Part A: Written Response - Personal Response and Critical/Analytical Writing
Part A asks you to produce two finished pieces of writing under time pressure: a personal response to texts and a critical/analytical response to literary texts. Both are scored on how well you think, not on how much you write.
What the two assignments demand
In the personal response, a prompt (often an idea such as "the value of struggle" or "the cost of belonging") is paired with short texts. You must build a focused, organized discussion of the idea. Personal experience and observation are legitimate evidence here - but they must be tied back to the prompt and to the provided texts, not simply narrated.
In the critical/analytical response, you choose a literary text you have studied in the course and argue a position in relation to a given statement. Here, personal anecdote is not evidence. Your support must come from the text: specific events, quotations, characterization, conflict, symbolism, structure.
Traps that cost marks
- Retelling instead of arguing. A plot summary with a thesis stapled on top earns little. Every paragraph needs a claim plus commentary explaining why the evidence proves it.
- Ignoring the prompt's exact wording. If the prompt says "to what extent," you must take a measurable position, not just agree vaguely.
- Weak or missing thesis. State your central idea in the introduction and let each paragraph advance it.
- One giant paragraph, or evidence with no explanation. Aim for clear paragraphing and roughly two parts commentary for every one part evidence.
Rule of thumb
Budget about ten minutes to plan: restate the prompt in your own words, write a one-sentence thesis, and list three supporting points with evidence. Then write. If you can read your thesis and each topic sentence in sequence and they form a logical argument, your structure is working.