Past Papers: A Level Latin

Past Papers: A Level Latin

Unseen Translation (H443/01)

H443/01 consists of a prose passage (Livy) for translation and a verse passage (Ovid) for translation, and a short scansion task.

YearProse PassageVerse Passage
2020Papirius Cursor is a strict but fair general
(Livy 9.16)		Hercules and Cacus
(Ovid Fasti 1.555-578)
2019Maharbal advises Hannibal
(Livy 22.50–51)		Perseus turns Phineus to stone
(Ovid Met. V.210–233)
2018Success for Maximus, failure for Geminus
(Livy 22.30–31)		Cyparissus is turned into a cypress
(Ovid Met. X.120–142)
SpecimenThe citizens of Abydos reject Philippus
(Livy XXXI.17–18)		Niobe is punished by the gods
(Ovid Met. VI 277ff.)

Prose composition or comprehension (H443/02)

H443/02 consists of a passage of English for translation into Latin, or a passage of Latin prose with comprehension questions.

YearComprehensionProse Composition
2020Advice to lawyers
(Quintilian, Inst. Oratoria VI.1.39–43)		Servius' flaming head is an omen
2019Praise for Trajan
(Pliny, Panegyricus 11–12)		Tiberius abuses a fisherman
2018Nero faces a revolt
(Suetonius, Nero 47)		Alexander trusts a doctor
SpecimenPliny visits the tomb of Rufus
(Pliny, Letters VI.10)		Tyrtaeus inspires the Spartans

Legacy Papers

Verse (F363)

F363 consisted of a passage of verse with comprehension questions, along with the verse literature set text. The former can be used as translation practice for the verse unseen in the current H443/01.

YearPassage
2017Medea cuts out her brother (Ovid, Tristia 3.9.13–32)
2016Priapus tries to seduce Vesta (Ovid, Fasti 6.321-344)
2015Jupiter batters the human race (Ovid Met. 1.253-273)
2014The daughters of Minyas go batty (Ovid Met. 4)
2013The destruction of Pentheus (Ovid Met. 3.708-731)
2012The Etruscans massacre the Fabii (Ovid, Fasti 2.207-236)
2011Arion and the dolphin (Ovid, Fasti 2.83-116)
2010The Judgement of Paris (Ovid, Heroides XVI.59-86)

Prose (F364)

F364 consisted of a passage of prose with comprehension questions, a passage of English for prose composition, along with the prose literature set text. The first two can be used as practice for the prose unseen in H443/01 and the English to Latin passage in H443/02.

YearComprehensionComposition
2017Popilius saves Egypt from Antiochus
(Livy 45.11–12)		Augustus takes defeat badly
2016Carthage beseiges Casilinum
(Livy XXIII.19)		Perseus kills Acrisius
2015Roman war crimes at Locris
(Livy XXIX 7-8)		Drusus dies victorious
2014Scipio in Spain
(Livy XXVIII 3)		Tyrtaeus inspires the Spartans
2013Carthage captures Tarentum
(Livy XXV 10)		The death of Cicero
2012Caesar contends with flooding
(Caesar, Civil War I 48-50)		Spartacus rebels
2011Caesar vs the Massilians
(Caesar, Civil War II 14)		Theodosius vs the barbarians
2010Sabinus fakes it in Gaul
(Caesar, Gallic War III 17-18)		Caesar vs the Helvetii