Edexcel GCSE English Literature
Edexcel GCSE English Literature An Inspector Calls Exam Questions
Free Edexcel GCSE English Literature practice questions for An Inspector Calls. Covers j B Priestley's play of the Birling family and inspector Goole, social responsibility, class, gender, age and Eva smith's death.
An Inspector Calls practice questions
1 pack of exam-style practice questions for An Inspector Calls. Plan and write as many answers as you can under timed conditions, then compare them with the guidance on this page and your notes.
About Edexcel GCSE English Literature An Inspector Calls
J B Priestley's An Inspector Calls is one of the post-1914 plays for Edexcel GCSE English Literature Paper 1, Section B. You answer one of two essay questions from memory: each opens with a short quotation, but there is no extract. Written in 1945 but set in 1912, the play shows Inspector Goole interrupting the Birlings' engagement celebration to reveal how each family member contributed to the death of a young working-class woman, Eva Smith. Questions focus on a character such as Mr Birling or Sheila, or themes such as responsibility, class and gender. Marks reward a well-supported response (AO1), context that explains Priestley's socialist message (AO3) and accurate writing (AO4).
Key themes, characters and context
- The Inspector Calm, authoritative and morally certain. His final speech, 'We don't live alone. We are members of one body', states Priestley's message.
- Mr Birling A 'hard-headed, practical man of business'. His confident claims about the Titanic and war create dramatic irony.
- Mrs Birling Cold and class-conscious, she refuses Eva help and unknowingly blames her own son.
- Sheila and Eric The younger generation accept responsibility and change. Sheila becomes perceptive and challenges her parents.
- Gerald An upper-class charmer who had an affair with Eva, renamed Daisy Renton. He later tries to prove the Inspector was not real.
- Context Set in 1912 before the First World War, staged in 1945 as Britain debated a welfare state. Priestley's socialism shapes the play.
Common mistakes in An Inspector Calls
- Mixing up when the play was set (1912) and written (1945).
- Writing that Eva is definitely one woman; the play leaves her identity uncertain.
- Writing a detailed language analysis instead of an argument. AO2 is not assessed in this section, so use references, including stage directions, to support your points about characters and ideas.
- Forgetting the final twist: a girl has just died and a real inspector is coming.
- Treating the Inspector as just a policeman rather than Priestley's mouthpiece.
Try three An Inspector Calls practice questions
1. Explore the significance of Sheila Birling in An Inspector Calls. You must refer to the context of the play in your answer. (40 marks)
Show what a strong answer includes
A strong answer would trace Sheila from privileged daughter to perceptive critic; analyse her guilt over Milwards and her challenge to her parents; and link to changing roles for young women and Priestley's hopes.
2. How does Priestley present social responsibility in An Inspector Calls? You must refer to the context of the play in your answer. (40 marks)
Show what a strong answer includes
A strong answer would contrast Birling's individualism with the Inspector's message; examine each character's response; analyse the final speech and twist; and link to 1912 class divides and 1945 welfare debates.
3. Explore how Priestley presents Mr Birling in An Inspector Calls. You must refer to the context of the play in your answer. (40 marks)
Show what a strong answer includes
A strong answer would consider his speeches, the dramatic irony of his predictions, his treatment of workers and his refusal to change; and connect to Edwardian capitalism and Priestley's socialist views.
An Inspector Calls FAQs
What does Edexcel GCSE English Literature An Inspector Calls cover?
It covers Priestley's play: the Birlings, Gerald and the Inspector, themes of responsibility, class, age and gender, and the 1912 and 1945 contexts.
Which paper is An Inspector Calls examined in for Edexcel GCSE?
Paper 1, Section B (post-1914 British play or novel), closed book. You answer one of two questions, each opening with a short quotation, for 40 marks: 16 for AO1, 16 for AO3 (context) and 8 for AO4 (spelling, punctuation and grammar).
Which quotations should I learn for An Inspector Calls?
Learn short lines such as 'We don't live alone. We are members of one body', 'fire and blood and anguish' and 'hard-headed, practical man of business'.
