Struggling to find good Year 12 HSC Common Module essay questions?
This article will provide a range of general and text-specific essay prompts to help you prepare effectively for your English exam.
As someone who received a Band 6 in English Advanced, I found it really useful to familiarise yourself with a lot of different question types so you feel confident and prepared going into the exam. Scroll to get started! 💪
How should I practice for Paper 1 using these questions?
20 General Essay Questions
28 Text-Specific HSC Common Module Questions
How should I practice for Paper 1 using these questions?
Finding the actual questions is one thing, but how do you actually study with them? Here are 3 methods that I used when studying:
1️⃣ Write an essay under timed conditions to help with time management and writing speed. Don’t get disheartened if you don’t finish in time, practicing at home doesn’t reflect the pressure and stakes of exam conditions, but it can give you an idea of how much you can write in 45 minutes. I personally never completed a practice essay before the time limit, but always finished with time to spare in my exams.
2️⃣ Create Common Module essay plans by brainstorming a thesis, structuring topic sentences and selecting key quotes. This approach helps you prepare for a wide range of questions, so you won’t be caught off guard in the exam.
3️⃣ If you prefer adapting a prewritten essay to fit the question on the day, practice rewording your analysis for different prompts. This helps you maintain a cohesive argument while staying focused on directly answering the question.
Here’s an easy acronym to remember for planning out how to respond to your question:
20 General HSC Common Module Essay Questions
Question 1
Through the telling and receiving of stories, we become more aware of ourselves and our shared human experiences.
Explore this statement with close reference to your prescribed text.
Question 2
Storytelling invites us to see the world differently through challenging our assumptions.
Discuss this statement in relation to your prescribed text.
Question 3
In what ways does [YOUR TEXT] offer new insights into the anomalies in human behaviour and motivations?
Explore this statement with close reference to your prescribed text.
Question 4
Through the representation of individual and collective human experiences, we are able to gain a greater understanding of the complexity of human qualities and emotions.
Explore this statement with close reference to your prescribed text.
Question 5
It is a story’s ability to ignite new ideas about human behaviour that allows us as readers to see the world differently.
In your response, discuss this statement with detailed reference to [YOUR TEXT].
Question 6
Stories show us the complex nature of being human.
Discuss this statement in relation to your prescribed text.
Question 7
The telling of stories invites us to view our experiences and the experiences of others in a new light.
Explore this statement with close reference to your prescribed text.
Question 8
Storytelling gives us insight into the paradoxes inherent in human behaviour and motivations.
Discuss this statement in relation to your prescribed text.
Question 9
The representation of human experiences makes us more aware of the intricate nature of humanity.
In your response, discuss this statement with detailed reference to [YOUR TEXT].
Question 10
Our understanding of the paradoxical nature of human and behaviour motivation is deepened through a text’s representation of individual and collective experiences.
Explore this statement with close reference to your prescribed text.
Question 11
Storytelling ignites new ideas about the multifaceted nature of human behaviour.
Discuss this statement in relation to your prescribed text.
Question 12
Through the telling and receiving of stories, we are made more aware of aspects in our own lives and cultures.
Explore this statement with close reference to your prescribed text.
Question 13
The function of stories is to reflect and express our humanity.
To what extent do you agree with this view? Discuss with close reference to your prescribed text.
Question 14
Stories make us more aware of not only the experiences of those around us, but also of our own individual experiences.
In your response, discuss this statement with detailed reference to [YOUR TEXT].
Question 15
How does [YOUR TEXT] represent the complex human emotions which arise from individual and collective experiences?
Explore this statement with close reference to your prescribed text.
Question 16
Our lives and cultures are expressed through the telling and receiving of stories.
Discuss this statement in relation to your prescribed text.
Question 17
How does [YOUR TEXT] invite us to see the world differently and challenge our assumptions?
Explore this statement with close reference to your prescribed text.
Question 18
The telling and receiving of stories can help us understand “What does it mean to be human?”
To what extent do you agree with this view? Discuss with close reference to your prescribed text.
Question 19
Stories make us more aware of the intricacies underlying human motivations and behaviour.
Discuss this statement in relation to your prescribed text.
Question 20
How does [YOUR TEXT] represent individual and collective human experiences?
28 Text-Specific HSC Common Module Essay Questions
Prose Fiction
Doerr, Anthony, All the Light We Cannot See
‘One’s identity is ultimately shaped by their experiences and interaction with the wider world.’ To what extent does All the Light We Cannot See explore this statement.
“Conflict allows us to grow.” To what extent is this true of your study of All the Light We Cannot See?
Lohrey, Amanda, Vertigo
‘The representation of fear as part of the human experience is both powerful and compelling.’ In what ways does the quote above contribute to a lasting impression of the complex nature of human experiences?
