Unseen text questions are one of the most decisive sections in HSC English – and, in my experience, one of the most misunderstood! Many students assume that success depends on intuition or simply being a “good writer”. However, in reality, full mark responses are built through a clear, deliberate method – one that can be practised, refined and replicated in the exam room.
We’ll go through 3 distinct examples from the 2025 HSC Advanced English Paper so you can grasp a greater understanding on how to approach unseen texts!
KIS Summary:
- Discover a clear, step-by-step method for HSC English unseen text questions.
- Learn how to approach unseen texts using 3 real examples from the 2025 HSC Advanced English Paper, with insights into how a top scoring student thinks.
Table Of Contents:
- The Recipe for Success
- 2025 HSC English Advanced Paper 1 | Band 6 Sample Responses
- Question 1. Explain how Jansson celebrates the process of creativity
- Question 2. How does Ferrante portray the ways that family relationships shape identity?
- Question 3. Evaluate Macfarlane’s representation of the connections between humans and the landscape
- Conclusion – Unlocking Full-Marks in Short Answers
The Recipe for Success
Step 1 – Read with Purpose!
Start by reading the text carefully but actively! The biggest mistake students make is “skim reading”. This will set you back as you are not absorbing the text’s purpose or meaning, rather you are simply interpreting words on a page! To avoid this, ask yourself:
- Who is speaking, and who are they speaking to?
- What is the main idea or message?
- What is the tone of the text - serious, sarcastic, persuasive or reflective?
- What is the purpose of the text - to inform, entertain, argue, or persuade?
Step 2 – Spot the techniques!
Once you’ve read the text carefully, and after reading time has finished, highlight key phrases that have stood out to you, focusing on the language, form, and structure of the text! Markers aren’t looking for every technique in the text; they’re looking for evidence that you can analyse meaning and effect!
Step 3 – Structure your response (The HSC Way!)
As previously mentioned in a KIS blog, there is a simple yet effective way to structure your unseen text questions!
Topic sentence (mini-thesis): Summarise your answer in one sentence using the question’s key words - don’t repeat the question!
Evidence: Include examples or quotes. A simple rule is: number of evidence = marks – 1. Not exact, but a good guideline!
Explanation: Explain how the evidence works and links to the question. Focus on effect and meaning, not just naming the technique.
Concluding sentence: Finish strong. Show the marker you answered the question fully. If you went slightly off-track, this is your chance to bring it back.
2025 HSC English Advanced Paper 1 | Band 6 Sample Responses
Question 1. Explain how Jansson celebrates the process of creativity
Text 1 - Memoir extract (3 marks)
Before I dive into the text, I like to underline the key words in the question to guide my reading. Here, “celebrates” and “creativity” immediately tell me to look for moments where Jansson shows joy, experimentation, or the process of making.
Question 2. How does Ferrante portray the ways that family relationships shape identity?
Text 2 - Prose Fiction Extract (4 marks)
As I read the extract, I think about HOW Ferrante presents these relationships and WHY they matter to the narrator’s sense of self. Notice how Ferrante contrasts the narrator’s experiences with her parents and with her extended family, particularly through language, setting, and naming? Also, the shift in tone and behaviour when she is with her relatives suggests that identity is not fixed, but shaped by environment, affection, and belonging.
Question 3. Evaluate Macfarlane’s representation of the connections between humans and the landscape
Text 5 – Nonfiction Extract (5 marks)
The key theme to focus on here is the relationship between humans and the landscape. As you read the extract, you are looking to answer the following questions:
- How does Macfarlane show humans interacting with or being shaped by the landscape?
- What stylistic features does he use to convey these connections?
For example, we can interpret this in a few different ways:
- The landscape is a living, active presence, guiding and shaping human experience.
- Human engagement with the environment preserves memory, culture, and identity over time.
- The movement through surface and subterranean spaces suggests that humans are participants in something larger, humble before the vastness of nature.
Notice there are multiple ways to interpret the extract! Just like there is no “one-size fits all” way to studying for the HSC, there is also no single “right” answer. Your job is to find the meaning you see and explain it with textual evidence in a formal, third-person style.
A good way to approach unseen texts like this is to try identifying multiple interpretations first, then pick the one you can explain most convincingly with evidence - just like the dot points above!
So what makes this such a strong response? The example here has clearly evaluated how Macfarlane represents the human-landscape connection, making specific and insightful connections between humans and the environment, and presents a confident, well-reasoned judgement using precise and analytical language.
Conclusion – Unlocking Full-Marks in Short Answers
Achieving top marks in HSC English short answers isn’t about luck or instinct - it’s about having a dependable approach you can execute under exam conditions. Begin with a focused topic sentence, support it with carefully chosen evidence, and analyse meaning using active “doing verbs,” while considering multiple interpretations of the text to show depth and insight.
Markers value reasoning that explains how techniques generate meaning, not just a list of devices! Regular practice across diverse unseen texts, emphasising thoughtful analysis over volume, builds the skills and confidence to respond clearly and effectively. Additionally, a helpful strategy is to annotate as soon as reading time ends, highlighting key words, phrases, and techniques, so your argument is rooted in the text from the very start and your analysis remains precise!
After more HSC English resources? Check these out! 👇
Manoj Arachige
Manoj Arachige
Manoj Arachige
FAQs
Do I need to know every literary technique to get full marks in HSC English?
Not at all! Markers are MUCH more interested in how you explain the effect of techniques rather than naming every one. Focus on a few key devices per question, and use active “doing verbs” to show what the technique achieves in shaping meaning or influencing the reader. Depth of analysis always outweighs quantity of quotes!
How should I approach unfamiliar words or phrases in unseen texts?
Don’t get stuck! Use context to infer meaning and keep reading. Examiners are assessing your understanding of the text as a whole, not your dictionary knowledge. Highlighting words in context can help you link them to the author’s ideas and arguments without losing your train of thought.
For HSC English Paper 1 should i plan my answer or start writing immediately?
Always plan first, even briefly. Identify the question’s key terms, annotate the text for techniques and evidence, and consider multiple interpretations. A short plan ensures your topic sentence is focused, your evidence is relevant, and your analysis is coherent, which is essential for high-scoring responses under exam time pressure.
How do I manage my time with so many questions?
Regularly check the clock and plan out the time you spend on responses by looking at the mark value! You should be spending an average of 2 minutes per mark (e.g. One 4-mark response should take you 8 minutes to write).
You should also be mentally noting the most effective quotes to address questions during your reading time. Trust me, this will save you so much thinking time!
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