Sample Answers - A Christmas Carol (Grades 9

Examiner's Grade

Grade 4 The examiner gave this sample answer Grade 4.
Now read the comments below to understand why this grade was given.
The examiner also provides tips on how the answer might be improved.

Comment

Some good points are made here and the student knows the text well. However, the style is rather chatty and informal. The writer needs to refer more to Dickens himself and what he does. There also needs to be more reference to language devices or techniques.

For Grade 6

Use a more formal and critical vocabulary rather than chatty, informal words and phrases.
Embed quotations into sentences so that they flow and are easy to follow.
Include more quotations from the rest of the novel.
Comment in detail on the effect of language choices made by Dickens.
Link understanding to context – both social/historical and other points in the novel.