Q1 · Difficulty 1/3
The major divisions of a Shakespeare play are called:
- cantos
- verses
- acts
- chapters
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C — acts
Plays are divided into acts and scenes.
OCR · GCSE · English Literature
Free OCR GCSE English Literature
Practice Paper
8 mixed-difficulty practice questions in the style of real OCR GCSE papers — answers, mark-scheme-style explanations, and the official exam structure all on one page.
Take a Mini Mock →What the real OCR GCSE English Literature paper looks like
Paper 1
Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, ~70-100 marks. Covers Topics 1-4 of the specification.
Paper 2
Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, ~70-100 marks. Covers Topics 5-8 of the specification.
Paper 3
Where applicable — e.g. Combined Science, Languages. Includes synoptic and applied questions.
Total exam time: ~3 hours across two or three papers.
Grading: Grades: 9 (highest) to 1 (lowest), with U (ungraded). A grade of 4 is a standard pass; 5 is a strong pass.
Grading: Grades: 9 (highest) to 1 (lowest), with U (ungraded). A grade of 4 is a standard pass; 5 is a strong pass.
Mini practice paper: 8 questions
Mixed-difficulty questions from across the English Literature syllabus. Tap "Show answer" after each to check yourself.
Q2 · Difficulty 1/3
A recurring central idea in a poem is its:
- theme
- rhyme scheme
- metre
- stanza
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A — theme
The theme is the central idea.
Q3 · Difficulty 1/3
The main character opposed by an antagonist is the:
- foil
- protagonist
- narrator only
- chorus
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — protagonist
The protagonist is the central character.
Q4 · Difficulty 2/3
When comparing two anthology poems, focus on their:
- prices
- themes and techniques
- cover art
- publication dates only
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — themes and techniques
Comparison examines theme and technique.
Q5 · Difficulty 2/3
A line or group of lines repeated in a poem is a:
- couplet
- refrain
- simile
- caesura
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — refrain
A refrain is a repeated line.
Q6 · Difficulty 2/3
'Macbeth', 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'Othello' are all classed as:
- tragedies
- comedies
- histories
- sonnets
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A — tragedies
These plays are tragedies.
Q7 · Difficulty 2/3
In drama, instructions describing setting and action are:
- soliloquies
- refrains
- couplets
- stage directions
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: D — stage directions
Stage directions guide staging.
Q8 · Difficulty 2/3
The attitude a poem conveys towards its subject is its:
- metre
- length
- tone
- rhyme
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C — tone
Tone conveys attitude.
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OCR GCSE English Literature FAQ
What does the OCR GCSE English Literature exam look like?
The OCR GCSE English Literature exam is structured across 3 components. Paper 1: Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, ~70-100 marks. Covers Topics 1-4 of the specification. Paper 2: Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, ~70-100 marks. Covers Topics 5-8 of the specification. Paper 3: Where applicable — e.g. Combined Science, Languages. Includes synoptic and applied questions. Total exam time: ~3 hours across two or three papers.
Can I download a free OCR GCSE English Literature past paper?
Real OCR past papers are published directly by OCR on their official website. Kramizo doesn't redistribute copyrighted past papers, but we do generate free AI-written practice papers in the exact same style — same command words, same difficulty tier, same mark conventions. Use this practice paper as warm-up, then time yourself on official past papers before exam day.
How is OCR GCSE English Literature graded?
Grades: 9 (highest) to 1 (lowest), with U (ungraded). A grade of 4 is a standard pass; 5 is a strong pass. Kramizo's practice questions are tagged with difficulty 1-3 mapping roughly to the lower, middle, and top grade boundaries you'll encounter in the real exam.