Paper 2, Prose: How closely should candidates focus on the passage in a passage-based question? Can they refer to other aspects of the text?

Passage-based questions need detailed focus on the extract printed on the question paper in order to analyse the writing closely. However, knowledge of the rest of the text helps to develop a candidate’s argument.

Although specific references to other parts of the text are not a requirement, the most successful responses are informed by a precise reference to the context of the passage, related to the main area of discussion in the question.