Sample question - CCEASample question - An Inspector Calls
If you have worked through the study guides in this section, you will have an understanding of the context, plot, themes and characters in An Inspector Calls.
If you are studying drama with CCEA your examination will be open book. This means you can take an unannotated copy of the play into the examination.
In your exam, you will be given a choice of two questions.
One will be an extract from the play, but you will need to refer to the whole play as well. The other question will be about the whole play.
You only need to answer one question.
Questions will usually be about specific characters or themes in the text.
The examiners are looking for you to demonstrate good knowledge of the whole play. You must have a clear idea about:
plot
themes
characters
language, form and structure
You should be able to use some key quotations from the text. You should structure your answer logically, with a brief introduction and conclusion.
The following are examples of the type of questions you will get for An Inspector Calls.
(a) With reference to the ways Priestley presents Mr Birling, show how far you would agree that Mr Birling acts inconsiderately towards his children.
OR
(b) Look again at the extract in Act One, beginning at the top of page 3 with Birling's words, "Oh - come, come - I'm treating Gerald like one of the family" and ending near the bottom of page 5 with Mrs Birling's words, “Well, it came just at the right moment. That was clever of you, Gerald.”
With reference to the ways Priestley presents reactions to the engagement in the extract and relationships elsewhere in the play, show how far you agree that marriage is based on social class.