All of the 'exam tips' in the textbook

You may be given any image of a god given in the specification. It is important that you are able to recognise them in many different situations. For any non-prescribed sources, you will be told the medium the god has been drawn up on, for example an amphora, relief sculpture or statue.

Either spelling of Heracles/ Hercules will be accepted in the examination. However, students should try to use Heracles when referring to Greece and Hercules when referring to Rome.

You are expected to understand the context of the Parthenon and its location on the Acropolis. However, you do not need to know all the epithets of Athena.

You will not be shown a picture of the orignal Parthenon pediments as they are so fragmented, but you are expected to understand the stories told on them and why they were so important to the Athenians.

You are expected to understand the context of Zeus' temple and altar at Olympia and their locations in the Altis. However, you do not need to know about the other buildings. See figure 1.18 for a plan of Olympia.

You will not be expected to recognise architectural sculpture that is heavily fragmented but you will be expected to understand the stories told and why they were important to the Greeks.

You should use the English name of ancient authors. For this topic Livy and Plutarch are acceptable. No extra marks will be awarded for the Latin name. You will be expected to understand the advantages and disadvantages of using Livy as a source for the founding of Rome.

You will also need to comment on how successfully the scultor has depicted the battle. For this you must form your own opinion based on the rules outlined here.

You will not be asked questions on Augustus' early life. However, it is important that you understand how he came to be emperor.

Several of the Ara Pacis' panels are heavily fragmented leading to scholars hypothesising about what was represented. You will not be expected to identify the heavily fragmented scenes, although you should be able to explain why scholars have reached their conclusions.

You are not expected to know the plot between lines 105 and 300, although it is helpful to know why the people had to build Demeter a temple. 

If you talk about particular fresco, do not only talk in general terms about what you see in it. You will need to explore areas such as the use of colour, the atmosphere of the composition, the realism and the shapes. There is no singular correct interpretation, but you must be willing to give your opinions, positive or negative, on it.

You will not get questions of sections other than the book of the prescribed reading, but reading other parts of the Odyssey will aid your understanding of characters and issues. You will be credited for your wider knowledge in the extended responses if you refer to other parts of the Odyssey, although you can still score full marks in questions without referring to these extra parts.

If you comment on a simile,  do not simply write 'it helps us to visualise the scene better'. That is the function of similes in general and does not show understanding of a particular simile. If you comment on the exact parallels as in the quotations on p. 204 and p. 206, you will score more AO2 marks for your evaluation. 

If you are asked what makes a passage exciting or dramatic, try to avoid simply saying there is a detailed description in it. Such comments are too generalised and could apply to most sections of the text. They do not show what you have fully appreciated what Homer is doing. Try instead to focus on what makes something detailed, such as the use of colours in a passage, the appeal to a particular sense, or what the details suggest about the characters or objects. If you do this, you will gain more AO2 marks. An example of a dramatic passage, together with the analysis of why it is dramatic, is given above.

When analysing a character, you should always try to start off by considering how the ancient Greeks would have regarded their behaviour. In the case of his treatment of the Cicones, the Greeks might well have admired his strength as a warrior and leader. But often a different, but equally valid, interpretation can be given: on this occasion we might feel he acts brutally and without provocation. It is always best to present both sides of the argument, but if you do not feel there is an alternative viewpoint, don't try to invent one!

If you are asked why the gods are interesting characters, do not state how they help and hinder Odysseus. This will not score highly on AO1 as you will not be showing a full understanding of their roles. Their help towards Odysseus is only one aspect of the issue. Think also about:

• how they are like humans
• their superhuman powers and use of magic
• how they choose to interact with one another and Odysseus. Do they appear in their usual form or disguise? Do they choose to help Odysseus or not? If not, what does this show about them?