GCSE: Information on the Summer Exams

English Faculty

GCSE: Information on the Summer Exams

March 2012

GCSE English Language / GCSE Literature

The Basic Details

Below are the key details about each examination.
GCSE English
Language
The basic details / How to help your child to
prepare
Paper One
2 ¼ hours
40% of Language grade / Section
A
Response to three non--‐fiction and media texts.
Students will need to answer all questions.
40 marks / Section
B
Writing to inform, explain, describe.
Writing to argue, persuade.
Students will need
to answer both
questions.
40 marks / Read through
newspaper/magazine
article alongside
the non-fiction terms.
• Using past papers
and mark schemes
(in online material)
mark your child’s practice papers.
GCSE English
Literature
The basic details / How to help your child to
prepare
Paper Two
1 ¼ hours
35% of Literature grade / Section A
Poetry: Moon on the Tides.
Students will respond to one question (from a choice of two) from their chosen cluster.
36 marks / Section B
Unseen Poetry.
Students will respond to an unseen poem.
There will be one compulsory question (H), or two questions (F).
18 marks / Re-read all of the poems from the cluster in the anthology.
Condense notes and create revision materials including crib sheets and cue cards.
Test your child on key quotes, ideas.
Encourage them to complete practice questions/essays.

English Language Exam

Information on the Content of the Examination

Higher Paper

Section A – Reading (1 hour 15 minutes)

In this section you will be given 3 non-fiction texts and you will be asked to read them and answer questions. The texts will be labelled Item 1, Item 2 and Item 3. Examples of the types of non-fiction texts you could be given are: a magazine front cover or article / piece of journalism; a webpage; an extract from a biography; a piece of travel writing; a piece of promotion writing.

You should read each item individually and decide what you think the GAP is for each (Genre / Audience / Purpose). It is important you understand this information before you begin to answer the questions. When you have read and understood item 1 answer question 1, then read item 2 and answer question 2 etc.

You will have 4 questions in total to answer and the marks for each question will vary. They will also get progressively harder. Read the questions carefully to check with item they are asking you to look at. Also look carefully at the number of marks on offer and adjust the amount of time you spend on each question accordingly.

Question Number
and Marks / What do I have to do?
1
8 marks / · This question will ask you to read, understand and retrieve information from Item 1.
· In this response you will be asked to show your understanding of the item linked to the question.
· A typical question would be: What do you learn from the article about the writer’s life and career?
· You will need to quote from the text and show you understand this in your response.
2
8 marks / · This question will test your ability to read, understand and interpret the presentational devices in Item 2.
· In this question you cannot necessarily quote from the text, but it still must be clear in your response about which part of the text you’re looking at e.g. the large image of the model in the middle of the cover is... / the bold red font used in the heading in the top left hand corner is...
· In this question ensure you comment on the effects achieved through the presentational devices and are not just describing what you see. E.g. there is a colour photograph of Cheryl Cole – it has no caption which implies that we are likely to know who she is.
· You will need to explain what effect you think the devices have on the reader or why you think the writer has included this device in their writing.
3
12 marks / · This question will test your ability to understand and interpret Item 3.
· In this response you will need to offer an opinion / judgement of the text and will again need to structure your response using P.E.E.
· In this response you will need to include several quotations to support your judgements. Link your ideas to audience and purpose.
· A typical question for this would be: Explain which parts of the item 3 you find persuasive and why.
4
12 marks / · This is a comparison question and one item will be mentioned in the question and you will select the second item to analyse.
· You will need to use a P.E.E structure and you will need to provide several quotations to comment on directly.
· In this question you will need to look and comment on the impact of the language. You will also need to be technical in your analysis so will need to look at word class and any literary techniques that have been employed e.g. rhetorical questions, similes, alliteration.
· You need to ensure that you comment on the effects on the reader and what you think the writer’s purpose was and why they included certain features.
· A typical question for this would be: Compare the different ways language is used for effect in item 1 and one other of your choice.

