INTERNATIONAL AS
INTERNATIONAL AS
ENGLISH LITERATURE
Unit 1 Aspects of dramatic tragedy ENGLISH LITERATURE
LT01
Tuesday 6 January 2026 07:00 UK Time Time allowed: 2 hours
Materials
Unit 1 Aspects of dramatic tragedy
For this paper you must have:
• an OxfordAQA 12-page Answer Book. Mark scheme
Instructions January 2026
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. Version: 1.0 Final
• Do all rough work in your answer book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked.
• You must answer one question from Section A and one question from Section B.
• Remember to include, in both your answers, relevant comments on the authors’ dramatic methods
in the set texts you are studying.
Information
• The maximum mark for this paper is 50.
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– analyse carefully the writers’ methods
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
IB/G/Jan26/G4004/V3 LT01
, 2
MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS ENGLISH LITERATURE – LT01 – JANUARY 2026
Section A: Elizabethan and Jacobean tragedy
Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevant
Answer one question from this section. questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the
standardisation events which all associates participate in and is the scheme which was used by them in
this examination. The standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’
Either responses to questions and that every associate understands and applies it in the same correct way.
As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number of students’ scripts. Alternative
0 1 William Shakespeare: Othello answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated for. If, after the
standardisation process, associates encounter unusual answers which have not been raised they are
Explore the significance of the aspects of dramatic tragedy in the following passage in required to refer these to the Lead Examiner.
relation to the play as a whole.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and
You should consider the following in your answer: expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark
schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of
• the presentation of Othello and Iago assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination
• Shakespeare’s use of dialogue paper.
• the dramatic setting and action
• other relevant aspects of dramatic tragedy.
[25 marks] Further copies of this mark scheme are available from
Act 4 Scene 1
IAGO
How now, Cassio!
CASSIO
What’s the matter?
IAGO
My lord is fallen into an epilepsy – This is his second fit; he had one yesterday.
CASSIO
Rub him about the temples.
IAGO
No, forbear:
The lethargy must have his quiet course;
If not, he foams at mouth, and by and by
Breaks out to savage madness. Look, he stirs.
Do you withdraw yourself a little while:
He will recover straight; when he is gone,
I would on great occasion speak with you.
[Exit CASSIO]
How is it, general? Have you not hurt your head?
OTHELLO
Dost thou mock me?
IAGO
I mock you not, by heaven!
information
Would you would bear your fortune like a man.
OxfordAQA retains the on all its publications. However, registered schools/colleges for OxfordAQA are permitted to copy material from this booklet for
their own internal use, llowing important exception: OxfordAQA cannot give permission to schools/colleges to photocopy any material that is
acknowledged to a third party even for internal use within the centre.
OxfordAQA International Examinations and its licensors. All rights reserved.
2
IB/G/Jan26/LT01
, 3
MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS ENGLISH LITERATURE – LT01 – JANUARY 2026
OTHELLO
A horned man’s a monster and a beast. Information for Examiners
IAGO Welcome to this mark scheme which is designed to help you to deliver fair and accurate assessment.
There’s many a beast then in a populous city, Please read carefully all sections and ensure that you follow the requirements that they contain.
And many a civil monster.
Arriving at marks
OTHELLO
Did he confess it? 1 All questions are framed to address all the Assessment Objectives (AOs). Answers are
marked holistically and when deciding upon a mark in a band, examiners should bear in
IAGO mind the equal weightings of the Assessment Objectives. Examiners need to read the
Good sir, be a man: whole answer, taking into account its strengths and weaknesses, and then place it in the
Think every bearded fellow that’s but yoked appropriate band.
May draw with you. There’s millions now alive
That nightly lie in those unproper beds, 2 Examiners should avoid making early snap judgements before the whole answer has been
Which they dare swear peculiar. Your case is better. read. Some candidates begin tentatively but go on to make relevant points.
O, ’tis the spite of hell, the fiend’s arch-mock,
To lip a wanton in a secure couch, 3 Examiners should be prepared to use the full mark range and not ‘bunch’ scripts in the
And to suppose her chaste. No, let me know; middle for safety. Top marks are attainable if candidates could not be expected to do more
And knowing what I am, I know what she shall be. in the time and under the conditions in which they are working.
OTHELLO 4 Examiners should mark positively. Although the mark scheme provides some indicators for what
O, thou art wise; ’tis certain. candidates are likely to write about, examiners should be willing to reward what is actually there –
provided, of course, that it is relevant to the question being asked.
IAGO
Stand you awhile apart; 5 Examiners should remember that there are no right answers. Candidates’ views which are relevant,
Confine yourself but in a patient list: well-argued and supported by appropriate textual evidence must receive credit whether the
Whilst you were here o’erwhelmed with your grief-- examiner agrees with the views or not. It is important to try to remain flexible if a candidate
A passion most unsuiting such a man-- introduces unusual or unorthodox ideas.
Cassio came hither. I shifted him away,
6 Examiners should remember that length and quality are not synonymous. Some brief answers may
And laid good ’scuse upon your ecstasy;
be relevant and concise. Equally, long answers may be diffuse and repetitive.
Bade him anon return and here speak with me –
The which he promised. Do but encave yourself,
7 If answers are short or incomplete, examiners can reward only what is there and assess
And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorns, accordingly. Some further credit may be given to answers finished in note form.
That dwell in every region of his face.
For I will make him tell the tale anew:
Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when
He hath, and is again to cope your wife.
I say, but mark his gesture – marry, patience!
Or I shall say you are all in all in spleen,
And nothing of a man.
OTHELLO
Dost thou hear, Iago?
I will be found most cunning in my patience,
But – dost thou hear? – most bloody.
