English Language Exam – Tips re-cap Q1 Should you read the questions or the texts first? Answer = Read question before texts Q2 How long do you have to read the texts in total? Answer = 15 minutes reading time Q3 Can you annotate during reading time? Answer = Yes. And you should, using different coloured highlighters Q4 Should you plan your answers? Answer = Only for Section B – writing questions. You might want to brainstorm for the language question. Q5 How long do you spend answering each question? Answer = 1 minute per mark How can I revise for the exam? Answer = Learn the terminology, practise analysing texts, practise writing texts (you’ve been doing this for homework since the start of the year).

Jan 2011 Higher Q1 What do you learn from …’s article about where she has been and what she has been doing? (8 marks) Q2 Explain how the headline, sub-headline and picture are effective and how they link with the text. (8 marks) Q3 Explain which parts of …’s story you find tense and exciting (8 marks) Q4 Compare the different ways in which language is used for effect in the two texts. Give some examples and analyse what the effects are. (16 marks) Q5 Write a brief article for a website of your choice telling your readers about an interesting or unusual journey or travel experience you have had. Explain why it was memorable. (16 marks) Q6 Your school or college is inviting entries for a writing competition. The topic is “….” Write your entry arguing for or against this view. (24 marks)

Jan 2012 Higher Q1 What do you learn from …’s article about the issues of … ? (8 marks) Q2 Explain how the headline, sub-headline and picture are effective and how they link with the text. (8 marks) Q3 Explain some of the thoughts and feelings … has about his experience of … (8 marks) Q4 Compare the ways in which language is used for effect in the two texts. Give some examples and analyse the effects. (16 marks) Q5 Write a letter which you hope will be published in your local newspaper. Inform readers what leisure facilities are available for young people and families in your area and explain how you think they could be improved. (16 marks) Q6 Write an article for a magazine of your choice which persuades your readers that this statement is either right or wrong. (24 marks)

Sample Paper Higher Q1 What do you learn from …’s article about where … has been and what he was doing? (8 marks) Q2 How do the headline and the whole picture add to the effectiveness of the text? (8 marks) Q3 What are some of the thoughts and feelings … has during the journey? (8 marks) Q4 Compare the ways in which language is used for effect in the two texts. Give some examples and explain what the effects are. (16 marks) Q5 Write a letter to a friend explaining why you would like him or her to join you in a visit to a place which you think is very special. (16 marks) Q6 Write an article for a travel magazine which argues for or against this idea. (24 marks)

Jan 2011 Foundation List four things you learn about… (4 marks) What was …’s reaction to … (4 marks) What reasons are given to persuade the reader to …. (8 marks) How does the writer use language to inform the reader about … and to advise …. (12 marks) Now look again at all three sources. Choose two of these sources and compare presentational features. Remember to write about the way the sources are presented and compare how they look. (12 marks) Write a letter to your headteacher explaining how to improve your school or college. Remember to write a letter and explain the things that would make your school or college better. (16 marks) Write the text for a leaflet to persuade young people in your area to take part in a sponsored event for charity. Remember to write a leaflet. Use language and techniques to persuade. (24 marks)

Jan 2012 Foundation (a) List four things we learn about… (4 marks) (b) How does … feel about … (4 marks) As a young man, … was a …. What problems did he face following … ? Remember to show your understanding by explaining in your own words and support your ideas using the text. (8 marks) How does the webpage use language to inform and to persuade schools to take part in … ? Remember to give some examples of language features that inform, give some examples of language features that persuade and explain the effects. (12 marks) Look again at Source 1 and Source 3. Compare the way that both texts use presentational features for effect. Remember to write about the way the sources are presented, explain the effect of the presentational features and compare how they look. (12 marks) Write a letter to the producers of a TV series explaining what your dream job would be and why you would love to try it. Remember to write a letter and use language to explain. (16 marks) Write an article for a magazine of your choice arguing for or against this view. Remember to write an article and argue your point of view. (24 marks)

Sample Paper Foundation (a) List four things the article tells you about… (4 marks) (b) Why has there been so much interest in … (4 marks) What reasons can you find in the article for saying that …was a football legend and a gentleman? (8 marks) How does the writer use language to make the leaflet informative and shocking to the reader? (12 marks) Look again at all three items. They have been presented in an interesting and effective way. Choose two of these items. Compare them using these headings: The title and subtitles; the pictures and captions. (12 marks) Write a letter to the Personnel Manager introducing yourself and informing him or her about what job you would like to do and why. (16 marks) You are going to write an article for your school newspaper persuading your readers that we should help homeless people. The article should be about where there are homeless people; who they are and the situation they are in; what we should so about it. (24 marks)

Now look back at all of your homework – for which type of exam question have you practised?

Look at the text in front of you. 1 Look at the text in front of you. 1. For which exam question might this be used? 2. Annotate the text with the features you could talk about to answer this question. 3. Use the features you have annotated to answer the question in the time you would have in the exam. 4. Mark your own answer using the mark scheme. 5. Share your answers with your friends to come up with one fantastic answer!

The exam board advise that you learn the following skills over 11 lessons. For which questions on the exam paper can you use these skills? Copy these learning objectives into your books with a line between each so we can track your confidence for each skill. To be able to skim / scan read. To identify key points of a text. To be able to retrieve key points of a text. To be able to use the mark scheme to peer assess. To understand the effects of presentational devices. To be able to explain and analyse the effects of presentational devices To be able to understand / interpret meaning. To be able to identify linguistic features. To understand how language achieves effects on the reader. To be able to organise writing into a coherent structure. To be able to coherently sequence ideas. To understand how to vary syntax and vocabulary for effects. To understand the key features of writing to inform & persuade.