8702 · AQA GCSE
8702/21
Paper 2
English Literature · June 2024 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: AQA
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.0 / 5
160
240 min
Characterization and Thematic Authorial Intent
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
160
Duration
240 min
Session difficulty
3.0 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The June 2024 examination series was exceptionally fair, leaning toward highly accessible core themes.
In Paper 1, the focus on Lady Macbeth as a strong female character and Scrooge's life lessons provided direct entry points for students of all abilities.
Similarly, Paper 2's spotlight on Mrs Birling's attitude to social class and Kamikaze's portrayal of conflict allowed candidates to easily retrieve well-rehearsed quotes and arguments.
The difficulty is rated a comfortable 3 out of 5 stars.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
No data available in official reports
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Textual
Weight: 5100%UndeAO2:
Weight: 480%Analysis of AO3:
Weight: 360%Contextual IAO4:
Weight: 240%Technical
Weight: 120%
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
No data available in official reports
Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
No data available in official reports
Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
No data available in official reports
Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
No data available in official reports
Grade & admission context
How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards
Report type
Examiner report — national grade boundaries and question-level commentary
Level 9
Approx. 86% of maximum mark
Level 8
Approx. 76% of maximum mark
Level 7
Approx. 66% of maximum mark
Level 6
Approx. 56% of maximum mark
Level 5
Approx. 46% of maximum mark
Level 4
Approx. 36% of maximum mark
Level 3
Approx. 26% of maximum mark
Level 2
Approx. 17% of maximum mark
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
No data available in official reports
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
No data available in official reports
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.5
Min per mark: 1.4
Min per mark: 1.3
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Macbeth (Shakespeare)
34 marks this session
JB Priestley - An Inspector Calls (Drama)
34 marks this session
Unseen poetry (Unseen poetry)
32 marks this session
MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
Mark intensity
Macbeth (Shakespeare)
Unseen poetry (Unseen poetry)
JB Priestley - An Inspector Calls (Drama)
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel:
Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry:
Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
No data available in official reports
Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
Macbeth (Shakespeare)
34 marks this session
Practise in RevuiJB Priestley - An Inspector Calls (Drama)
34 marks this session
Practise in RevuiUnseen poetry (Unseen poetry)
32 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The June 2024 examination series was exceptionally fair, leaning toward highly accessible core themes.
- 2Message
In Paper 1, the focus on Lady Macbeth as a strong female character and Scrooge's life lessons provided direct entry points for students of all abilities.
- 3Message
Similarly, Paper 2's spotlight on Mrs Birling's attitude to social class and Kamikaze's portrayal of conflict allowed candidates to easily retrieve well-rehearsed quotes and arguments.
- 4Message
The difficulty is rated a comfortable 3 out of 5 stars.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2024 2024
English Literature
The June 2024 examination series was exceptionally fair, leaning toward highly accessible core themes. In Paper 1, the focus on Lady Macbeth as a strong female character and Scrooge's life lessons provided direct entry points for students of all abilities. Similarly, Paper 2's sp
The June 2024 examination series was exceptionally fair, leaning toward highly accessible core themes.
In Paper 1, the focus on Lady Macbeth as a strong female character and Scrooge's life lessons provided direct entry points for students of all abilities.
Similarly, Paper 2's spotlight on Mrs Birling's attitude to social class and Kamikaze's portrayal of conflict allowed candidates to easily retrieve well-rehearsed quotes and arguments.
- Total marks
- 160
- Duration
- 240 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.0 / 5
Session analysis
The June 2024 examination series was exceptionally fair, leaning toward highly accessible core themes. In Paper 1, the focus on Lady Macbeth as a strong female character and Scrooge's life lessons provided direct entry points for students of all abilities. Similarly, Paper 2's spotlight on Mrs Birling's attitude to social class and Kamikaze's portrayal of conflict allowed candidates to easily retrieve well-rehearsed quotes and arguments. The difficulty is rated a comfortable 3 out of 5 stars.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel:
Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry:
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
75% within easy or medium reach
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Paper 1)
64·2·40%
Paper 2)
34·1·21%
Paper 2)
32·2·20%
Paper 2)
30·1·19%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Difficulty trend
Compare difficulty across recent years.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Paper 2 Section A (
0.76 m/minPaper 2 Section B (
0.67 m/minPaper 2 Section C (
0.71 m/minTotal marks
96
Total time
135 min
Avg pace
0.71
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
An Inspector Calls - Eric and Generational Divide
85%85%
Macbeth - Ambition vs Guilt
80%80%
A Christmas Carol - Bob Cratchit and the Treatment of the Poor
75%75%
Difficulty Verdict: A Fair and Accessible Series
The June 2024 examination series was exceptionally fair, leaning toward highly accessible core themes. In Paper 1, the focus on Lady Macbeth as a strong female character and Scrooge's life lessons provided direct entry points for students of all abilities. Similarly, Paper 2's spotlight on Mrs Birling's attitude to social class and Kamikaze's portrayal of conflict allowed candidates to easily retrieve well-rehearsed quotes and arguments. The difficulty is rated a comfortable 3 out of 5 stars.
Examiner notes & key calculations
- The 'Context Dump': Many candidates wrote paragraphs detailing Victorian sanitary conditions or Jacobean witchcraft that had no connection to the actual question. Context must always serve the thematic argument.
- Extract Imbalance: In Paper 1, some candidates analyzed the extract beautifully but barely touched on the wider play/novel, capping their AO1 mark. A balanced 50/50 approach is key.
- Prepared Essay Fitting: Trying to force a pre-memorised essay on 'Ambition' into a question specifically asking about Lady Macbeth's 'strength' led to mismatched and weak arguments.
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.