For Year 12 VCE English students, the text response essay (Section A of the exam) is one of the most important pieces of writing you’ll produce all year. While many consider it the most straightforward essay type, it’s also the one most often undersold by a weak introduction. Your introduction is the first thing your examiner reads — it sets the tone, establishes your argument, and signals whether you truly understand the text. Get it right, and you’re already ahead.
What is the text response in VCE English in 2026?
Text Response is assessed as Section A (“Analytical interpretation of a text”) in the end-of-year exam for VCE English in 2026, worth 20 marks — one-third of the total examination score. Students are required to write an analytical interpretation of one of two texts studied from List 1 of the VCAA Text List. Two topics are provided for each text.
The VCAA has published a 2026 Text List with new texts including Regeneration by Pat Barker and Orbital by Samantha Harvey.
Why is the introduction so important?
A well-structured introduction is crucial in meeting the VCE English assessment criteria for clarity, organisation, and — critically — relevance to the topic. VCAA examiner reports consistently stress that answering the actual question is “of critical importance” and that students who fail to address the set topic or twist its meaning lose marks regardless of how well they write.
The 2024 VCAA examination report highlighted that top-scoring responses demonstrated the ability to interpret the nuances of the topic, construct a clear analytical argument, and communicate with precision. Your introduction is where all three of these qualities are established from the outset.
Your introduction should be concise and to the point, prioritising clear expression over complicated vocabulary. Examiners are not impressed by big words used imprecisely — they want to see that you understand the text and have a genuine response to the prompt.
How to structure your text response introduction
A strong text response introduction can be broken down into three key steps. Aim for three to four sentences total — no more.
Step 1: Set up the context (one sentence)
Your opening sentence should do several things at once: name the author, the text title, the text type (novel, play, short story collection, poetry collection, film), and provide a brief thematic anchor that connects to the prompt. If relevant, include historical or social context — but only if it directly supports your argument.
Key tip: Keep this to one sentence. Examiners want to see your insights, not a plot summary. The VCAA has repeatedly warned that retelling the story is one of the most common errors in text response.
Example: In Pat Barker’s 1991 novel Regeneration, set against the backdrop of World War I, the psychological toll of conflict is explored through the institutional treatment of soldiers deemed ‘unfit’ for duty.
Step 2: State your contention (one sentence)
Your contention is the single most important sentence in your essay. It is your argument — your direct, personal response to the prompt. Everything else in the essay exists to support it.
What makes a strong contention:
- Directly responds to the prompt. Use keywords from the topic. If the prompt says “justifies,” your contention should engage with that word. VCAA examiners look for evidence that you have carefully considered the “nuances of language in a topic” and its “implications.”
- Takes a clear stance. Avoid sitting on the fence. You can partially agree or disagree — in fact, a sophisticated response often does — but the examiner must know where you stand. Words like “however” and “whilst” can help introduce complexity without losing clarity.
- Demonstrates independent thinking. Unique, well-supported perspectives are what distinguish top marks from competent responses. Don’t just restate the prompt — add something.
- Engages with the author’s views and values. The 2024 exam report emphasised that strong responses consider “the ideas and/or values that the author presented.” Frame your contention around what the author is doing, not just what happens in the story.
Example: While Barker does not shy from depicting the horror of war, Regeneration ultimately suggests that it is the rigid structures of patriarchal authority — not combat itself — that inflict the deepest psychological wounds.
Step 3: Signpost your arguments (one to two sentences)
Your final sentences should outline the two to four mini-contentions that will form the basis of your body paragraphs. Each signpost should directly support your overall contention and give the examiner a roadmap for your essay.
What makes strong signposting:
- Each signpost previews a distinct argument (not a topic or character, but a claim)
- They are sequenced logically so the essay builds towards its most compelling point
- They use metalanguage where appropriate (e.g., “narrative voice,” “symbolism,” “characterisation”)
- They avoid repeating your topic sentences verbatim — save the detail for the body paragraphs
Example: Through the contrasting therapeutic approaches of Rivers and Yealland, and the evolving characterisation of Sassoon and Prior, Barker critiques the expectation that men suppress vulnerability, while also questioning whether institutional ‘healing’ serves the individual or the state.
Putting it all together: a sample introduction
Sample prompt: 'Regeneration suggests that true courage lies in vulnerability, not in combat.' Do you agree?
Sample introduction:
In Pat Barker's 1991 novel Regeneration, the psychological treatment of World War I soldiers exposes the tension between societal expectations of masculine stoicism and the human need for emotional expression. While combat is depicted as harrowing, Barker ultimately suggests that it is the willingness to confront one's inner trauma — rather than physical bravery on the battlefield — that constitutes genuine courage. Through Rivers's empathetic therapeutic approach, Sassoon's principled defiance, and Prior's struggle to reconcile vulnerability with masculinity, Barker critiques a society that equates silence with strength, arguing that true healing requires the courage to be seen.
