Year 10 Yearly Exam

Section I
Reading Task
Markers’ feedback
Mr Tzantzaris, Mr Penn and Mr
Ticehurst
Question 1

How does the magazine cover comment on political power? 4 marks

• To gain full marks, students needed to identify one comment on
political power made and support their discussion with at least THREE
visual techniques.
• Students who failed to gain full marks tended to generalise about the
image without linking to specific visual language.
• Be sure to pay attention to the mark allocation when determining the
required depth and detail.
• Students will need to refine their knowledge of visual language and
how meaning is conveyed
• See exemplar response below
Question 2
How does the image convey the power of technology in the modern
world? 4 marks
• This question was done quite well by the majority of students.
• To gain full marks students need to correctly identify and explain
THREE visual techniques and explain how they conveyed the power of
technology.
• Most students explained that the image suggested that technology was
controlling humanity.
• Students did well to identify the symbolism of the saddle and reins,
suggesting the Pikachu character was controlling the human subject.
• The contrast in colour, vectors, gaze and the exaggerated neck of the
male subject were also explained effectively.
Question 3
To gain full marks, students need to correctly identify and explain
•Analyse how the poem represents the persona’s unwillingness to
how FOUR poetic techniques were used to convey ideas to do with not
surrender. 5 marks
surrendering.
• Quite a few students failed to go into enough depth and detail with
their response. There was also a failure to correctly identify specific
poetic techniques.
• There was some confusion over the technique of zoomorphism,
particularly as it related to the line ”If we must die, let it not be like
hogs”. This is a simile in which the persona emphasises a desire to not
die like a hog i.e. to not die without honour or nobility.
• Zoomorphism as technique involves attributing the characteristics of
animals to human beings, which is not the case in this instance. The
effect is achieved through the simile.
Question 4: texts 1, 2, 3 and 4
With reference to Text Four and ONE other text, compare the ways the
texts comment on power. 7 marks
• This response was a significant discriminator for the cohort.
• There were numerous strong responses achieving full marks, however,
many students failed to go into enough depth and detail.
• The prose extract was also a challenging text in terms of form and
content.
• Time management also appeared to be a factor in determining success
in this question.
• To achieve full marks you needed to present an argument as to what
each text’s comment on power was and then support your discussion of
this idea with at least THREE examples/techniques from the text.
Question 4 cont’d

• The better responses were able to COMPARE the comments on power.

• You may use evidence from earlier responses, provided you shape
your explanations to the focus of the particular question.
• There was some confusion over what was meant by the character
Atticus loosening his tie and unbuttoning his waistcoat. To the
children he seemed naked. This was because it was so unusual for him
to be dressed informally. He was not naked literally.
• The extract itself was quite tough and required close reading. Be sure
to make good use of reading time.