From paragraph 1

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] give up or try to get / work / study for her degree // stop studying or continue studying // whether or not to give up her studies // whether or not to continue her studies
2. [1] she couldn't / she found it difficult / hard to concentrate / focus // it was difficult to concentrate // her mind was distracted // she was lost in / deep in / distracted by (her) thought(s) // she was (over)thinking about too many / other things / her decision // she was worried about / distracted by the decision she had to make // questioning herself on what to do // Allow lift of line 1 'I found it difficult to concentrate (on my studies)'