2.2 Visual Text 91099
On this page you will find examples of past exam questions.
Click HERE for a list of different film techniques to write about.
Click HERE for a list of different film techniques to write about.
Past exam questions
Exam questions from previous years.
Instructions
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
Write an essay on at least ONE visual or oral text that you have studied. The text(s) can be any of the following:
If you choose to write about more than one text, the texts may be:
Choose ONE of questions 1– 8. Make sure your chosen question suits the text(s).
Write an essay on at least ONE visual or oral text that you have studied. The text(s) can be any of the following:
- Film
- Television programme
- Radio programme
- Drama production
- Graphic novel
- Oral performance.
If you choose to write about more than one text, the texts may be:
- The same type (eg two drama productions)
- A combination of different types (“intertextual studies” – eg a film and a radio programme).
Choose ONE of questions 1– 8. Make sure your chosen question suits the text(s).
Sample paper
- Analyse how verbal AND visual features of a text (or texts) you have studied are used to give audiences a strong idea.
- Analyse how important techniques are used to engage your emotions in a text (or texts) you have studied.
- Analyse how atmosphere is established and maintained in a text (or texts) you have studied.
- Analyse how the beginning AND ending of a text show an important change in a character or individual in a text (or texts) you have studied.
- Analyse how a character or individual is influenced to make decisions in a text (or texts) you have studied.
- Analyse how the growth of a relationship affects the climax in a text (or texts) you have studied.
- Analyse how symbols are used to develop an idea in a text (or texts) you have studied.
- Analyse how successful a text (or texts) you have studied has been in influencing you to think differently about an issue.
2012 NCEA exam
Visual and oral language features that could be used in an answer to any question include:
- Analyse how tension was created for a particular purpose in the visual or oral text(s).
- Analyse how the text’s creator has portrayed a particular world view in the visual or oral text(s).
- Analyse how the structure of the visual or oral text(s) affected the audience’s understanding of a theme.
- Analyse how the qualities of a hero were purposefully developed in the visual or oral text(s).
- Analyse how a relationship either flourished or ended in the visual or oral text(s).
- Analyse how a character was used to develop a message in the visual or oral text(s).
- Analyse how symbolism was used to represent a theme in the visual or oral text(s).
- Analyse how the settings of the visual or oral text(s) supported the action.
Note: Settings may include physical settings as well as social and historical contexts, and may be real or imaginary (as in fantasy or science fiction texts).
Visual and oral language features that could be used in an answer to any question include:
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2013 NCEA exam
- Analyse how symbolism was used to highlight the purpose of the visual or oral text(s).
- Analyse how a sense of triumph or achievement was developed in the visual or oral text(s).
- Analyse how visual or sound effects were used to emphasise a theme in the visual or oral text(s).
- Analyse how the setting of time and / or place presented the values of a culture in the visual or oral text(s).
- Analyse how the nature of a character or individual was revealed by their response to events in the visual or oral text(s).
- Analyse how the interaction of characters or individuals created a sense of hope in the visual or oral text(s).
- Analyse how tension was developed to show opposing viewpoints in the visual or oral text(s).
- Analyse how a main character’s attitudes and view of the world were presented in the visual or oral text(s).
Visual and oral language features that could be used in an answer to any question include:
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2014 NCEA exam
- Analyse how setting was used to develop your understanding of one or more characters in the visual or oral text(s). Note: “Setting” may refer to physical places as well as social and historical contexts.
- Analyse how one or more conflicts were used to show the director’s / creator’s purpose in the visual or oral text(s).
- Analyse how the beginning established the importance of one or more messages developed in the visual or oral text(s).
- Analyse how the structure helped to create an unexpected conclusion in the visual or oral text(s).
- Analyse how the qualities of a character or characters were used to illustrate one or more key messages in the visual or oral text(s).
- Analyse how the use of language features shaped your response to one or more themes in the visual or oral text(s). Note: “Language features” include those listed below.
- Analyse how the interaction between a hero and a villain reinforced or challenged your ideas about justice in the visual or oral text(s).
- Analyse how symbolism was used to develop one or more ideas in the visual or oral text(s). Note: “Ideas” may refer to character, theme, or setting.
Visual and oral language features that could be used in an answer to any question include:
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2015 NCEA exam
- Analyse how motifs were used to develop one or more ideas in the visual or oral text(s).
Note: “Ideas” may refer to character, theme, or setting. - Analyse how a sense of hope or despair was developed for a particular purpose in the visual or oral text(s).
- Analyse how past or future settings in the visual or oral text(s) developed your understanding of today’s world.
Note: “Setting” may refer to physical places as well as social and historical contexts. - Analyse how the ending was used to reinforce one or more ideas in the visual or oral text(s).
Note: “Ideas” may refer to character, theme, or setting. - Analyse how language features were used to reveal the true nature of one or more characters in the visual or oral text(s).
- Analyse how structure was used to show the director’s / creator’s purpose in the visual or oral text(s).
Note: “Structure” may refer to the order, organization, or conventions of a text. - Analyse how a character or narrator’s fate was used to reinforce one or more themes in the visual or oral text(s).
- Analyse how relationships were used to deepen your understanding of one or more characters in the visual or oral text(s).
Visual and oral language features that could be used in an answer to any question include:
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2016 NCEA exam
- Analyse how language features were used to make you feel joy or sorrow.
- Analyse how tension was created to highlight one or more themes.
- Analyse how symbolism was used to add meaning to one or more settings.
Note: “Setting” may refer to physical places as well as social and historical contexts. - Analyse how the beginning and ending of the text were linked for a particular purpose.
- Analyse how language features were used to show the negative and / or positive sides of one or more characters.
- Analyse how language features were used to reinforce or challenge genre conventions.
- Analyse how language features were used to develop the idea of succeeding against the odds.
- Analyse how the relationship between characters helped to illustrate one or more important themes.
2017 NCEA exam
- Analyse how language features were used to foreshadow important events.
- Analyse how colour was used to highlight a particular idea.
Note: “Idea” may refer to character, theme, or setting. - Analyse how the audience was encouraged to love or hate a particular character.
- Analyse how one or more stereotypes were used to reinforce or challenge an idea.
Note: “Idea” may refer to character, theme, or setting. - Analyse how language features were used to create an interesting or unusual setting.
Note: “Setting” may refer to physical places as well as social and historical contexts. - Analyse how the ending shocked or surprised you.
- Analyse how sound was used to manipulate the audience.
Note: “Sound” may refer to music, dialogue, sound effects and use of silence.
Mock exam papers from various schools
2016
- Analyse how one or more relationships between characters or individuals were used to develop the writer's purpose in the visual or oral text(s).
- Analyse how language features were used to appeal to your imagination in the visual or oral text(s)
- Analyse how one or more significant events were used to illustrate a change in one or more characters in the visual or oral text(s)
- Analyse how the ending was used to settle one or more conflicts in the visual or oral text(s)
- Analyse how the structure was used to support one or more important ideas from the beginning to the end of the visual or oral text(s)
- Analyse how setting(s) helped you understand one or more characters in the visual or oral text(s)
Note: "Setting" may refer to physical places as well as social and historical contexts - Analyse how one or more themes in the visual or oral text(s) can be applied to wider society
- Analyse how symbolism was used to support one or more ideas in the visual or oral text(s)
Note: "Ideas" may refer to character, theme or setting