To what extent does the exploration of human experience in Vertigo invite you to reconsider your understanding of resilience.
Orwell, George, Nineteen Eighty-Four
‘To overcome adversity is the singular purpose of resistance.’ To what extent does this statement align with your understanding of Orwell’s exploration of human experience in Nineteen Eighty-Four?
Write an essay supporting the view that in Nineteen Eighty-Four, beauty is as important as ugliness in achieving Orwell’s purpose.
Parrett, Favel, Past the Shallows
‘It is through storytelling that our ideas about the individual and collective human experience are challenged.’ Evaluate this statement with reference to Past the Shallows.
‘Only you can take responsibility for your happiness…but you can’t do it alone. It’s the great paradox of being human.’ Discuss how happiness is achieved by two characters in Past the Shallows and explain the paradox involved in achieving this.
Poetry and Dramas
Dobson, Rosemary, Rosemary Dobson Collected, ‘Young Girl at a Window’, ‘Over the Hill’, ‘Summer’s End’, ‘The Conversation’, ‘Cock Crow,‘Amy Caroline’, ‘Canberra Morning’
‘It is through her poetic representation of individuals that Rosemary Dobson provides her most profound insights into our shared human experiences.’ Explore this statement with close reference to the poetry of Rosemary Dobson.
“Life gets better as I grow older not giving a damn and looking slantwise at everyone’s morning.” In what ways does the quote above contribute to a lasting impression of the complex nature of human experiences represented in Dobson’s poetry?
Slessor, Kenneth, Selected Poems ‘Wild Grapes’, ‘Gulliver’, ‘Out of Time’, ‘Vesper-Song of the Reverend Samuel Marsden’, ‘William Street’, ‘Beach Burial’
‘Slessor’s distinctive poetic vision invites us to challenge presumptions and engage in a process of introspection.’ Explore this statement with close reference to your prescribed text.
“The gulls go down, the body dies and rots, And Time flows past them like a hundred yachts.” In what ways does the quote above contribute to a lasting impression of the complex nature of human experiences represented in Kenneth Slessor’s poetry?
Harrison, Jane, Rainbow’s End
To what extent does the exploration of human experience in Rainbow’s End invite you to reconsider your understanding of acceptance?
To what extent does Rainbow’s End ignite new ideas about human experience through its representation of empathy?
Miller, Arthur, The Crucible
‘It is the complexity of John Proctor’s characterisation that makes this play a compelling representation of human conflict for the audience.’ Explore this statement in relation to your response to the play.
How has your understanding of the complex nature of human behaviour been shaped by Arthur Miller’s representation of conflict in The Crucible?
Shakespeare, William, The Merchant of Venice
In The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare engages the audience through his representation of conflict between individuals and between collective human experiences. Analyse this statement with close reference to the play as a whole.
“A truly meaningful text does more than show us human qualities, it requires us to consider the complexity of human experiences and challenges our assumptions about the world we live in.” To what extent does this statement reflect your understanding of The Merchant of Venice?
Non-fiction, Film and Media
Winton, Tim, The Boy Behind the Curtain ‘Havoc: A Life in Accidents’, ‘Betsy’, ‘Twice on Sundays’, ‘The Wait and the Flow’, ‘In the Shadow of the Hospital’, ‘The Demon Shark’, ‘Barefoot in the Temple of Art’
To what extent does the exploration of human experience in The Boy Behind the Curtain invite you to reconsider your understanding of independence?
To what extent does The Boy Behind the Curtain ignite new ideas about human experience through its representation of confusion?
Yousafzai, Malala & Lamb, Christina, I am Malala,
To what extent does the exploration of human experience in I am Malala invite you to reconsider your understanding of strength?
To what extent does I am Malala ignite new ideas about human experience through its representation of resilience?
Daldry, Stephen, Billy Elliot
Explore how historical context in Billy Elliot has been used to shape your perception of the challenges of the human experience.
How does Billy Elliot demonstrate that human experiences can be enriched through anomalies?
O’Mahoney, Ivan, Go Back to Where You Came From – Series 1, Episodes 1, 2 and 3 and The Response, Madman, 2011
“We cannot truly judge other people’s experience until we walk in their shoes.” Analyse this statement with close reference to Go Back to Where You Came From.
To what extent does the exploration of human experience in Go Back to Where You Came From invite you to reconsider your understanding of fear?
Walker, Lucy, Waste Land
To what extent does the exploration of human experience in Waste Land invite you to reconsider your understanding of power?
To what extent does Waste Land ignite new ideas about human experience through its representation of agency?
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Christina Ugov is currently completing a double degree in International and Global Studies and Theatre and Performance at the University of Sydney. Outside of her studies, she enjoys exploring creative writing projects, analysing literature and playing with her cat. She spends her spare time reading, listening to music and drinking lots of tea.
