ENGLISH-LITERATURE-H072 · Cambridge OCR AS Level
ENGLISH-LITERATURE-H072/21
Drama
English Literature · June 2023 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: OCR
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.8 / 5
120
195 min
Thematic Literary Analysis and Prose-Extract Comparative Synthesis
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
120
Duration
195 min
Session difficulty
3.8 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The June 2023 series for OCR AS Level English Literature presented a rigorous challenge, testing candidates across a wide spectrum of historical periods and styles.
With a total of 120 marks split equally between Paper 1 (Shakespeare and pre-1900 Poetry) and Paper 2 (Drama and post-1900 Prose), success demanded excellent time management and deep engagement with authorial craft.
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.
Coherent
Weight: 7100%WriAO2:
Weight: 686%Analysis of AO3:
Weight: 571%Historical aAO4:
Weight: 457%Cross-
Weight: 343%TextuaAO5:
Weight: 229%Alternative
Weight: 114%
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
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
Present multiple perspectives with evidence; balance breadth and depth.
Match the expected response style for “Explore” questions.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.5
Min per mark: 1.5
Min per mark: 1.5
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Hamlet (Shakespeare)
30 marks this session
Christina Rossetti: Selected Poems
30 marks this session
Tennessee Williams: A Streetcar Named Desire
30 marks this session
F Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby
30 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
Hamlet (Shakespeare)
Christina Rossetti: Selected Poems
Tennessee Williams: A Streetcar Named Desire
F Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby
Shakespeare) 5.
Poems 5.
Desire 5.
Gatsby 5.
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 1: Shakespeare and poetry pre-1900 (H072/01):
Paper 2: Drama and prose post-1900 (H072/02):
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
Hamlet (Shakespeare)
30 marks this session
Practise in RevuiChristina Rossetti: Selected Poems
30 marks this session
Practise in RevuiTennessee Williams: A Streetcar Named Desire
30 marks this session
Practise in RevuiF Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby
30 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 2023 series for OCR AS Level English Literature presented a rigorous challenge, testing candidates across a wide spectrum of historical periods and styles.
- 2Message
With a total of 120 marks split equally between Paper 1 (Shakespeare and pre-1900 Poetry) and Paper 2 (Drama and post-1900 Prose), success demanded excellent time management and deep engagement with authorial craft.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2023 2023
English Literature
The June 2023 series for OCR AS Level English Literature presented a rigorous challenge, testing candidates across a wide spectrum of historical periods and styles. With a total of 120 marks split equally between Paper 1 (Shakespeare and pre-1900 Poetry) and Paper 2 (Drama and po
The June 2023 series for OCR AS Level English Literature presented a rigorous challenge, testing candidates across a wide spectrum of historical periods and styles.
With a total of 120 marks split equally between Paper 1 (Shakespeare and pre-1900 Poetry) and Paper 2 (Drama and post-1900 Prose), success demanded excellent time management and deep engagement with authorial craft.
- Total marks
- 120
- Duration
- 195 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.8 / 5
Session analysis
The June 2023 series for OCR AS Level English Literature presented a rigorous challenge, testing candidates across a wide spectrum of historical periods and styles. With a total of 120 marks split equally between Paper 1 (Shakespeare and pre-1900 Poetry) and Paper 2 (Drama and post-1900 Prose), success demanded excellent time management and deep engagement with authorial craft.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 1: Shakespeare and poetry pre-1900 (H072/01):
Paper 2: Drama and prose post-1900 (H072/02):
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
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Shakespeare Essay
30·1·25%
Poetry Extract-Based Essay
30·1·25%
Drama Essay
30·1·25%
Prose Comparative Essay
30·1·25%
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.
H072/01 Section 1 S
0.67 m/minH072/01 Section 2 P
0.67 m/minH072/02 Section 1 D
0.67 m/minTotal marks
90
Total time
135 min
Avg pace
0.67
Cumulative marks ladder
The line is your running mark total question by question; dashed lines are the estimated grade cut-offs. See which question the line crosses your target grade at, so you know how far you must answer cleanly and which questions decide a band.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Hamlet - Madness and Morality
85%85%
The Great Gatsby - Social Class and Illusion
80%80%
A Streetcar Named Desire - Illusion vs Reality
78%78%
AS Level English Literature (H072) June 2023 Exam Analysis
The June 2023 series for OCR AS Level English Literature presented a rigorous challenge, testing candidates across a wide spectrum of historical periods and styles. With a total of 120 marks split equally between Paper 1 (Shakespeare and pre-1900 Poetry) and Paper 2 (Drama and post-1900 Prose), success demanded excellent time management and deep engagement with authorial craft.
Examiner notes & key calculations
- The Narrative Trap: The most common mistake noted by examiners was the tendency to summarize plot and write lists of characters rather than sustaining a focused, argumentative thesis.
- Neglecting Theatricality: For both Shakespeare and modern Drama, candidates frequently forgot that these are performance texts. Examiners looked for an awareness of stagecraft, dramatic irony, and physical action.
- Weak Comparative Integration: In Paper 2, Section 2, weaker essays treated the studied novel and the unseen passage as two completely disconnected pieces, failing to draw meaningful, symmetrical comparisons.
Exam tips
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.