By this time tomorrow, your GCSE English language paper 1 will be completed and you'll only have one English paper left to sit!
Read through this AQA paper 1 English language exam guide tonight to make sure you’re confident on how to prepare for the AQA English exam tomorrow.
Overview of AQA Paper 1 English Language Exam Timings:
The total time you have for this exam is 1 hour and 45 minutes.
With extra time that’s 2 hours and 11 minutes.
Section A: Reading
Question 1: Retrieval
This question is worth 4 marks and should take you around 5 minutes (with extra time: 6 minutes total).
This is a comprehension question so it should be pretty simple. It will ask you to find four facts within some specified line numbers.
Double check those line numbers, and underline/highlight the focus of the question.
You should then try to start every question with the focus word. E.g. if it asks about the weather, you should start every answer with, ‘The weather is…’.
You may copy directly from the text.
Make sure to write four points.
Question 2: Language
This question is worth 8 marks and should take you around 10 minutes (13 with extra time).
It’s asking you to closely analyse how language is used within the extract. You don’t even need to go back to the extract as a small section of it will be included just under the question.
As much as you should definitely include language features and word classes here, the main thing is that you discuss their effects! It is extremely important to include insightful comments about your quotes – what do they make you think/feel? Why?
A specific paragraph structure isn’t necessary, but at the very least you need to make sure you’ve answered the question with a clear point, included a quote, used subject terminology and discussed the effect of the quote.
Most students find PETAL paragraphs helpful for this question, and two of these (detailed) would be enough.
Question 3: Structure
This question is 8 marks and should take you around 10 minutes (13 with extra time).
You will be asked: “How has the writer used structure to interest the reader?”
Do not talk about language for this question! That means you should not talk about similes, verbs, or anything like that.
You can include structural features, such as:
Zooming in/out
Introducing a character
Going from inside to outside
Mixing external actions with internal thoughts
Etc.
However, the main thing you need to focus on is why the events within the text have been ordered that way, and you must discuss the whole source.
What are the effects of the structural features? Why does it being structured this way make you want to keep reading?
However, NEVER say: “It makes me want to keep reading.”You must always explain why. TEA paragraphs can be useful here: Technique, Evidence, Analysis.
For example:
In the beginning, the writer focuses the reader’s attention on….. This is shown in the quotation, “....”. This interests the reader by making them feel/think/wonder…. Because….
Question 4: The Statement
This one is 20 marks and you need to respond critically to a given statement about the text, making sure to include evidence and detailed analysis.
You should spend around 25 minutes on this one; that’s 31 minutes with extra time.
Your evaluation for this question should reflect a perceptive analysis. This means you understand the writer’s intentions, and you make well-reasoned judgements. You should include your personal opinions based on the evidence you've gathered and make sure you discuss the effect on the reader.
Big idea: summarise your overall opinion about the statement at the start of your response in a few sentences.
You can use PETAL paragraphs for this question, making sure in the ‘point’ you always reference the statement and clearly identify if you agree/disagree any why.
Section B: Writing
This is worth 40 marks, so you need to allocate around 45 minutes for answering it (around 56 with extra time).
You will create a creative writing piece: either a description based on an image, or a narrative piece based on a prompt.
Planning: spend around 5 to 10 minutes planning your answer – brainstorm some ideas, plan a structure and decide which language features to use in each paragraph. It can help to actually plan which punctuation to use in each paragraph too!
You then need to save 5 minutes to proof read at the end!
If you decide to go for the description, a clear structure could be something like this:
If you decide to go for the narrative, again, structure is very important and you could plan it using something like this:
Overall Top Tips for AQA Paper 1 English Language Exam
Read each question twice. You may find it helpful to read them before you read the extract.
Manage your time well and answer all of the questions.
Plan out your answers, particularly for question 4 and 5.
Use a clear paragraph structure and remember the marks lay mainly in your comments/analysis.
Proofread.
Also remember to breathe, relax and sip on water throughout the exam.
You’ve got this!
GOOD LUCK!
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