An Inspector Calls Past Exam Questions – Edexcel English Literature IGCSE (4ET1/02) Paper 2: Modern Drama
Practising past exam questions is an essential part of exam preparation and is especially important for essay-based exams such as English Literature.You will need to build the skills required for writing essays progressively. Learning to write an outline, then writing paragraphs from that outline and eventually building up to writing full essays. Over time, and closer to the exam, you will need to practise writing these essays under timed conditions.
In this blog post, to help you with your exam preparation and revision, we have collected all the past year questions for An Inspector Calls for Edexcel IGCSE English Literature Paper 2 exam. These are in reverse order, updated with the latest readily available from Edexcel website.
What you need to know
This is one of five options for Section A Modern Drama in Paper 2 of the Edexcel English Literature IGCSE. You or your teacher will have chosen a specific text for this part.
For the exam, you will need to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the text, including the ways in which writers use language, form and structure to create effects.
You must:
- demonstrate a close understanding of their drama text
- maintain a critical style
- present an informed personal engagement
- understand how writers create literary effects
- understand and use appropriate literary terminology
- identify and use relevant examples from the play.
The assessment objectives tested in this section are:
AO1 Demonstrate a close knowledge and understanding of texts, maintaining a critical style and presenting an informed personal engagement.
AO2 Analyse the language, form and structure used by a writer to create meanings and effects.
Instructions: Choose one of two questions (Question 3 or 4)
Total marks = 30 marks. Recommended time 45 Minutes
An Inspector Calls, J B Priestley
Prescribed Edition
| Book Cover | Book Title | Author | Publisher | Date Published | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| An Inspector Calls | J.B. Priestley | Penguin Modern Classics; New Ed Edition | 01 March 2001 | 9780 41185354 |
An Inspector Calls Past Exam Questions by Year
May 2024
EITHER
3 ‘The Birlings place more importance on their family name than on relationships with each other.’
Discuss the significance of family in An Inspector Calls.
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
OR
4 How far do you agree with the view that Gerald shows that he is selfish in the play? You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
May 2024 Resit
EITHER
3 What kind of mother is Mrs Sybil Birling shown to be in An Inspector Calls? You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
EITHER
4 Mr Birling: ‘… I’m talking as a hard-headed, practical man of business.’ Explore the importance of business and making money in the play. You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
Nov 2023
EITHER
3 How does the character of Eric Birling change in An Inspector Calls?
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
OR
4 ‘Things are not always what they appear to be in the Birling household.’
Explore the theme of appearance and reality in the play.
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
June 2023
EITHER
3 Mr Birling (talking about Eva/Daisy): ‘She’d had a lot to say, I remember – far too much.’
What does the audience learn about Eva Smith/Daisy Renton from how other characters treat her in the play?
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
OR
4 Explore the differences between the older and younger generations in An Inspector Calls.
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
June 2023 Resit
EITHER
3 How far do you agree with the view that the ending of An Inspector Calls is successful?
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
OR
4 Sheila: ‘He never seemed like an ordinary police inspector.’
How far do you agree with this view of the Inspector in the play?
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
Jan 2023
EITHER
3 How does Priestley present Mrs Sybil Birling in the play?
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
OR
4 ‘Priestley uses the characters of Eva/Daisy and Edna to represent the working classes.’
Discuss the treatment of the working classes in An Inspector Calls.
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
Jan 2023 Resit
EITHER
3 ‘In the play, women have very different lives from men, according to their class.’
Explore the roles of women in An Inspector Calls.
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
OR
4 Discuss the presentation of one character you respect in the play.
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
June 2022
EITHER
3 Explore the significance of the title of the play, An Inspector Calls.
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
OR
4 Discuss the presentation of one character you sympathise with in the play.
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
June 2022 Resit
EITHER
3 Explore the theme of helping others in An Inspector Calls.
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
OR
4 ‘Mr Arthur Birling believes he is superior to others.’
How far do you agree with this view of Mr Birling in the play?
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
Jan 2022
EITHER
3 How does Priestley present the relationship between Sheila and Gerald in the play? You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
OR
4 Discuss the significance of wealth in An Inspector Calls.
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
Jan 2022 Resit
EITHER
3
3 Discuss the theme of blame in An Inspector Calls.
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
OR
4 ‘Eric Birling and Gerald Croft are shown to be very different characters in the play.’ How far do you agree with this statement?
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
June 2021
EITHER
3 Mr Birling: ‘Look, Inspector – I’d give thousands – yes, thousands.’
Explore the importance of reputation in An Inspector Calls.
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
OR
4 How does Priestley present the character of Inspector Goole in the play?
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
Nov 2021
EITHER
3 In what ways are Sheila Birling and Mrs Sybil Birling different in the play?
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
OR
4 Discuss the importance of the truth in An Inspector Calls.
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
Nov 2020
EITHER
3 Sheila Birling: ‘The point is, you don’t seem to have learnt anything.’ To what extent are lessons learnt in An Inspector Calls?
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
OR
4 How does Priestley present the relationship between Mr Arthur Birling and Eric Birling in the play?
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
Nov 2020 Resit
EITHER
3 How is the younger generation presented in An Inspector Calls?
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
OR
4 Mr Arthur Birling: ‘If you don’t come down hard on these people they’d soon be asking for the earth.’ Explore the theme of selfishness in the play.
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
Jan 2020
EITHER
3 ‘Sheila and Eva/Daisy are similar in age, but very different in situation.’ How far do you agree with this statement?
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
OR
4 Explore Priestley’s presentation of the theme of power in An Inspector Calls.
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
Jan 2020 Resit
EITHER
3 ‘There is very little love between characters in An Inspector Calls.’ How far do you agree with this statement?
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
OR
4 How does Priestley present Gerald and Mr Birling in the play?
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
June 2019
EITHER
3 Explore Priestley’s portrayal of the older generation in the play.
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
OR
4 Inspector Goole: ‘And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.’
How does Priestley present the importance of the future in An Inspector Calls?
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
June 2019 Resit
EITHER
3 ‘Priestley presents Mr Arthur Birling and Inspector Goole as very different characters.’
How far do you agree with this view?
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
OR
4 In what ways are secrets important in An Inspector Calls?
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
