Candidates were expected to show various situations in the play that are satirical, as follows:
- Gwendolen’s obsession with the name “Ernest” rather than earnestness itself.
- The society placing more value on social connections than good character, as seen in Lady Bracknell;s interrogation of Jack.
- Society’s misplaced priority as exemplified in the inadvertent swapping of the baby Jack with the manuscript of a novel.
- Jack’ s wooing of Gwendolen which shows the reverse of the assumptions about gender roles in the play. etc.