Key Idea: Paper 2 lasts 1 hour 45 minutes for one comparative essay, worth 25 marks. These lessons cover timing, common mistakes, an exemplar and a full timed mock.
| Stage | What you do | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Choose and plan | Choose the fitting question; thesis and by-point grid | ~10 min |
| Write | Introduction and woven comparative paragraphs | ~90 min |
| Finish | Conclusion and a check | ~5 min |
| Mistake | The fix |
|---|---|
| Two mini-essays (all of A, then all of B) | Weave both into comparative paragraphs |
| Plot summary | Analyse and compare choices |
| Drifting off the question | Re-read the general question and answer it |
| One work dominates | Give both works roughly equal weight |
Exemplar and mock
- The exemplar's shape: comparative thesis, woven evaluated paragraphs, conclusion with a payoff.
- Copy its method, not its words: your works are your own.
- Rehearse the full routine in 1h45, with no pausing.
- Complete beats perfect.
Pick the question your works really fit, not the one that sounds best.
What is the most important early decision? Choosing the question your two prepared works genuinely fit.
How many marks is Paper 2 worth? 30.
What does panic try to skip in the mock? The choose-and-plan stage.
What lifts a comparison in the exemplar? Weaving, analysing AND comparing choices, and a conclusion that reveals something.