evidence from other scenes
Paragraph 5 / Conclusion	Return to the critical statement; offer a final evaluative judgement

Responding to the Critical Statement

The critical statement is designed to provoke debate. Approach it strategically:

Approach	When to use	Example opening
Qualified agreement	When the statement captures part of the truth but oversimplifies	"While [critic]'s claim that... has considerable force, it overlooks..."
Partial disagreement	When the statement applies to some parts of the play but not others	"This reading is persuasive in relation to Act 3, but the play's resolution complicates it significantly..."
Development	When you want to build on the statement rather than challenge it	"[Critic]'s observation opens up a further question: if love in the play is indeed..., then what are the consequences for...?"

Mark Scheme Band Descriptors (Section A, Simplified)

Band	AO1/AO2	AO3	AO5
5 (21–25)	Perceptive, detailed analysis; sophisticated expression; illuminating use of concepts	Excellent understanding of contexts; significance is explored, not just identified	Evaluative engagement with the critical statement; considers multiple interpretations
4 (16–20)	Effective analysis; clear expression; secure use of terminology	Good understanding of relevant contexts	Clear engagement with the critical statement; considers alternative views
3 (11–15)	Competent analysis; generally clear expression; some terminology	Reasonable understanding of contexts	Some engagement with the critical statement but may not fully develop alternatives
2 (6–10)	Some analysis but often descriptive; basic expression	Limited contextual awareness	Limited engagement with the critical statement
1 (1–5)	Minimal analysis; weak expression	Little or no contextual understanding	Little or no engagement with the critical statement

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Section B: Unseen Poetry (25 marks, ~45 minutes)

What You Face

You receive two unseen poems — poems you have never seen before — connected by a shared theme (always related to love, since this is the "Love Through the Ages" paper). You must write a single comparative essay analysing both poems.

Assessment Objectives for Section B

AO	Marks	What this means
AO1	~5	Clear, coherent response with literary terminology
AO2	~20	Close analysis of language, form, and structure in both poems

Key: Section B is overwhelmingly about AO2 — close analysis. There are no marks for context (AO3) and no marks for critical perspectives (AO5). Do not waste time speculating about when the poems were written or what critics might say. Spend all your time on close reading.

Approaching Unseen Poetry