1. GCSE English Examination
The examination is worth 60% of your GCSE
1 paper: 2 hours 15 minutes
Reading and Writing skills are tested
Section A 1 hour: Reading [4 tasks]
Section B: 1 hour Writing [2 tasks:1 long, 1 short]
40 marks for each section
Timing guides are provided
15 minutes - reading the texts

2. READING

3. Question 1 – Locate information
Q1—Locate and list relevant information from a source text
[usually 4 marks]
Sample questions:
four things you learn about Tinie Tempah from the article
eight things you understand about the Amazon tribe
LIST
Q1—Locate and list relevant information from a source text
[usually 4 marks]
Sample question: June 2013
List four things you learn about Matthew’s bionic hand from the article.
LIST
SAMPLE RESPONSE—full marks
The cost of the hand was/is £
The hand is very versatile.
The hand allows Matthew to grip a pen/tie shoelaces/catch a ball.
The hand plugs in to Matthew’s arm.
[4 clear statements in sentences]
LIST: Create specific factual statements from the source material. Use clear sentences. There is no need to explain in a ‘list’ question.

4. Question 1b – Locate and show understanding
Recycle words from the question
and share clear idea.
POINT/
STATEMENT
Q1b—Locate and show understanding of relevant information from a source text.
[4 marks]
Sample questions:
What do you understand about Tinie Tempah’s feelings towards food?
What do you understand/learn about the way that the housing development will affect the nature around it?
What do you learn about Jamie Oliver’s reaction to the research about his school dinners?
Find evidence from the text to support idea.
“…”
EVIDENCE-
Reach a conclusion from the evidence.
Inference-
. Share a point/statement
. Share evidence to support point/statement
. Share an inference about the evidence
UNDERSTANDING
Reaction
Feelings
Attitude

5. SAMPLE RESPONSE—full marks
What do you understand about the ways the bionic hand will change Matthew’s life?
Recycle words from the question
and share clear idea.
SAMPLE RESPONSE—full marks
We understand the hand will change Matthew’s life because of its many abilities. “The hand is so versatile...catch a ball.” This suggests it will enable Matthew to do many things that those born with a left hand take for granted.
We also learn that the hand will change the way Matthew can do schoolwork. “I used to struggle with lab experiments.” This implies that Matthew will now be able to take a fuller part in his lessons.
“…”
Find evidence from the text to support idea.
“…”
“…”
Reach a conclusion from the evidence.
suggests
implies
highlights…
indicates…
demonstrates…
conveys…
emphasises…
This…
The writer…
He…
She…

6. SAMPLE RESPONSE—full marks
Q2—Locate and show understanding of relevant information from a source text.
Q2—Locate and show understanding of relevant information from a source text.
[usually 8 marks]
Sample question: June 2013
What do you understand about Amy Winehouse’s school days from the extract?
Q2—Locate and show understanding of relevant information from a source text.
[usually 8 marks]
Sample questions:
What you learn about Steve’s childhood home.
What you learn about feeding children.
Explain
SAMPLE RESPONSE—full marks
The reader learns that Amy was quite naughty at school. “Her mum and I were called to the school for meetings about her behaviour on numerous occasions.” this suggests that this was a recurring problem which was perhaps getting worse as she got older.
Explain
Explain
Add more to a
Explain: Give reasons for how or why something happens; you need to give examples.

7. Q3 – Comment on how the writer uses language features?
LANGUAGE FEATURES—the various techniques used by the writer to have a particular effect/impact on the reader
Simile
Rhetorical question
Repetition
Lists
Alliteration
Adjectives
Patterns of 3
Emotive words
Interesting vocabulary
Direct address
Colloquial language
COMMENT ON
Use SQI (not SQUID!):
S: Make a statement identifying the language feature
Q: Quotation as evidence
I: Impact—what is the effect of the feature? (Make sure you link the effect to the text)
Comment on the effect
quotation
Identify the feature
add another effect
COMMENT ON
Use SQI (not SQUID!):
S: Make a statement identifying the language feature
Q: Quotation as evidence
I: Impact—what is the effect of the feature?
LANGUAGE FEATURES—the various techniques used by the writer to have a particular effect/impact on the reader (see over for ideas)
EXPLAIN THE EFFECTS—What does the language achieve? Succeed in doing? Convey? Manage to do?
COMMENT ON
Use SQI (not SQUID!):
S: Make a statement identifying the language feature
Q: Quotation as evidence
I: Impact—what is the effect of the feature?
LANGUAGE FEATURES—the various techniques used by the writer to have a particular effect/impact on the reader (see over for ideas)

