Key Extracts & Exam Practice

In the GCSE exam, you will be given an extract from the novel and asked to write about it in relation to the whole text. This lesson identifies the key extracts you are most likely to encounter, models how to analyse them, and provides a framework for structuring your response.

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The AQA Shakespeare/Novel Question Format

For AQA English Literature Paper 1, the Great Expectations question will typically ask you to:

1. Read a given extract (usually 20–30 lines).
2. Write about a specific theme, character, or idea starting with the extract and then referring to the novel as a whole.

You should spend approximately 50–55 minutes on this question.

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How to Structure Your Response: PEAL