The big idea: Paper 2 gives you four general questions; you answer one, comparing two literary works you have studied — with no text in front of you (1h45, [25]). The whole skill is genuine comparison, not two essays glued together.
Paper 2 feels strange at first because there's no passage on the desk — but that's the point: you bring the works in your head.
You've studied your literary works closely; in the exam you pick the question that fits two of them and argue how they treat a shared idea in similar and different ways. No quotations are required — precise, detailed reference is. Aim for ONE comparative argument about BOTH works.
What Paper 2 asks
Four general questions
Broad thematic prompts (memory, power, the outsider…). You choose ONE.
Two literary works
Compare TWO works you've studied — chosen to fit the question.
No text, no quotes needed
Closed book: use detailed reference, not memorised quotations.
Compare, don't summarise
One argument about BOTH works — similarities AND differences, woven together.
The key move: Answer ONE general question by making a single comparative argument about TWO works — weaving them together, not writing about one then the other.
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Why it matters in the exam: Paper 2 is [25] (35% SL / 25% HL). Understanding the format is the first step to planning for it.
| Criterion | Marks | What comparison earns |
|---|---|---|
| A | 5 | — |
| B | 10 | B1: analysing the authors' choices in each work. B2: the comparison itself, and how the likenesses and differences deepen your analysis |
| C | 5 | A focused, organised essay that gives both works fair weight |
| D | 5 | — |
A Paper 2 question reads: ‘Compare how two works you have studied present the idea of home.’ How do you approach it?
Model answer plan
See the mark-by-mark plan — for / against / judgement, with marking guidance — in study mode.
Watch out: The commonest Paper 2 failure is two mini-essays — a page on Work A, then a page on Work B, with a ‘similarly’ bolted on. Weave the works together on shared points from the start.