What is the most effective way to tackle a 30 mark question within the time limit?

The 30 mark question is the most detailed you will have to answer in your exam paper. Here, you must make significant reference to the chapters you have studied throughout the Iliad and show a thorough knowledge of the text.I will use an example question to help with clarity. ‘Of the mortal women, Helen is the only one who effectively influences the events and outcome of the Iliad.’ To what extent do you agree? Give reasons for your answer and refer to the books of the Iliad you have read.Begin by closely reading the question. It is a quote that you are asked to evaluate and provide an opinion upon. The word 'extent' should tell you that within your conclusion, you should make clear to what degree you agree or disagree with this quote - this is the purpose of the question.For this particular question, I would suggest to begin with a small introduction on the role of mortal women in the Iliad. Briefly touch upon their influence the narrative. They are mothers, wives and slaves - how do these roles effect their impact upon the text?You will want to split the rest of your answer into reasonable paragraphs, tackling the question bit by bit. Since this question focuses on Helen, I would focus a whole paragraph around her, and her influence. For example in Book 3, she tells Paris to go and fight, she is ashamed of her cowardly husband. Continue by finding several other examples of her actions within the text, providing evidence that she has had influence over the narrative. Always reference the book number to show your knowledge of the text.You will need roughly three more paragraphs which provide examples of women effecting the narrative. The easiest way to do this is to dedicate a paragraph to each woman you choose to talk about. The 30 mark question is all about having a clear argument and providing as much evidence as possible to back this up. You may choose to find evidence that the actions of the other women are far less influential than Helen's. Or you may decide they are just as important, if not more so. It is essential to address all of the prominent characters that are related to the question. It is also important to make references and comments about the contextual surroundings of the Iliad, and show a knowledge of the time Homer was writing about, this will gain you high marks. However, at GSCE the most crucial thing is to show a broad and detailed knowledge of your text.Finally, complete your essay with a conclusion. Provide a swift summary of the the evidence you have gathered and clearly round off your argument. In the example provided, you must confirm to what extent you agree with the quote and make it clear to the examiner what your educated opinion is.