How do I best manage my time when answering an exam question about an extract from a Shakespeare play?

Reading and interpreting Shakespeare in an exam setting can feel intimidating, so it is good practice to make sure that you understand exactly what the question wants you to focus on before you begin answering the question. Some people find it useful to read the question and highlight the key words before they read the extract, as this enables you to consciously look for relevant material for your answer, and this will save you time overall. Having read the extract, it is important to spend up to 5 minutes thinking about some more specific questions for yourself that will focus your ideas and help to structure your answer. For example, if the question is thematic (i.e. ‘How does Shakespeare explore the theme of ambition in this extract from Macbeth?’) Then your answer should consider the following:Which character/characters are in the extract, and how do they relate to the theme?How does the language used by the characters relate to the theme?How does the treatment of the theme in this extract differ from or align with its treatment in the rest of the play?Similarly, if the question is more about literary techniques (i.e. ‘How does Shakespeare create dramatic tension in this extract from Macbeth?’) then your questions should be more practical, such as:How does the language used speed up or slow down the tempo of the speech?Do the characters speak in prose or blank verse?How do the stage directions affect the performance of the scene?Taking this approach enables you to keep your answer relevant, and to break the question down into more manageable chunks.Although answering the question is your top priority, there are marks available for quality of expression, spelling, grammar, and punctuation, so where possible you should make sure you have time at the end to check over your answer for basic errors.