Key Extracts & Exam Practice

AQA's GCSE English Literature exam gives you a printed extract and asks you to analyse it in relation to the whole novel. This lesson examines four frequently tested passages and provides model PEAL paragraphs for each.

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How the Exam Works

Detail	Information
Paper	Paper 1, Section B: The 19th-century novel
Time	Approximately 50–55 minutes (out of 1 hour 45 total)
Marks	30 marks total
Format	Extract printed on the paper + a question
Requirement	Analyse the extract AND refer to the novel as a whole

Examiner's tip: You must cover BOTH the extract and the wider novel. A common mistake is spending too much time on the extract and neglecting the wider text (or vice versa). Aim for roughly 60% extract, 40% wider novel.

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Extract 1: Jane's Outburst to Mrs Reed (Chapter 4)

The passage