Here is a simple version of the AQA mark scheme for the unseen poetry question, and below, a student-friendly translation of the mark scheme with expert advice and guidance, broken down into the different assessment objectives.
AO1
What it says: “Maintain a critical style and develop an informed personal response”
What it means: Write a clear essay with a central argument based on your own opinions. All parts of the essay must directly answer the question
Commentary:
- Examiners want to see what they call a “coherent” response: an answer that relates to a central argument in every part of the essay
- This is why it is vital to plan your answer first
- It is also vital that you analyse the poem in terms of the question set
- This argument should always link directly to the question, so include the key words of the question in your thesis and your topic sentences
- Examiners want to see your opinions, not the opinions of an imagined ’reader’
What it says: “Use textual references, including quotations, to support and illustrate interpretations”
What it means: Select quotations and references from the poem. These must be accurate, and provide evidence for the points you make in your argument
Commentary:
- Examiners reward highest marks to students who relate the ideas and themes of the poem in terms of the exam question
- References do not need to be direct quotations
- Examiners are equally happy when students just “pinpoint specific moments” in the poem
- You do not get more marks for more quotations
- All references just need to be accurate and provide evidence for your points and overall argument
- All references must be relevant to the points of your essay
- Examiners dislike when students include irrelevant quotations