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GCSE English / English

Language (AQA)
Unit 1 Examination
A Guide for Parents
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GCSE Qualification at a Glance

Written Controlled Assessments 40%
x 4 assignments for English Language
x 5 assignments for English
Speaking & Listening 20%
x 3 assignments
Final time for entry is November 2013
Unit 1 External Examination 40%
This will be worth 60% from June 2014

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Unit 1 Examination
Section A: Reading response to non-fiction/media texts
Advised time: 75 mins
You will be given three sources to read
There will be a range of questions
Answer all the questions

Section B: Writing
Advised time: 60 mins
Answer both questions (Q.5 & Q.6); there is no choice
Q.5 Shorter task = writing to inform / explain / describe (approx 25 mins)
Q.6 Longer task = writing to argue / persuade (approx 35 mins)
A past paper for reference
http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/subjects/AQA-ENG1H-W-QP-JUN11.PDF

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Section A Summary
Foundation Tier Question & approach

Marks

Approx Timing

1a. Read Source 1 and find 4 things

1b. Infer meaning from Source 1

2. Read Source 2 and infer meaning

4
8

15 mins

3. Read Source 3 and analyse language

12

20 mins

4. Compare presentation in S3 and another source

12

20 mins

Marks

Approx Timing

1. Read Source 1 and retrieve information

15 mins

2. Read Source 2 and interpret presentational features

15 mins

3. Read Source 3 and interpret meaning

15 mins

4. Compare language features in S3 and another source

16

30 mins

Higher Tier Question & approach

15 mins

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Section A: Reading Texts

NonFiction Texts
Newspaper / magazine articles
Web articles
Travel writing
Autobiography
Blogs
Leaflets
The more students read non-fiction texts in their daily lives, the
better prepared they will be to answer questions in the
examination.

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Revision Tip 1
Encourage your child to read news articles and tell
you what they are about.
BBC Radio 1s Newsbeat website provides accessible articles
The Independents sister newspaper, the i, is a great way to introduce
students to broadsheet journalism
Set a news site as your home page (BBC, Sky, Google) so students are
exposed to rich non-fiction texts every time they go online
Students with smartphones can access news articles on the go

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Revision Tip 2
Encourage your child to annotate non-fiction texts
with the effects created by pictures and headlines

Go on to link the picture and headline to the text

itself
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Revision Tip 3
As well as news articles, students should read
texts which expose them to the writers thoughts
and feelings. Encourage them to read about
someone who interests them.

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Revision Tip 4
Students will benefit from knowing a range of
language terms and techniques. Encourage them
to form a tool-kit of examples from texts they
read.
See the next page for examples

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LANGUAGE
Narrator
Adjectives / verbs
Formal / informal language

Rhetorical questions
Puns / humour / sarcasm
Emotive language
Facts / Opinions
Figurative language
Statistics
Exaggeration

Anecdote
Lists / repetition / rule of 3

EFFECTS?
First more personal: I
Second directly addresses reader friendly and inviting?
Third more objective and impersonal
Specific words (vocabulary) can make writing more vivid, descriptive or
dramatic.
Formal: can seem important, serious and authentic
Informal: can seem warm, light-hearted and personal
These questions imply their own answer and engage and help persuade the
reader.
Can be used to exaggerate / emphasise a point
Words and phrases deliberately used to provoke an emotional reaction
Used to support a writers point of view. Look out for opinions disguised as
facts: TV is the most effective way of...
Simile, metaphor and personification create images that can be engaging and
involving.
Facts and figures from recognisable sources appear believable and add
authority.
Exaggeration can create a persuasive impact: .is surely every persons
dream.
The use of short, interesting anecdotes personalizes the writing and engages
the readers attention: John, a poor, homeless boy who..
Can be used for emphasis particularly in persuasive writing.

Alliteration / onomatopoeia Can draw attention to specific words for impact

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Revision Tip 5
Proof-reading writing is essential.
Students should get into the habit of checking all their writing for
spelling, punctuation and grammar errors and amending it as
needed. When students undertake written homework for any
subject, encourage them to spend 5 to 10 minutes checking
through their writing carefully and correcting errors as
necessary.

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Revision Tip 6
Students often struggle with timing in the exam. It is essential
they answer all questions fully if they are to be successful.
Students should try to re-create the conditions of the exam
when working at home. They should work in silence to produce
a handwritten response, without assistance, in the time allowed
in the exam.

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General Revision Strategies

Encourage students to complete the tasks in their Revision
Guide and past exam papers
Devise a revision timetable and allow time for other activities
30 40 minutes revision interspersed with short breaks works
well
Write key notes on flashcards and review them regularly
Make posters with all you need to know and display them
Try to teach someone else what you are revising
Attempt past exam questions in exam conditions
Keep a spelling diary of interesting vocabulary and ask
someone to give you a spelling test

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Useful Websites
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english/
http://geoffbarton.co.uk/files/studentresources/English_GCSE_Masterclass/GB-READINGMASTERCLASS.pdf
www.englishbiz.co.uk
www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/english
http://data.bolton.ac.uk/bissto/basicskills/english/index.htm
Guides you could buy if you prefer paper:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1847625789/?tag=hydra0b21&hvadid=9550943109&ref=asc_df_1847625789
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Revise-AQA-English-LanguageRevision/dp/1447940660/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_y
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Revise-AQA-Language-RevisionWorkbook/dp/1447940709/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_y

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YouTube Channels
Some useful YouTube
channels are:
WCSEnglish
Cheney Takeaway
Mr Bruff
Free E School
CherwellOnline Resources

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