Should students memorise quotations for use in the exam, or is making references to the text adequate?

For syllabus years 2026 and 2027, candidates are rewarded for supplementing their reading of a text with well-chosen textual reference. This can be in the form of both direct quotation and reference. Direct quotation enables the candidate to evidence explicitly the writer’s language choices, which is an important element of AO3, so it benefits candidates to have memorised short quotations from their text for Paper 1 and Paper 2. We would draw your attention to the Principal Examiner’s Reports published on the School Support Hub, where this is made explicit.

For syllabus years 2028-2030, we have updated the syllabus which allows candidates to take their texts into the examination for Paper 1 and Paper 2. Open‑text assessment has been introduced to enable students to engage directly with their set texts in the exam, reducing reliance on memorisation and supporting more precise, evidence‑based responses. This allows candidates to demonstrate independent interpretation and analysis rather than recall.