Notice how this introduction is only three sentences, yet it: names the author, title, date and text type; states a clear contention that directly responds to the prompt using its keywords (“courage,” “vulnerability,” “combat”); signposts three distinct body paragraph arguments; and engages with the author’s views and values throughout.
What VCAA examiners actually look for
Based on VCAA examiner reports from 2023 and 2024, here are the key expectations for Section A:
| Examiners reward | Examiners penalise |
|---|---|
| Direct response to the prompt’s nuances and implications | Twisting the prompt to fit a pre-prepared essay |
| Clear analytical argument with a strong contention | Plot summary or retelling the story |
| Engagement with the author’s views and values | Focusing on what happens rather than what it means |
| Precise, accurate use of metalanguage | Complicated vocabulary used imprecisely |
| Strategic sequencing of ideas across the essay | Disconnected paragraphs that don’t build an argument |
| Analysis of textual strategies and construction elements, not just quotes | Listing quotes without analysis of their effect |
Common mistakes to avoid in your introduction
- Writing too much. Your introduction should be three to four sentences. More than that and you risk encroaching on your first body paragraph or wasting time in the exam.
- Summarising the plot. The examiner knows what happens. They want to know what you think about it and what the author is saying through it.
- Using a memorised essay. VCAA examiners look for evidence of genuine engagement with the specific prompt. A recycled introduction that doesn’t address the topic’s exact wording will be marked down, no matter how polished it sounds.
- Forgetting the author. Your essay should reference the author’s choices and intentions. Aim to mention the author by name at least once in your introduction and one to two times per body paragraph.
- Sitting on the fence. A vague contention like “the text explores many themes” tells the examiner nothing. Take a position.
- Saying “I agree” or “I disagree.” You’re writing a formal analytical essay, not a conversation. Express your stance through your argument, not through first-person statements.
How to practise writing introductions
One of the most effective exam preparation techniques is timed introduction practice. Set a timer for 5–10 minutes and write an introduction to a different prompt each session. This builds your ability to:
- Quickly identify the keywords and implications of a prompt
- Formulate a contention under pressure
- Signpost arguments efficiently
- Manage your time in the exam (Section A should take roughly 60 minutes total)
You can find past exam topics on the VCAA English examinations page. Practise with topics for your specific text, but also try prompts for texts you haven’t studied — this forces you to focus on the structure of the introduction rather than relying on memorised content.
Understanding different prompt types
Different prompt types require slightly different approaches in your contention. Here’s a quick guide:
| Prompt type | What it asks | Contention approach |
|---|---|---|
| ‘Discuss’ | Explore the statement. You define the boundaries. | Take a clear position but show awareness of complexity. Avoid being too broad. |
| ‘Do you agree?’ | State your position. The examiner must know where you stand. | Never write “I agree.” Rewrite the prompt with your stance built in. Counterarguments are fine but shouldn’t dominate. |
| ‘To what extent?’ | How far is the statement true? Requires a nuanced response. | Include a clear counterargument. Two paragraphs for your main position, one for the counterpoint often works well. |
| ‘How?’ | Explain the ways the author explores a theme or idea. | Focus on the author’s structural and stylistic choices. Avoid counterarguments — answer the “how” directly. |
Introduction checklist
Before you move on to your first body paragraph, check that your introduction includes:
- Author name, text title, text type, and date or relevant context
- A clear contention that directly responds to the prompt using its keywords
- Signposts for two to four body paragraph arguments
- Engagement with the author’s views and values (not just plot)
- Three to four sentences maximum
- No first-person statements (“I agree”) or plot summary
FAQs
Three to four sentences. Any longer and you risk wasting valuable exam time or overlapping with your first body paragraph.
Generally, no. Save your textual evidence for body paragraphs where you can analyse it properly. Your introduction is for establishing your argument, not proving it.
Absolutely — in fact, a nuanced contention that acknowledges complexity often scores higher than a simple agree/disagree. Just make sure your overall position is clear.
Three to four is typical for a Section A response. The key is quality over quantity — each paragraph should advance a distinct argument that supports your contention.
Metalanguage refers to the technical vocabulary used to describe how texts work — terms like “narrative voice,” “symbolism,” “imagery,” “characterisation,” and “tone.” The VCAA encourages its use because it “enables complex ideas to be communicated clearly and fluently.” Use it accurately — imprecise metalanguage is worse than none at all.
Views and values refer to the beliefs, attitudes and ideas that the author communicates through their text. Examiners want to see that you understand not just what happens in a text, but what the author is saying about the world through it. Use verbs of analysis like “portrays,” “conveys,” “critiques,” “endorses” and “challenges” to show this.
The 2026 text list includes novels, plays, poetry collections, short story collections and films. New additions for 2026 include Regeneration (Pat Barker) and Orbital (Samantha Harvey). The full list is available on the VCAA website.
Want more VCE study tips?
If you found this guide helpful, check out more of our resources:
- Effective Study Techniques
- The ATAR Explained
- High Value vs. Low Value Study
- How Much Does Tutoring Cost in 2026?
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