OxfordAQA International GCSE English Literature
OxfordAQA International GCSE English Literature An Inspector Calls Exam Questions
Free OxfordAQA International GCSE English Literature practice questions for An Inspector Calls. Covers Priestley's play, the Birlings, inspector goole and Eva Smith, social responsibility, class, gender, age and Priestley's message.
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 OxfordAQA International GCSE English Literature An Inspector Calls
An Inspector Calls is a drama set text in Paper 1 (Prose and Drama), Section B, of the OxfordAQA International GCSE in English Literature. J.B. Priestley's play, first performed in 1945 but set in 1912, shows a mysterious inspector exposing how a wealthy family each played a part in a young working-class woman's death. The paper is closed book, and you choose an essay or passage-based question worth 30 marks. Answers are judged on AO1, AO2 and AO3, so context sits inside AO1 alongside themes and ideas. Because AO1 includes context, link characters to the 1912 setting and to Priestley's post-war hopes for a fairer society.
Key themes, characters and context
- Priestley's message Through the Inspector, Priestley argues for collective responsibility: 'We are members of one body.' The play warns that ignoring this leads to 'fire and blood and anguish'.
- The older generation Arthur Birling preaches that a man must look after himself and his family; his confident predictions about war and the Titanic are proved wrong. Sybil Birling refuses to accept responsibility.
- The younger generation Sheila and Eric are changed by the Inspector and challenge their parents. Gerald, though younger, sides with the elder Birlings at the end.
- Eva Smith Eva never appears but is central. Sacked by Birling, dismissed from Milwards because of Sheila, kept by Gerald, used by Eric and refused help by Mrs Birling, she stands for the exploited working class.
- Context within AO1 1912: rigid class divisions, limited rights for women and workers, no welfare state. 1945: the end of the Second World War and a desire for social change that led towards the welfare state.
- Dramatic methods Dramatic irony, the Inspector's control of time, lighting changes, cliffhanger act endings and the final phone call.
Common mistakes in An Inspector Calls
- Treating context as a separate section. AO1 includes context, but it must be tied to a character or idea in the play.
- Choosing the passage-based question and ignoring the rest of the play. Check the wording and refer beyond the passage if the question asks you to.
- Writing that Eva appears on stage. She never does; the audience only hears about her.
- Retelling events act by act. Organise your answer around the question's focus.
Try three An Inspector Calls practice questions
1. How does Priestley present ideas about responsibility in An Inspector Calls? (30 marks)
Show what a strong answer includes
A strong answer would contrast Birling's speech on self-interest with the Inspector's final speech; show how each character responds to blame; analyse the younger generation's change; link to 1912 class divisions and Priestley's 1945 audience; give a clear personal response.
2. How does Priestley present Mrs Birling as an unpleasant character? Write about what she says and does, and how Priestley presents her. (30 marks)
Show what a strong answer includes
A strong answer would analyse her snobbery and coldness; her refusal of help to Eva at the charity committee; her blaming of the father; the dramatic irony when Eric is revealed; her refusal to change; link to class and charity in 1912.
3. Read the passage from the end of Act 3. How does Priestley make this a dramatic ending to the play? (30 marks)
Show what a strong answer includes
A strong answer would analyse the family's division after the Inspector leaves; Birling and Gerald's relief; Sheila and Eric's refusal to forget; the final phone call; link to Priestley's message about learning from the past.
An Inspector Calls FAQs
What does OxfordAQA International GCSE English Literature An Inspector Calls cover?
It covers Priestley's play as a drama set text: the Birlings, Gerald, the Inspector and Eva Smith, themes of responsibility, class, gender and age, and the 1912 and 1945 contexts.
Which paper is An Inspector Calls examined in?
It is in Paper 1 (Prose and Drama), Section B. The paper is closed book, and you choose either an essay question or a passage-based question on your text, worth 30 marks.
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', as the exam is closed book.
