The big idea: Paper 2 is 1 hour 45 minutes for one comparative essay [25]. Split it: ~10 min choosing & planning, ~90 min writing, ~5 min checking — and spend the first minutes CHOOSING the question your two works fit best.
In Paper 2 the first decision — which question — matters as much as any sentence you write.
You have four general questions and two prepared works. The biggest early win is picking the question your works genuinely fit, then planning a by-point comparison before you write. Get the choice and the plan right in the first ten minutes and the next ninety are just execution.
The time plan (1h45)
~10 min — choose & plan
Pick the question your two works fit best; write a comparative thesis + by-point plan.
~90 min — write
Introduction, then comparative paragraphs at a steady pace.
~5 min — check & finish
Ensure you have a conclusion; fix slips (Criterion D).
Choose wisely first
The right question for YOUR works matters more than the ‘best’ question.
The key move: Spend the first ~10 minutes choosing the right question and planning a by-point comparison — then write steadily and protect a conclusion. The question choice is half the battle.
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Why it matters in the exam: Paper 2 gives more time (1h45) but demands a sustained comparison. The classic failures are choosing a question your works don't fit, and running out of time with no conclusion. Deliberate time management prevents both.
You have 1h45, four general questions, and two prepared works. How do you spend the time?
Model answer plan
See the mark-by-mark plan — for / against / judgement, with marking guidance — in study mode.
Watch out: Two classic Paper 2 time failures: choosing a question your works don't really fit (you'll strain the whole essay), and running out of time with no conclusion. Guard against both in the first ten minutes.