This extract continues on the next page
3
IB/G/Jan26/LT01 Turn over ►
INTERNATIONAL AS
ENGLISH LITERATURE
Unit 1 Aspects of dramatic tragedy ENGLISH LITERATURE
LT01
Tuesday 6 January 2026 07:00 UK Time Time allowed: 2 hours
Materials
Unit 1 Aspects of dramatic tragedy
For this paper you must have:
• an OxfordAQA 12-page Answer Book. Mark scheme
Instructions January 2026
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. Version: 1.0 Final
• Do all rough work in your answer book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked.
• You must answer one question from Section A and one question from Section B.
• Remember to include, in both your answers, relevant comments on the authors’ dramatic methods
in the set texts you are studying.
Information
• The maximum mark for this paper is 50.
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– analyse carefully the writers’ methods
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
IB/G/Jan26/G4004/V3 LT01
, 2
MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS ENGLISH LITERATURE – LT01 – JANUARY 2026
Section A: Elizabethan and Jacobean tragedy
Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevant
Answer one question from this section. questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the
standardisation events which all associates participate in and is the scheme which was used by them in
this examination. The standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’
Either responses to questions and that every associate understands and applies it in the same correct way.
As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number of students’ scripts. Alternative
0 1 William Shakespeare: Othello answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated for. If, after the
standardisation process, associates encounter unusual answers which have not been raised they are
Explore the significance of the aspects of dramatic tragedy in the following passage in required to refer these to the Lead Examiner.
relation to the play as a whole.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and
You should consider the following in your answer: expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark
schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of
• the presentation of Othello and Iago assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination
• Shakespeare’s use of dialogue paper.
• the dramatic setting and action
• other relevant aspects of dramatic tragedy.
[25 marks] Further copies of this mark scheme are available from
Act 4 Scene 1
IAGO
How now, Cassio!
CASSIO
What’s the matter?
IAGO
My lord is fallen into an epilepsy – This is his second fit; he had one yesterday.
CASSIO
Rub him about the temples.
IAGO
No, forbear:
The lethargy must have his quiet course;
If not, he foams at mouth, and by and by
Breaks out to savage madness. Look, he stirs.
Do you withdraw yourself a little while:
He will recover straight; when he is gone,
I would on great occasion speak with you.
[Exit CASSIO]
How is it, general? Have you not hurt your head?
OTHELLO
Dost thou mock me?
IAGO
I mock you not, by heaven!
information
Would you would bear your fortune like a man.
OxfordAQA retains the on all its publications. However, registered schools/colleges for OxfordAQA are permitted to copy material from this booklet for
their own internal use, llowing important exception: OxfordAQA cannot give permission to schools/colleges to photocopy any material that is
acknowledged to a third party even for internal use within the centre.
OxfordAQA International Examinations and its licensors. All rights reserved.
2
IB/G/Jan26/LT01
, 3
MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS ENGLISH LITERATURE – LT01 – JANUARY 2026
OTHELLO
A horned man’s a monster and a beast. Information for Examiners
IAGO Welcome to this mark scheme which is designed to help you to deliver fair and accurate assessment.
There’s many a beast then in a populous city, Please read carefully all sections and ensure that you follow the requirements that they contain.
And many a civil monster.
Arriving at marks
OTHELLO
Did he confess it? 1 All questions are framed to address all the Assessment Objectives (AOs). Answers are
marked holistically and when deciding upon a mark in a band, examiners should bear in
IAGO mind the equal weightings of the Assessment Objectives. Examiners need to read the
Good sir, be a man: whole answer, taking into account its strengths and weaknesses, and then place it in the
Think every bearded fellow that’s but yoked appropriate band.
May draw with you. There’s millions now alive
That nightly lie in those unproper beds, 2 Examiners should avoid making early snap judgements before the whole answer has been
Which they dare swear peculiar. Your case is better. read. Some candidates begin tentatively but go on to make relevant points.
O, ’tis the spite of hell, the fiend’s arch-mock,
To lip a wanton in a secure couch, 3 Examiners should be prepared to use the full mark range and not ‘bunch’ scripts in the
And to suppose her chaste. No, let me know; middle for safety. Top marks are attainable if candidates could not be expected to do more
And knowing what I am, I know what she shall be. in the time and under the conditions in which they are working.
OTHELLO 4 Examiners should mark positively. Although the mark scheme provides some indicators for what
O, thou art wise; ’tis certain. candidates are likely to write about, examiners should be willing to reward what is actually there –
provided, of course, that it is relevant to the question being asked.
IAGO
Stand you awhile apart; 5 Examiners should remember that there are no right answers. Candidates’ views which are relevant,
Confine yourself but in a patient list: well-argued and supported by appropriate textual evidence must receive credit whether the
Whilst you were here o’erwhelmed with your grief-- examiner agrees with the views or not. It is important to try to remain flexible if a candidate
A passion most unsuiting such a man-- introduces unusual or unorthodox ideas.
Cassio came hither. I shifted him away,
6 Examiners should remember that length and quality are not synonymous. Some brief answers may
And laid good ’scuse upon your ecstasy;
be relevant and concise. Equally, long answers may be diffuse and repetitive.
Bade him anon return and here speak with me –
The which he promised. Do but encave yourself,
7 If answers are short or incomplete, examiners can reward only what is there and assess
And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorns, accordingly. Some further credit may be given to answers finished in note form.
That dwell in every region of his face.
For I will make him tell the tale anew:
Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when
He hath, and is again to cope your wife.
I say, but mark his gesture – marry, patience!
Or I shall say you are all in all in spleen,
And nothing of a man.
OTHELLO
Dost thou hear, Iago?
I will be found most cunning in my patience,
But – dost thou hear? – most bloody.
This extract continues on the next page
3
IB/G/Jan26/LT01 Turn over ►
