When I read the key-knowledge in the study guide (long time ago lol) then I noted that an aspect of this key knowledge was to have knowledge of alternative interpretations of the text (for text response). Is this something people mention in their essays? If so then how do you incorporate it?
I have some stuff about critics but I'm not sure whether to include it or not. Will it even affect the marks at all?
Any good essay should do this. It basically means you look at the text from different angles. Say you get a topic that talks in absolutes. You may have a paragraph showing how evidence from the text supports the topic statement but you should also include some discussion on how evidence opposes it, or how readers may form an opposing viewpoint.
Usually, the best responses will form a contention about the topic in the form of:
"Yes I mostly agree but..." or "No I mostly disagree, however..."
Having the "but" and "however" is crucial to exploring both sides of the topic and the text.