What the exam asks
In Paper 2, you have 1 hour 45 minutes to write one closed-book comparative essay on two literary works you have studied, answering one of four general questions. Your examiner marks your essay by best fit: for each of the five scores, they choose the level whose description matches the essay as a whole (total 25 marks). Notice that Criterion B (Analysis and evaluation, 10 marks) is split into B1 (textual features and authorial choices) and B2 (comparative analysis).
Core ideas
The five scores at the top band (5 marks each)
| Criterion | What a 3 (Satisfactory) looks like | What a 5 (Excellent) looks like in plain words |
|---|---|---|
| A: Knowledge, understanding and interpretation | Knows the main plot and themes; interpretation generally fits the question, though some references are broad. | Perceptive knowledge and persuasive interpretation: Uses precise closed-book recall of moments, dynamics and contexts to argue a sharp, convincing answer to every part of the question. |
| B1: Analysis and evaluation of textual features and/or authorial choices | Identifies relevant techniques or structural choices and explains what they mean, but sometimes slips into summary. | Consistently insightful analysis and evaluation: Explains how small-scale language and/or broader authorial choices (form, structure, staging, perspective, ending) create meaning, and evaluates (judges how effectively they work). Depth beats coverage. |
| B2: Comparative analysis | Points out valid similarities and differences, often using transitions like “Similarly” or “In contrast”, but treats the texts mostly side by side. | Comparison that deepens the reading: Compares and/or contrasts throughout the essay and explains why the works agree or differ (linking to literary form, context or perspective) so each work illuminates the other. |
| C: Focus and organization | Stays on topic with a recognizable structure; one work may get slightly more space than the other. | Clear, balanced, cogent (convincing and tightly linked) argument: Every paragraph drives the thesis forward; both works receive well-balanced attention; ideas link logically and persuasively. |
| D: Language | Clear and mostly accurate writing with some appropriate literary terms. | Very clear, precise, accurate academic English: Well-chosen words and varied sentences in a formal register; literary terminology is embedded naturally where it sharpens the point. |
How B1 and B2 work together
Many candidates assume B1 rewards naming metaphors and B2 rewards counting similarities. Under the 2026 guide, B1 rewards the quality of your analysis and evaluation of choices (especially broader choices suited to closed-book exams, like a play’s staging or a novel’s narrative voice), while B2 rewards analytical friction—putting the two works into dialogue so that comparing them reveals something about each work you would not see if you read it alone.