Whether you're in Year 10 or 11, are aiming for a top grade or just hoping to boost your confidence, you’ll need to know the content and structure of the AQA GCSE English Language exam papers, including the format of the questions, what the examiners are looking for and how you can achieve as many marks as possible.
What is AQA GCSE English Language, Paper 1?
In this exam, you'll analyse an extract from a work of fiction, exploring the writer’s techniques and intentions and then write your own original piece of creative writing.
Section A focuses on reading and understanding a text so you’ll read an extract from a modern prose text (usually 20th or 21st century) and answer questions that test your comprehension and analytical skills.
Section B focuses on your creative writing skills; either descriptive or narrative.
This guide will focus on Section A... but, if you'd like to read "A Student's Guide to AQA GCSE English Language: Paper 1, Section B," you can do so here.
Assessment Objectives for Section A
In Section A, you'll respond to four questions based on a fiction extract and your answers will be evaluated according to the following Assessment Objectives (AOs):
AO1: Identify and interpret explicit and implicit information and ideas.
AO2: Analyse the writer’s use of language and structure.
AO4: Evaluate texts critically and support this with evidence.
Answering the Questions
Question 1: List four things...
This question is worth 4 marks and will assess you for AO1: Identify and interpret explicit and implicit information and ideas.
What do you have to do?
To achieve full marks in this question, you will need to find and list four pieces of information from a specific part of the extract (e.g lines 1 - 8).
The focus is on identifying explicit information so you could use facts or details directly stated in the text but can also include implicit details if you're confident that you've fully understood the text.
Top Tips
Draw a box around the section of the extract you have been asked to focus on. This will help ensure that your answers are relevant and you'll avoid wasting time reading irrelevant sections.
Highlight explicit information. Look for clear, stated facts that you can confidently explain or prove with evidence from the text as these are the easiest to identify and are less likely to lead to mistakes. You can include implicit information (details that are suggested but not directly stated) but, if you make an incorrect assumption, you risk losing marks.
Stick to short and simple answers where possible. You don’t need to write long sentences or detailed explanations for this question so if the extract says, “the room was cold,” you can simply write, “the room was cold.”
Read the text carefully as small details can sometimes be missed on a quick read-through.
Make sure each of the four points you list is different as repeating the same piece of information in a different way could lead to losing marks. For example, an extract might suggest a character is hot by saying they are “sweltering,” and later mention they “take off their coat,” but listing both points separately won’t count as two different details.
Question 2: How does the writer use language to…
This question is worth 8 marks and will assess your ability to meet AO2: Analyse the writer's use of language and structure.
What do you have to do?
Question 2 will ask you to analyse how the writer uses language in a specific part of the extract to create meaning or effect.
To do this, you’ll need to explore how the writer's choices of words, phrases and literary devices (such as similes, metaphors, personification and alliteration) contribute to the reader's understanding or emotional response. You'll need to think carefully about the impact of the language and how it makes the reader feel. If you need a reminder of some key figurative language techniques, check out this guide.
You could consider:
Word choices: Think about the connotations of specific words or phrases. What images or emotions do they evoke in the reader?
Figurative language: Identify techniques like similes, metaphors and personification. How do these enhance the description?
Tone and mood: How does the writer’s language set the tone of the piece? Is it formal or informal, optimistic or pessimistic, calm or angry?
Sensory language: Are there any descriptions that appeal to the senses, such as sight, sound, touch, taste or smell? How do they help to build the atmosphere and help the reader imagine the scene?
Top Tips
Aim to write 2 - 3 paragraphs, each focusing on a different element of the writer’s language.
Focus on short, specific quotations.
"Zoom in" on the effect of individual words. For example, if a word has powerful connotations (like “crept” instead of “walked”), discuss how it creates a particular effect, such as portraying the movement as stealthy or ominous.
Use subject terminology accurately.
Question 3: How has the writer structured the text to interest the reader?
This question will evaluate your ability to meet AO2: Analyse the writer's use of language and structure and is worth 8 marks.
What do you have to do?
Unlike Question 2, which focuses on language, here you're looking at how the text is organised and will need to consider aspects like narrative perspective, shifts in focus and the order of events. You will need to explain why the writer has chosen to structure the text in a particular way and how this influences the reader.
Top Tips
A good starting point is to look at the beginning, middle and end of the extract and try to pinpoint what aspects the writer is emphasising for the reader’s attention.
Some things to look out for include:
Changes in time or place: Does the writer switch between different settings or times? What is the effect of this? For example, does it build tension, create suspense or spark the reader's curiosity etc?
Shifts in focus: Look at different points in the text and ask yourself what the writer is drawing the reader's attention to? Do they start with a wide perspective before zooming in on small details? Do they shift from a character's thoughts to their actions?
Paragraph and sentence structure: Do the paragraphs or sentences change in length to build pace or create emphasis? For example, short sentences might create a sense of urgency and longer, more detailed sentences could slow the pace and encourage reflection.
Narrative perspective: Does the writer use first, second or third person? Does the perspective remain consistent or does it shift to a different viewpoint? How does this affect our understanding of the characters or events?
Question 4: To what extent do you agree with…
This question is worth 20 marks and will assess you for AO4: Evaluate texts critically and support this with evidence.
What do you have to do?
Question 4 will ask you to evaluate a statement about the text - often an opinion about a character or theme in the extract. You will need to critically assess the statement, provide your own opinion on how far you agree or disagree and support your argument with relevant evidence from the text.
The key things to remember about this question is that you need to evaluate the text, not just summarise it, so you must consider multiple aspects of the text and find relevant evidence to support your points.
Top Tips
Take 5 minutes to plan your response before writing. Decide whether you agree, disagree or have a more balanced view and underline, highlight or write down quotes or key points in the text that support your ideas. As the focus of this question is evaluation, you will need to identify what happens in the text and comment on the effectiveness of the writer’s techniques
You don’t have to fully agree or disagree with the statement and can explore both sides of the argument before reaching a final conclusion. If you find that some parts of the text support the statement, but others challenge it, that’s fine. For example, you can say, "Initially, the character appears lazy and self-obsessed, but their later actions suggest a more complex personality."
Even if you strongly agree or disagree with the statement, a strong answer will consider both sides of the argument so you should discuss evidence from the text that supports the statement as well as evidence that challenges it. Your concluding paragraph should summarise your key points and clearly state your final opinion.
Aim to write 3 or 4 well-developed paragraphs, each addressing a different aspect of the statement.
Use a range of quotations from the text to support your points and make sure you explain how each piece of evidence strengthens your argument.
Use evaluative language, such as “perhaps,” “suggests,” “implies,” “on the other hand,” “this could indicate,” and “this creates the impression” as these phrases will help you to evaluate the text rather than just describe it.
Throughout your answer, regularly refer back to the statement in the question. Use phrases like “this supports the idea that…,” “this challenges the notion that…,” or “this shows that….” to ensure that your comments are relevant to the question.
Would you like some more help?
If you’d like some more guidance on how to tackle AQA GCSE English Language Paper 1, why not download the EHS Masterclass ebook? It's packed with expert advice and step-by-step guidance to help you feel confident and prepared for your exams. Click here for your FREE sample.
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