ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND
LITERATURE
Paper 2 Exploring Conflict
Thursday 22 May 2025 Morning Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
Materials
For this paper you must have:
• an AQA 12-page answer book
• a copy of the set texts you have studied for Section A and Section B. These texts must not be
annotated and must not contain additional notes or materials.
Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is 7707/2.
• There are two sections:
Section A: Writing about Society
Section B: Dramatic Encounters
• Answer three questions in total: two questions from Section A and one question from Section B.
• Do all rough work in your answer book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked.
Information
• The maximum mark for this paper is 100.
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets. There are 55 marks in total for the questions in
Section A and 45 marks for the question in Section B.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
Advice
It is recommended that you spend 80 minutes on Section A and 70 minutes on Section B.
IB/G/Jun25/G4005/V6 7707/2
, 2
Section A
Writing about Society
Answer on one text in this section.
Answer both questions on your chosen set text.
Either
Into the Wild – Jon Krakauer
0 1 Read the section of Chapter 13,
from
‘Carine made peace with her parents shortly after Chris disappeared, and now, at the age
of twenty-two, she calls their relationship “extremely good”.’
to
‘Carine carried her brother’s ashes in her knapsack.’
This describes Carine’s life with her husband Chris Fish and her reaction to the news of
her brother Chris’s death.
Recast the base text into an account that Chris Fish, Carine’s husband, gives to a
customer at the auto repair business they own.
In your transformation you should consider:
• Chris Fish’s feelings about his brother-in-law Chris’s life and death and its impact on
his wife Carine
• Chris Fish’s view of his own life and ambitions for the future.
You should write about 300 words.
[25 marks]
and
0 2 Write a commentary explaining the decisions you have made in transforming the base
text for this new account and the effects of reshaping Krakauer’s original description.
In your commentary you should:
• consider how you have used language to shape your intended meaning
• demonstrate the connections between the base text and your transformed text
• structure your commentary clearly to express your ideas.
You should write about 400 words.
[30 marks]
IB/G/Jun25/7707/2
, 3
or
The Suspicions of Mr Whicher: or the Murder at Road Hill House – Kate Summerscale
0 3 Read the section of Chapter 11,
from
‘The magistrates sat on their platform, alongside Detectives Whicher and Williamson,
Captain Meredith, Superintendent Wolfe and Henry Clark, the magistrates’ clerk.’
to
‘I have been putting questions according to the rule of evidence,’ said Clark, ‘and if I do
not get an answer, I must put the question again.’
This describes the magistrates’ examination of Constance Kent in order to decide if she
should be sent for trial.
Recast the base text into an account that Henry Clark gives to a magistrate discussing
the day’s events in court.
In your transformation you should consider:
• Henry Clark’s views about the case and the ongoing events both in and outside
the courtroom
• his impressions of the lawyers, the witnesses and Constance Kent.
You should write about 300 words.
[25 marks]
and
0 4 Write a commentary explaining the decisions you have made in transforming the base
text for this new account and the effects of reshaping Summerscale’s original description.
In your commentary you should:
• consider how you have used language to shape your intended meaning
• demonstrate the connections between the base text and your transformed text
• structure your commentary clearly to express your ideas.
You should write about 400 words.
[30 marks]
Turn over ►
IB/G/Jun25/7707/2
, 4
or
The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald
0 5 Read the section of Chapter 5,
from
‘After half an hour, the sun shone again, and the grocer’s automobile rounded Gatsby’s
drive with the raw material for his servants’ dinner – I felt sure he wouldn’t eat a spoonful.’
to
‘Daisy took the brush with delight, and smoothed her hair, whereupon Gatsby sat down
and shaded his eyes and began to laugh.’
This describes Nick Carraway’s visit to Gatsby’s house with Daisy Buchanan.
Recast the base text into an account that Gatsby’s maid gives to a local market trader
about Daisy’s visit to Gatsby’s house.
In your transformation you should consider:
• the maid’s impressions of Daisy and Gatsby’s relationship
• the relationship between the servants at Gatsby’s house and their attitudes to the
richer residents of East and West Egg.
You should write about 300 words.
[25 marks]
and
0 6 Write a commentary explaining the decisions you have made in transforming the base
text for this new account and the effects of reshaping Fitzgerald’s original description.
In your commentary you should:
• consider how you have used language to shape your intended meaning
• demonstrate the connections between the base text and your transformed text
• structure your commentary clearly to express your ideas.
You should write about 400 words.
[30 marks]
IB/G/Jun25/7707/2