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 whole 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.