Translating the mark scheme
Here is a simple version of the AQA mark scheme for the Shakespeare 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
- This argument should always link directly to the question, so include the keywords of the question in your thesis and your topic sentences
- Examiners want to see your opinions, not the opinions of an imagined Elizabethan or Jacobean audience
Tick list:
- Have I included a thesis statement in my introduction?
- Does my thesis statement include a central argument based on my own opinions?
- Does my thesis statement include keywords from the question?
- Have I included topic sentences for all of my paragraphs?
- Do all of my paragraphs directly answer the question?
- Have I included a conclusion that sums up my argument and links to my thesis?
What it says: “Use textual references, including quotations, to support and illustrate interpretations”
What it means: Select quotations and references from both the extract and the rest of the play. These must be accurate and provide evidence for the points you make in your argument
Commentary:
- Examiners reward the highest marks to students who relate the ideas and themes of the extract to other parts of the play:
- To link to elsewhere in the play, use phrases like: “Earlier/later in the play”, “Similarly, in Act X, Scene Y ...”, “Shakespeare also highlights this idea when...”
- References do not need to be direct quotations
- 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
Tick list:
- Have I chosen two or three quotations from the extract?
- Have I linked these quotations, and ideas presented in the extract, to other parts of the play?
- Have I chosen at least three other quotations and references from elsewhere in the play?
- Do all of my references directly support my argument?
- Does each reference I have included support the points made in my topic sentences?