The learner must announce the title and the author prior to the performance so the piece requires an author. Depending on the grade of verse and prose taken the knowledge questions may require knowing more about the author and their work.

For example, at Grade 8, AC 7.2 requires Learners to summarise the life of one of the other authors (not William Shakespeare). If a piece by an anonymous author is used, it means the Examiner will be unable to fairly choose which of the author's to ask the Learner about.