Edexcel International GCSE English Literature
Edexcel International GCSE English Literature An Inspector Calls Exam Questions
Free Edexcel International GCSE English Literature practice questions for An Inspector Calls. Covers Priestley's play, the Birling family, Inspector Goole, Eva Smith, responsibility, class, gender, generations and dramatic devices.
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 International GCSE English Literature An Inspector Calls
An Inspector Calls is a Modern Drama text in Paper 2, Section A of the Edexcel International GCSE in English Literature. J.B. Priestley's play, written in 1945 and set in 1912, shows Inspector Goole revealing how each member of the Birling family helped drive Eva Smith to her death. You answer one of two essay questions worth 30 marks, assessed on AO1 and AO2. Examiners note that context is not assessed in this section, so time spent on 1912 or 1945 history earns nothing unless it explains a dramatic method. Focus on how characters change and how Priestley creates tension.
Key themes, characters and context
- The Inspector Goole controls the pace, questioning one character at a time. His final speech, 'We are members of one body', delivers Priestley's message of shared responsibility.
- Mr and Mrs Birling Arthur Birling is a self-satisfied businessman whose confident predictions, such as the Titanic being 'unsinkable', create dramatic irony. Sybil Birling refuses to admit fault and unknowingly condemns her own son.
- Sheila and Eric The younger generation accept responsibility and change. Sheila sees through the Inspector and her parents; Eric, a heavy drinker, admits his treatment of Eva and confronts his father.
- Gerald Croft Gerald admits his affair with Daisy Renton but later tries to prove the Inspector was not real, siding with the older Birlings.
- Dramatic methods Lighting changes from 'pink and intimate' to 'brighter and harder', entrances and exits, cliffhanger act endings and the final phone call all build tension. The play uses a single set and continuous time.
Common mistakes in An Inspector Calls
- Summarising Eric's or Sheila's role instead of analysing how they change. Track their language and actions across the three acts.
- Spending time on the opening scene when it does not answer the question. Select evidence that fits.
- Writing about 1912 or 1945 context in this section. Examiners say this material is not credited here.
- Treating stage directions as unimportant. Analyse them as evidence of Priestley's methods.
Try three An Inspector Calls practice questions
1. How does the character of Eric Birling change in An Inspector Calls? (30 marks)
Show what a strong answer includes
A strong answer would analyse Eric's awkwardness and drinking in Act 1; his confession in Act 3; his anger at his mother and father; his refusal to forget at the end; analyse dialogue and stage directions to show change.
2. 'Things are not always what they appear to be in the Birling household.' Explore this view of the play. (30 marks)
Show what a strong answer includes
A strong answer would analyse the opening celebration and lighting; hidden secrets revealed by each character; Gerald's affair; Eric's drinking; the twist ending; reach a judgement on how Priestley exposes appearances.
3. How does Priestley use the Inspector to create tension? (30 marks)
Show what a strong answer includes
A strong answer would analyse the Inspector's entrance; his control of the 'one line of enquiry'; his interruptions and silences; the cliffhanger act endings; his final speech and exit; the phone call.
An Inspector Calls FAQs
What does Edexcel International GCSE English Literature An Inspector Calls cover?
It covers Priestley's play as a Modern Drama text: the Birlings, Gerald, the Inspector and Eva Smith, themes of responsibility, class, gender and age, and Priestley's dramatic methods.
Which paper is An Inspector Calls examined in?
Paper 2, Section A (Modern Drama). You answer one essay question from a choice of two, worth 30 marks and assessed on AO1 and AO2.
Which quotations should I learn for An Inspector Calls?
Learn short lines such as 'unsinkable', 'members of one body', 'fire and blood and anguish', and Sheila's 'these girls aren't cheap labour', plus key stage directions.
