The issue was it wasn't something specific like "understanding" (paper 1) which you could find in the syllabus. They're asking random shit, though yes it was okay to answer if you didn't freak out. Dunno about you guys but our school told us about 6 different themes/concepts/ideas for BR/Fr. Role of women, role of science, nature of humanity, something environment, something religion and can't remember the 6th. In any case the syllabus seemed pretty useless (except for belonging).
What happened to "If it's not in the syllabus, you can't be tested on it, so don't worry"? Read an email from one of our teachers and he says the teachers are outraged about the paper because they had no idea it was going to be like that. From a student's perspective, we're thinking "Oh, fuck, quickly adapt my thesis to this question and GO" whilst teachers are thinking "What the hell? They can't answer this, they're not prepared to talk about these concepts".
English syllabus' need to be a shitload more informing or the BoS can not ask such random questions. I understand the crackdown on pre-planned essays, however if they just did what they did for belonging, then that'd be fine. At least put these themes/concepts into the syllabus so we know they exist.
In the end, I still answered them to my ability, which would've smashed my trial (even if the trial was easier), but it's just silly.