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 play. This lesson examines four frequently tested passages and provides model PEE/PEAL paragraphs for each.

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How the Exam Works

Detail	Information
Paper	Paper 1, Section B: Shakespeare
Time	Approximately 50–55 minutes (out of 1 hour 45 total)
Marks	30 marks + 4 SPaG marks = 34 marks total
Format	Extract printed on the paper + a question
Requirement	Analyse the extract AND refer to the play as a whole

Examiner's tip: You must cover BOTH the extract and the wider play. 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 play.

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Extract 1: Lady Macbeth's "Unsex Me" Speech (Act 1, Scene 5)

The passage