The following were some of the essay options in yesterday's exam.

Write a composition on any one of the following.

1. "Let's stop all this pretence! Let's tell each other the unvarnished truth for a change!"

Write a personal essay in response to the above statement.

2. "Maintaining this sprinter's pace at marathon length was painful . . ."

Write an article for a magazine for young adult readers in which you give them advice about how to cope with the pressures of modern living.

3. "It was mad ridiculous."

Write a short story suggested by the above title.

4. "Someday I hope to come up with a get-rich idea "

Write a magazine article (serious or light-hearted) in which you outline a get-rich idea of your own.

5. "What seems to be the problem ?"

Write the speech you would deliver to a group of world leaders in which you persuade them to deal with one or more of the world's problems.

6. "Imagine it's St Valentine's Day "

Write an article for a popular magazine on the importance of romance in our lives.

In the poetry section of paper 2, students were asked to write an essay to poet Michael Longley about his work.

Paper 1 had a slight World Cup theme as students were asked to write about pretence. An accompanying picture for one question featured Jurgen Klinsmann, the former German soccer captain who had a well-known penchant for diving.

Students were also asked to write a letter to the Advertising Standards Authority about the content of advertising which targeted teenagers.

They were also asked to explore the importance of pretence in relationships and the (sometimes) positive role of lying in saving the feelings of other people.

The exam also featured the action hero Zorro, another master of pretence.

A woman who had painted her face blue and who wore a surly expression was also depicted. Students were asked to write a story prompted by her photo.