An Examiner's Perspective: Deconstructing the May 2023 Paper 2
The May 2023 Social and Cultural Anthropology Standard Level Paper 2 presents a balanced yet rigorous assessment. Designed to test students' depth of conceptual understanding and their ability to apply ethnographic knowledge to real-world issues, the paper maintains a moderate difficulty index (3 out of 5 stars). The structure is highly predictable but demanding: Section A requires a deep synthesis of key concepts against pressing contemporary realities, while Section B tests comparative and deep analytical skills within chosen areas of inquiry.
Where the Marks Are Won
In Section A (Question 1), high-scoring candidates successfully establish a triangular relationship between:
- One core concept (culture, power, or social relations),
- One area of inquiry studied, and
- One real-world issue (such as inequality, technology, or violence).
For Section B, marks are heavily concentrated on the candidate's capacity for critical comparison and conceptual precision. Whether tackling "Classifying the world" or "The body", candidates must move beyond simple storytelling to engage in theoretical evaluation, demonstrating how anthropology helps us deconstruct everyday categories.
Common Examiner Pitfalls to Avoid
A primary pitfall highlighted in examiner reports is ethnographic drift—where students write long, narrative summaries of their chosen ethnographies without linking them back to the essay question or command terms. For instance, in questions asking candidates to "compare and contrast," weaker responses often write two separate descriptions of two societies, leaving the actual comparative analysis to a brief, rushed conclusion.
Another major error is the misapplication of key terms. Concepts like Bourdieu’s habitus, Turner’s liminality, or Anderson’s imagined communities have precise definitions; using them as simple synonyms for "habit," "transition," or "group" immediately caps the candidate's conceptual markband.
Strategic Preparation & Predictions
To excel in future sessions, students should curate "conceptual matrix cards" for each of their chosen areas of inquiry. Ensure you have at least two robust, contrasting ethnographies per area of inquiry, and map them explicitly to the core concepts of power, culture, and social relations.
Looking ahead, we predict a strong focus on sustainability and marginality in upcoming series, given the rising global attention on environmental anthropology and displacement. Mastering how to discuss these issues through the lens of local-global dynamics will give you a decisive edge.