IEB test questions & answers 2025/2026
Patricia on living with Richard (Themes: hate, hopelessness) - ANSWERS"by noticing him as
rarely as possible"
P talking about the past (Themes: past, ignorance) - ANSWERS"without a backward glance"
P about John Ford (Themes: love, hate) - ANSWERS"because he was everything Richard was
not"
P about JF (Themes: love, relationships) - ANSWERS"tended to withhold himself"
P about JF's death (Themes: emotion, life, relationships) - ANSWERS"feel extravagantly"
P about Rachel's death (Themes: death, emptiness, loneliness) - ANSWERS"The emptiness in her
body, just below the heart, has never left her"
P about Looksmart's birth (Themes: love, renewal, hope) - ANSWERS"everything was washed
clean"
About P and L's relationship (Themes: happiness, love) - ANSWERS"a place where she could
laugh again"
P on L growing up (Themes: disappointment, loss) - ANSWERS"started to judge her"
P on L leaving (Themes: disappointment, loss, hopelessness) - ANSWERS"the colour had faded
from the world"
, Reflecting on P's life (Themes: disappointment, loss, hopelessness) - ANSWERS"She spent her
whole life watching the things that have mattered the most to her leaving her."
About P's relationship with truth (Themes: truth, ignorance) - ANSWERS"she could never see
what was standing right there in front of her"
About P's relationship with the world (Themes: truth, ignorance) - ANSWERS"she liked to live
with her head buried deep in the earth"
L's disillusionment (Themes: disillusionment, loss, pain) - ANSWERS"something was missing"
"pulled him into a more coherent whole"
L's broken relationships (Themes: relationships, love) - ANSWERS"has never been any good at
being loved"
L on relationship with P (Themes: love, hate, relationships) - ANSWERS"always wanting to
please" "cut down any claims of affection"
L and P's relationship (Themes: relationships, love, hate) - ANSWERS"all he ever wanted to do
was impress her"
L on P and Grace's death (Themes: death, love, relationships) - ANSWERS"you gave up" "you
withdrew exactly when it was your moment to step forward"
About P's reaction to G's death and effect on L (Themes: death, hate) - ANSWERS"it was enough
to change every other fact" "And it was on this small fact that he would build his hate"
Beauty about people (Themes: relationships, change) - ANSWERS"people don't often change"
Patricia on living with Richard (Themes: hate, hopelessness) - ANSWERS"by noticing him as
rarely as possible"
P talking about the past (Themes: past, ignorance) - ANSWERS"without a backward glance"
P about John Ford (Themes: love, hate) - ANSWERS"because he was everything Richard was
not"
P about JF (Themes: love, relationships) - ANSWERS"tended to withhold himself"
P about JF's death (Themes: emotion, life, relationships) - ANSWERS"feel extravagantly"
P about Rachel's death (Themes: death, emptiness, loneliness) - ANSWERS"The emptiness in her
body, just below the heart, has never left her"
P about Looksmart's birth (Themes: love, renewal, hope) - ANSWERS"everything was washed
clean"
About P and L's relationship (Themes: happiness, love) - ANSWERS"a place where she could
laugh again"
P on L growing up (Themes: disappointment, loss) - ANSWERS"started to judge her"
P on L leaving (Themes: disappointment, loss, hopelessness) - ANSWERS"the colour had faded
from the world"
, Reflecting on P's life (Themes: disappointment, loss, hopelessness) - ANSWERS"She spent her
whole life watching the things that have mattered the most to her leaving her."
About P's relationship with truth (Themes: truth, ignorance) - ANSWERS"she could never see
what was standing right there in front of her"
About P's relationship with the world (Themes: truth, ignorance) - ANSWERS"she liked to live
with her head buried deep in the earth"
L's disillusionment (Themes: disillusionment, loss, pain) - ANSWERS"something was missing"
"pulled him into a more coherent whole"
L's broken relationships (Themes: relationships, love) - ANSWERS"has never been any good at
being loved"
L on relationship with P (Themes: love, hate, relationships) - ANSWERS"always wanting to
please" "cut down any claims of affection"
L and P's relationship (Themes: relationships, love, hate) - ANSWERS"all he ever wanted to do
was impress her"
L on P and Grace's death (Themes: death, love, relationships) - ANSWERS"you gave up" "you
withdrew exactly when it was your moment to step forward"
About P's reaction to G's death and effect on L (Themes: death, hate) - ANSWERS"it was enough
to change every other fact" "And it was on this small fact that he would build his hate"
Beauty about people (Themes: relationships, change) - ANSWERS"people don't often change"
