ENGLISH LANGUAGE Details of exam Paper: GCSE English Language, Paper 1 One exam of 1 hour and 45 minutes: Section A: Reading and Comprehension (1 hour) A series of comprehension questions based on a literature extract: Task
Marks
1
Find 4 facts from a short part of the extract: quote and explain
4
2
Quote and analyse language from a short part of the extract, using relevant terminology
8
3
Quote and analyse the structure of the text, using relevant terminology
8
4
Express your own views of the text, quoting to support your ideas
20 Total marks: 40
Timing: 1½ minutes per mark. E.g. For question 1: 4 ÷ 2 =2. Therefore 4 + 2 = 6 minutes. Section B: Creative writing (45 minutes) This exam assesses your ability to narrate and/or describe. You will choose ONE of two written tasks: a. Either respond to a question about a picture b. Or respond to a written instruction 40 marks: • 24 marks for content (sequencing of ideas, structural features, interesting description, organisation of ideas into paragraphs with linking words and phrases) • 16 marks for spelling, punctuation, grammar, sophisticated vocabulary and range of sentences
Timing: 10 minutes plan, 30 minutes write, 5 minutes check.
Topics to revise • • • • • •
Reading and comprehension Descriptive/narrative Past responses to the exam paper Writing General: vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar To improve your understanding of unseen extracts, you should read as much as possible
Revision tasks to be completed Reading and Comprehension Revision • Read the practice exams that you have already done, including CATs. • What are your targets? • Write a list of targets (e.g. use quotation marks, zoom in on words, and answer in more detail). • Rewrite answers to questions, so that you are responding to your targets. ‘Magic Carpet’ Knowledge Organiser You have a copy of your ‘magic carpet’ knowledge organiser in Sparkjar and in your English file. This breaks down each part of the exam. Study it carefully, so that you feel confident with: A) What each question is assessing. B) How to answer it. C) Key vocabulary (terminology)
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