INTERNATIONAL AS
INTERNATIONAL AS
ENGLISH LITERATURE
Unit 1 Aspects of dramatic tragedy ENGLISH LITERATURE
LT01
Thursday 30 April 2026 08:00 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 June 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/Jun26/G4005/V5 LT01
, 2
MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS ENGLISH LITERATURE – LT01 – JUNE 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 the different characters 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 3 Scene 4
EMILIA
Is not this man jealous?
DESDEMONA
I ne’er saw this before.
Sure, there’s some wonder in this handkerchief;
I am most unhappy in the loss of it.
EMILIA
’Tis not a year or two shows us a man:
They are all but stomachs, and we all but food;
They eat us hungerly, and when they are full
They belch us.
[Enter IAGO and CASSIO]
Look you, Cassio and my husband.
IAGO
There is no other way; ’tis she must do’t –
And, lo, the happiness! Go, and importune her.
DESDEMONA
How now, good Cassio, what’s the news with you?
information
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/Jun26/LT01
, 3
MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS ENGLISH LITERATURE – LT01 – JUNE 2026
CASSIO
Madam, my former suit: I do beseech you Information for Examiners
That, by your virtuous means, I may again
Exist, and be a member of his love, Welcome to this mark scheme which is designed to help you to deliver fair and accurate assessment.
Whom I, with all the office of my heart, Please read carefully all sections and ensure that you follow the requirements that they contain.
Entirely honour. I would not be delayed:
If my offence be of such mortal kind Arriving at marks
That nor my service past, nor present sorrows,
Nor purposed merit in futurity 1 All questions are framed to address all the Assessment Objectives (AOs). Answers are
Can ransom me into his love again – marked holistically and when deciding upon a mark in a band, examiners should bear in
But to know so must be my benefit; mind the equal weightings of the Assessment Objectives. Examiners need to read the
So shall I clothe me in a forced content, whole answer, taking into account its strengths and weaknesses, and then place it in the
And shut myself up in some other course appropriate band.
To fortune’s alms.
2 Examiners should avoid making early snap judgements before the whole answer has been
DESDEMONA read. Some candidates begin tentatively but go on to make relevant points.
Alas, thrice-gentle Cassio,
My advocation is not now in tune: 3 Examiners should be prepared to use the full mark range and not ‘bunch’ scripts in the
My lord is not my lord; nor should I know him, middle for safety. Top marks are attainable if candidates could not be expected to do more
Were he in favour as in humour altered. in the time and under the conditions in which they are working.
So help me every spirit sanctified,
As I have spoken for you all my best, 4 Examiners should mark positively. Although the mark scheme provides some indicators for what
And stood within the blank of his displeasure candidates are likely to write about, examiners should be willing to reward what is actually there –
For my free speech! You must awhile be patient: provided, of course, that it is relevant to the question being asked.
What I can do, I will; and more I will
Than for myself I dare. Let that suffice you. 5 Examiners should remember that there are no right answers. Candidates’ views which are relevant,
well-argued and supported by appropriate textual evidence must receive credit whether the
IAGO examiner agrees with the views or not. It is important to try to remain flexible if a candidate
Is my lord angry? introduces unusual or unorthodox ideas.
6 Examiners should remember that length and quality are not synonymous. Some brief answers may
EMILIA
be relevant and concise. Equally, long answers may be diffuse and repetitive.
He went hence but now,
And certainly in strange unquietness.
7 If answers are short or incomplete, examiners can reward only what is there and assess
accordingly. Some further credit may be given to answers finished in note form.
IAGO
Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon
When it hath blown his ranks into the air,
And, like the devil, from his very arm
Puffed his own brother – and is he angry?
Something of moment then: I will go meet him,
There’s matter in’t indeed, if he be angry.
This extract continues on the next page
3
IB/G/Jun26/LT01 Turn over ►
INTERNATIONAL AS
ENGLISH LITERATURE
Unit 1 Aspects of dramatic tragedy ENGLISH LITERATURE
LT01
Thursday 30 April 2026 08:00 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 June 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/Jun26/G4005/V5 LT01
, 2
MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS ENGLISH LITERATURE – LT01 – JUNE 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 the different characters 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 3 Scene 4
EMILIA
Is not this man jealous?
DESDEMONA
I ne’er saw this before.
Sure, there’s some wonder in this handkerchief;
I am most unhappy in the loss of it.
EMILIA
’Tis not a year or two shows us a man:
They are all but stomachs, and we all but food;
They eat us hungerly, and when they are full
They belch us.
[Enter IAGO and CASSIO]
Look you, Cassio and my husband.
IAGO
There is no other way; ’tis she must do’t –
And, lo, the happiness! Go, and importune her.
DESDEMONA
How now, good Cassio, what’s the news with you?
information
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/Jun26/LT01
, 3
MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS ENGLISH LITERATURE – LT01 – JUNE 2026
CASSIO
Madam, my former suit: I do beseech you Information for Examiners
That, by your virtuous means, I may again
Exist, and be a member of his love, Welcome to this mark scheme which is designed to help you to deliver fair and accurate assessment.
Whom I, with all the office of my heart, Please read carefully all sections and ensure that you follow the requirements that they contain.
Entirely honour. I would not be delayed:
If my offence be of such mortal kind Arriving at marks
That nor my service past, nor present sorrows,
Nor purposed merit in futurity 1 All questions are framed to address all the Assessment Objectives (AOs). Answers are
Can ransom me into his love again – marked holistically and when deciding upon a mark in a band, examiners should bear in
But to know so must be my benefit; mind the equal weightings of the Assessment Objectives. Examiners need to read the
So shall I clothe me in a forced content, whole answer, taking into account its strengths and weaknesses, and then place it in the
And shut myself up in some other course appropriate band.
To fortune’s alms.
2 Examiners should avoid making early snap judgements before the whole answer has been
DESDEMONA read. Some candidates begin tentatively but go on to make relevant points.
Alas, thrice-gentle Cassio,
My advocation is not now in tune: 3 Examiners should be prepared to use the full mark range and not ‘bunch’ scripts in the
My lord is not my lord; nor should I know him, middle for safety. Top marks are attainable if candidates could not be expected to do more
Were he in favour as in humour altered. in the time and under the conditions in which they are working.
So help me every spirit sanctified,
As I have spoken for you all my best, 4 Examiners should mark positively. Although the mark scheme provides some indicators for what
And stood within the blank of his displeasure candidates are likely to write about, examiners should be willing to reward what is actually there –
For my free speech! You must awhile be patient: provided, of course, that it is relevant to the question being asked.
What I can do, I will; and more I will
Than for myself I dare. Let that suffice you. 5 Examiners should remember that there are no right answers. Candidates’ views which are relevant,
well-argued and supported by appropriate textual evidence must receive credit whether the
IAGO examiner agrees with the views or not. It is important to try to remain flexible if a candidate
Is my lord angry? introduces unusual or unorthodox ideas.
6 Examiners should remember that length and quality are not synonymous. Some brief answers may
EMILIA
be relevant and concise. Equally, long answers may be diffuse and repetitive.
He went hence but now,
And certainly in strange unquietness.
7 If answers are short or incomplete, examiners can reward only what is there and assess
accordingly. Some further credit may be given to answers finished in note form.
IAGO
Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon
When it hath blown his ranks into the air,
And, like the devil, from his very arm
Puffed his own brother – and is he angry?
Something of moment then: I will go meet him,
There’s matter in’t indeed, if he be angry.
This extract continues on the next page
3
IB/G/Jun26/LT01 Turn over ►
