The plays set for study for 2009 are The Tempest and Romeo and Juliet.

2009 key stage 3 English test: Shakespeare set sections

The complete text of set sections selected for study in 2009 is being made available to schools this year and can be downloaded from this page. These give all teachers and pupils access to the edition of the text that will appear in the test papers. The extracts must be studied alongside the edition of the play chosen by the school.

The set sections may be photocopied by the class teacher for use in the classroom.

There are two sections specified for each play. Schools should note that pupils are required to study both of the set sections.

Please note that the Shakespeare paper set sections for Romeo and Juliet factsheet has been corrected as follows:

• Line 39 of Act 2 Scene 2 - 'Thou art myself' has been corrected to 'Thou art thyself'.
  

The Shakespeare paper

The model of the Shakespeare paper remains unchanged. Each paper (one for each of the two plays) will:

• contain a task based on two extracts, each drawn from one of the set sections
• will be based on one of the following four areas of assessment:

• text in performance
• character and motivation
• language of the text
• ideas, themes and issues.

The two papers may each cover a different area of assessment. This ensures that all areas are covered across the different plays over time and that the areas of assessment selected are best suited to the set sections.

Useful resources

Existing support material is relevant to the study and assessment of all plays and can be found on the QCA website and in booster kits produced by the DCSF. Past test papers are also helpful and can be ordered via the QCA orderline at www.qca.org.uk/orderline/.

Useful links that may provide resources are available from the QCA website. You could also contact broadcasters, regional theatres, subject associations and educational publishers.