Unit 1
Examination
AO1

Respond to texts critically and imaginatively; select and evaluate
relevant textual detail to illustrate and support interpretations
AO2

Explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers’
presentation of ideas, themes and settings
AO3

Make comparisons and explain links between texts, evaluating
writers’ different ways of expressing meaning and achieving
effects
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This unit will be externally examined.
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You have to answer one question.
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You will have to write an essay in which you compare TWO contemporary
poems.
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This section will be marked out of twenty using AO1, AO2 and AO3.
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As part of the exam, you will be given a structure to follow to help you plan
your essay / response.
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You will have one hour to complete your essay comparing the poems.
(Don’t forget, this is just one section of a two-hour exam.)
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A notional indication of how the marks are allocated across the Assessment
Objectives can be found in the table below. In practice, however, examiners
will give an overall mark based on appropriate coverage of each Assessment
Objective.
WJEC
Question
Mark /
AO1
AO2
AO3
Unit 1
Section
B
/ 20
5
5
10
AO4





Anything in bold type must be addressed.
The prompts (italicised and bullet pointed) are
necessary pointers towards what the examiner is
looking for. They are there to help.
You can and should highlight / underline / write on
the poems.
It will always be the same question although –
regretfully - not the same poems!
The examiners are on your side and will aim to mark
positively. They won’t deduct marks. They will reward
what is there according to the depth of
understanding and the use of detailed evidence to
support points. They are looking for an informed and
personal response.





Technical terms, device spotting, counting lines and
alphabetising rhyme schemes are only of any use if
they support your understanding of the poems and
the comparisons between them – and you show this.
There is a person behind the poem. What is he / she
trying to tell or show you?
The examiner has endeavoured to choose poems that
you can access and, hopefully, enjoy writing about.
Take it personally!
You shouldn’t try and count the number of
comparisons you make. More important is to show an
understanding of each poem bearing in mind that
there will be some similarities and differences
between them.
You might react and respond in similar ways towards
the two poems. Or you might feel excited by one –
and depressed by the other. But you must explain
why you have reacted and responded as you have.
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Marking has to follow criteria laid down by the
examining board. The grades go up from simple
narration and selection, followed by awareness,
followed by understanding, followed by insight,
followed by sensitivity to language, theme,
purpose, quality of response, clarity of
expression.
It’s usually easier to do each poem separately
and then make comparisons.
The poem will ‘speak’ to you if you let it do its
job. Don’t get panicked at the look of the task
and the conditions in which you are attempting
it.
Quotations should be focused, useful in
support and brief.