Key Vocabulary

Facts / Statistics / Opinions / Adjectives / Adverbs / Verbs / Pronouns / Nouns
Proper nouns / Similes / Metaphors / Alliteration / Repetition / Rhetorical question / List of three / Imperative verbs
Modal verbs / Emotive language / Syntax / Headings / Language / Effect / Sub-headings / Images
Graphics / Colours / Captions / Structure / Logo / Slogan / Bold font / Audience
Purpose / Form / Genre / Abstract nouns / Proper nouns / Direct address / Colloquial language / Standard English
Tone / Topic / Text / Highlighting / Bullet points / Similar / Contrasts / Sections
Formal language / Informal language / Semantic fields / Non-fiction / Persuasive language / Register / Rhetorical devices / Presentational devices

Section B – Writing (1 hour)

In this section you will need to complete 2 writing tasks. A shorter and longer writing task so ensure you follow the time suggestions carefully. You should spend 25 minutes on the first task and 35 minutes on the second writing task.

In both of these tasks your marks will be divided up and you will be offered a separate mark for your communication / organisation of ideas and one for your skills / accuracy. This means that you will not only be marked on WHAT you write but also HOW you write it. Therefore you must consider your spelling, sentence structure, paragraphing and the overall structure of your writing, as well as work on including the different conventions of the writing style.

You also need to consider the GAP before you begin to write. Read the question carefully and consider the genre, audience and purpose. For example if you have been asked to write a letter you must have the correct opening and close for this genre.

You have to answer both questions and you should plan your responses and also leave time to proof read your work.

Before you sit this exam you should have revised and be familiar with the requirements of each of the five writing styles you have been taught by your teacher. You could be asked to write in any of these styles and you will not have a choice of question.

Writing task 1

25 minutes – Inform, Explain or Describe (16 marks)

Writing task 2

35 minutes – Argue or Persuade (24 marks)

English Language Exam

Information on the Content of the Examination

Foundation Paper

Section A – Reading (1 hour 15 minutes)

You should read each item individually and decide what you think the GAP is for each (Genre / Audience / Purpose). It is important you understand this information before you begin to answer the questions. When you have read and understood item 1 answer questions 1a and 1b, then read item 2 and answer question 2 etc.

You will have 5 questions in total to answer and the marks for each question will vary. They will also get progressively harder. Read the questions carefully to check with item they are asking you to look at. Also look carefully at the number of marks on offer and adjust the amount of time you spend on each question accordingly (spend the longest amount of time on questions 3 and 4).

Question Number
and Marks / What do I have to do?
1a
4 marks / · This question will ask you to read, understand and retrieve information from Item 1.
· You will be able to present this question in bullet points or in the form of a list.
· You will gain one mark for everyone correct element you have identified and you can quote directly from the text.
· Typical question: List 4 reasons the writer gives to stop smoking
1b
4 marks / · Again you will be asked to retrieve information and ideas from Item 1.
· A typical question would be: What was the writer’s reaction to the praise they received?
· This question requires you to include a quotation from the text and to show your understanding of it, therefore you should use a P.E.E structure.
2
8 marks / · This question will test your ability to read, understand and interpret Item 2.
· You will need to use P.E.E to structure this response and you must show your understanding of the quotations in your answer.
· A typical question for this would be: What reasons are given to persuade the reader to donate money to the charity? / How the writer feel about child poverty in the UK?
3
12 marks / · This question will ask you analyse the language in the text and the effects achieved in Item 3.
· You will need to use a P.E.E structure and you will need to provide several quotations to comment on directly.
· In this question you will need to look and comment on the impact of the language. You will also need to be technical in your analysis so will need to look at word class and any literary techniques that have been employed e.g. rhetorical questions, similes, alliteration.
· A typical question for this would be: How does the writer use language to inform and persuade the reader?
4
12 marks / · This is a comparison question and you will select which two items you will analyse in your response.
· In this question you will need to compare the use and effects of the presentation devices e.g. headings, images, colours.
· In this question you cannot necessarily quote from the text, but it still must be clear in your response about which part of the text you’re looking at e.g. the large image of the model in the middle of the cover is... / the bold red font used in the heading in the top left hand corner is...
· In this question ensure you comment on the effects achieved through the presentational devices and are not just describing what you see. E.g. there is a colour photograph of Cheryl Cole – it has no caption which implies that we are likely to know who she is.
· Typical question: Choose 2 of the 3 sources and compare the ways that both texts use presentational devices for effect. Remember to write about the way the sources are presented and compare how they look.

Key Vocabulary

Section B – Writing (1 hour)

In both of these tasks your marks will be divided up and you will be offered a separate mark for your communication / organisation of ideas and one for your skills / accuracy. This means that you will not only be marked on WHAT you write but also HOW you write it. Therefore you must consider your spelling, sentence structure, paragraphing and the overall structure of your writing, as well as work on including the different conventions of the writing style.