Every GCSE English Literature student is told to include context. Far fewer are taught what context is actually supposed to do in an essay — and that distinction matters enormously when it comes to performance and grades. AQA’s 2025 Paper 1 examiner report, notes that many students include historical detail that is accurate and recited correctly, yet “does not really develop the argument or explanation” (p. 7). This is one of the most common reasons students lose marks in AO3