The document provides guidance on how to answer Question 2 for the GCSE English Language Paper 1 exam. It explains that students must identify language features in a text passage and explain their effects, using evidence from the text and appropriate subject terminology. Examples are given of answers that achieved different mark levels, with the highest level response analyzing language features in detail while using varied terminology and clearly explained impacts. Key advice is to spend 10 minutes answering, identify 4-5 language techniques, quote evidence, and clearly explain language choices and their effects on the reader.

1. GCSE ENGLISH
LANGUAGE
R E V I S I O N G U I D E F O R PA P E R 1 Q U E S T I O N 2

2. HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
• This guide takes you through Question 2 on the Paper 1 exam
• It provides all the important info you need to know to be able to successfully answer the
question
• You’re in control – work through the guide at your own pace, wherever and whenever you
want
• Click the mouse or use the keyboard arrow keys to move between the slides
• You can also pause, rewind and mute the videos of the example answers by moving the
mouse over the screen to reveal the playback controls
• Take the quiz at the end to test your understanding – you’ll find the questions after the

3. QUESTION 2
PAPER 1
HERE’S AN
EXAMPLE
QUESTION 2
FROM THE PAPER
1 EXAM

4. HOW DO I ANSWER THE QUESTION?
• You need to identify language features the writer has used in a specific part of the text
and explain the effects the language creates
• You need to quote evidence from the text
• You need to use the subject terminology related to language features
• You must write your answer using Point Evidence Explain (PEE) paragraphs
• Aim to write about a page or a page and a half
• The exam board advise you to spend no more than 10 minutes on this question (12 if
you get 25% extra time)
• The question is worth 8 marks

5. SUBJECT TERMINOLOGY
When writing about the words
and phrases the writer uses, you
need to use the following subject
terminology:
• adjective
• noun
• noun phrase
• verb
• adverb
When writing about the other
features and imagery
techniques, you need to use
these subject terms:
• simile
• metaphor
• personification
• symbol
• onomatopoeia
• alliteration

6. SUBJECT TERMINOLOGY: PRO TIP
• As you can see, the bullet points in
the question also suggest you
could write about sentence forms
• However, this is only a suggestion
– you do not have to write about
sentences
• Even the exam board advise it’s
better to focus on 4-5 word classes
and imagery techniques e.g. two
adjectives, a verb and a simile

7. THE MARK SCHEME
Here’s the Assessment Objective you need to achieve for
Question 2:
AO2: Explain, comment on and analyse how writers use
language to achieve effects and influence readers, using
relevant subject terminology to support their views.

8. THE MARK SCHEME
The mark scheme has four levels:
• Level 4: Detailed and perceptive (7-8
marks)
• Level 3: Clear and relevant (5-6 marks)
• Level 2: Some understanding (3-4 marks)
• Level 1: Simple and limited (1-2 marks)
Grades 7-9 (A-A*)
Grades 4-6 (C-B)
Grades 3-4 (D-lower C)
Grades 1-2 (F-E)

9. THE MARK SCHEME TRANSLATED
To successfully answer Question 2 on
the Paper 1 exam, the mark scheme
states that you must do three things:
1. Explain the effects of the writer’s
choices of language
2. Select a range of relevant textual
detail
3. Makes clear and accurate use of
subject terminology
And here’s what it really means:
1. Explain the effects clearly and
in detail
2. Quote evidence from the text
to support each point you’re
making
3. Use the subject terminology

10. MARK SCHEME RECAP

11. EXAMPLE ANSWER: 4 MARKS

12. EXAMPLE ANSWER: 4 MARKS
What did the student do well?
 They quoted some evidence
from the text
 They used some subject
terminology
 They made an attempt to
explain the effects of the
language features
What did the student fail to do?
X The evidence was not always
clearly related to the explanations
X They lacked a range of subject
terms
X They made brief comments
rather than clear and detailed
explanations

13. QUICK RECAP: 4 MARK ANSWER

14. EXAMPLE ANSWER: 5 MARKS

15. EXAMPLE ANSWER: 5 MARKS
What did the student do well?
 They used some subject
terminology
 Their explanations were clear
and more detailed than the 4
mark answer
 They used clear, relevant
quotes as evidence
What did the student fail to do?
X They lacked a range of subject
terms
X They labelled some of the
examples of language use as
‘words’ or ‘word’ rather than
‘adjectives’ and ‘verb’

16. QUICK RECAP: 5 MARK ANSWER

17. EXAMPLE ANSWER: 7 MARKS

18. EXAMPLE ANSWER: 7 MARKS
What did the student do well?
 They used clear, relevant
quotes
 They used sophisticated subject
terminology and analysed a
range of language features (4 in
total)
 They wrote perceptive and
detailed explanations that
What did the student fail to do?
X The last explanation in the
answer wasn’t as detailed as the
other two

19. QUICK RECAP: 7 MARK ANSWER

20. SUMMARY
So, when it comes to answering Question 2 on the Paper 1 exam,
remember to:
1. Explain the effects of the language clearly and in detail
2. Quote evidence from the text to support each point you’re making
3. Use a range of subject terminology
4. Use the specific subject terms, such as noun, noun phrase, adjective,
verb, adverb, simile, metaphor, personification, symbol,
onomatopoeia
5. Spend 10 minutes answering the question (12 minutes if you get
25% extra time)

21. RECAP QUIZ

22. RECAP QUIZ

23. RECAP QUIZ

24. RECAP QUIZ

25. RECAP QUIZ