Sample 1-mark, 2-mark and 4-mark answers for novels, poetry, short stories and drama, so you can see what examiners expect.
NovelsPoetryShort StoriesDramaModel answer: "Jim Hawkins is the brave young hero of the story. At the beginning he is an ordinary boy working at his family's inn, but he grows into a resourceful and courageous leader. He shows great bravery by sneaking onto the pirates' boat and cutting it loose, even though he is terrified. He is also honest and loyal to his friends. By the end, Jim has learned that courage means acting bravely in the face of fear, which is why the reader admires him."
Model answer: "Long John Silver is important because he is the main villain and the source of the story's danger and excitement. He appears friendly and charming, which lets him trick the crew, but he is secretly a greedy pirate. His cleverness and betrayal create the central conflict of the novel and help Jim to grow and show his own courage."
Model answer: "The main theme is the conflict between good and evil, and the value of courage and loyalty. Honest characters like Jim succeed by being brave, while greedy, dishonest characters like Silver are defeated."
Model answer: "The Robinson family survives by being resourceful and by working together as a team. They rescue useful supplies from their wrecked ship, build a comfortable treehouse for shelter, and farm the land, growing crops and taming animals for food. They also use the island's natural resources wisely instead of wasting them. Most importantly, they encourage one another and never lose hope, which gives them the strength to overcome the dangers and hardships of island life."
Model answer: "One theme is family unity and teamwork. The family survives because every member shares the work and supports the others. When they face danger or hardship, they solve problems together, showing that working as a family can overcome almost any difficulty."
Model answer: "The poet uses alliteration — repeating the 's' sound — to make the line sound sizzling and hot. This helps the reader to feel the fierce heat of the sand."
Model answer: "Simile — it compares her smile to the sun using 'like'."
Model answer: "A metaphor compares two things directly without 'like' or 'as'. It makes an idea more vivid and helps the reader see or feel it in a fresh, powerful way."
Model answer: "The moral is that honesty is the best policy. The boy loses his friend because of his lies, showing that telling the truth builds trust while lying destroys it."
Model answer: "Because he was never satisfied and always wanted more. His greed made him lose the little he had, teaching that greed brings unhappiness."
Model answer: "A hero character is brave, kind and willing to help others even when it is difficult. They face challenges with courage and make good choices, and by the end of the play they usually learn something or change for the better. The audience admires them because of their honesty and strength."
| Question | Answer style |
|---|---|
| Name the main character (1 mark) | State the name simply: "Jim Hawkins." |
| Who wrote Treasure Island? (1 mark) | "Robert Louis Stevenson." |
| Name a literary device (1 mark) | "Simile." (no explanation needed) |
| Explain a device (2 marks) | Name it + say its effect: "Simile — it makes the description vivid." |
| What is the moral? (2 marks) | State the lesson + a short reason from the story. |