8. Full marks sample answer for 1 paragraph
Full marks sample answer for 1 paragraph. You need 4 paragraphs in total
Comment on the effect
quotation
add another effect

9. Q4. Now look again at all three sources
Q4. Now look again at all three sources. Choose two of the sources and compare the presentational features. Write about the way they are presented, explain the effect and compare the way they look.
Q4— Select key presentational features from
two sources, analyse the effects of examples and compare them.
[usually 12 marks]
Presentational features: Images, Font, Headlines, Subheadings, Captions, Charts, Graphs, Colour, Paragraphs, Columns, Bullet Points, Numbers, Logo, etc
Or CLIF (Colour/layout/image(s)/Font)
SAMPLE RESPONSE – identify examples, explain the examples, compare the examples
[I&D] Source 3 uses bright colours such as blue, white, yellow and red in the background.
[E] These are used to show the reader it is a relaxed atmosphere.
[I] Source 2 uses dark and dull colours.
[E] The darker colours emphasise the mystery about the product.
[C] The two sources use different colours which highlights their different messages. The darker colours are not as relaxed as Source 1 and therefore not as successful in reaching the reader.
1. Identify & describe the presentational feature.
2. Effect of feature Explain the effect of the presentational features on the reader
3. Compare: Identify similarities and differences between the sources
You need to write 4 paragraphs [CLIF]
DON’T COMMENT ON LANGUAGE!

10. WRITING

11. Q5 Q6 Writing /16 /24 Section B: Writing 1hour (40 marks in total)
Answer both questions in this section. Q5
/16
You are advised to spend approximately 25 minutes on this question.
Write approximately 1 page of writing. Q6
/24
You are advised to spend approximately
35 minutes on this question.
Write approximately
2 pages of writing.
/10 /16 for communicating clearly, effectively and imaginatively, using forms and selecting vocabulary appropriate to task and purpose in ways which engage the reader and for organising information and ideas into structured and sequenced sentences, paragraphs and whole texts, using a variety of linguistic and structural features to support cohesion and overall coherence.
/6 /8 for using a range of sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate punctuation and spelling.

12. Aiming for a Grade C in writing
AO3 i, ii Skills Mark Band 3 ‘clarity’ ‘success’
Communication
 shows clarity of thought and communicates with success
 engages the reader with more detailed explanation
 clearly communicates the purpose
 writes in a register which is clearly appropriate for audience
 uses linguistic features appropriate to purpose
 uses vocabulary effectively including discursive markers
Organisation of Ideas
 uses paragraphs effectively in the whole text
 begins to use a variety of structural features

13. Question 5
Write a short piece of travel writing explaining how you coped with a terrible day out.
Remember to:
write a short piece of travel writing
use language to explain.
Try to write approximately one page. [16 marks]

14. Question 6
“Nearly one in 4 children can’t ride a bike – and it’s their parents’ fault,” says Chris Hoy, Olympic Cyclist.
Write a magazine article persuading parents of the importance of teaching children to ride a bike.
Remember to:
write a magazine article
use language to persuade.
Try to write approximately two pages. [24 marks]

15. PERSUADES

16. Explain Explain Explain
Before you start: Plan
Opening paragraph (anecdote)
Key point 1
Conclusion
Travel writing
Topic sentence:
Explain
Topic sentence:
Explain
Key point 2
Topic sentence:
Explain

17. Explaining writing To show you can explain include: Because Since
Therefore
Due to
Consequently

18. Top Tips
Read the questions through first. See what the writing tasks are.
Keep your eyes on the time – ensure you have enough time to complete the higher mark questions (Q3 and 4 of Reading and 6 of Writing)
In the writing section – plan your answers (spider-gram/list )and consider starting with the longer writing task (Q6) as this is worth more marks (24)
Look through your writing responses and make 4 improvements to show the examiner you have re-read your work. This could be: spellings/vocabulary/
punctuation or capital letter check.
5. Include 4 different punctuation marks to show your skills.

19. Don’t be the one who spells them incorrectly in your exam!!!
Common spelling mistakes highlighted by
Learn these spellings
argument difficult disappoint
disappear embarrassing possession
beginning recommend occasionally
definitely separately conscious
conscience experience independence
believe weird business
rhythm decision grateful
Don’t be the one who spells them incorrectly in your exam!!!