Information packs being distributed this evening:

• Covering letter with data• Your child’s mock paper: GCSE English• Exemplar responses from HVC students• Revision pack and past paper

Please ensure you have these before the presentation begins

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General advice to examiners from the Chief Examiner at AQA

There are 4 Bands of marks available for each question

Each Band covers 2 notional grades

Candidates do not need to do everything to get into the next Band. Award a Band on a ‘best fit’ basis.

Candidates may do one or two bullet points well enough to compensate for complete lack of another bullet

‘If in doubt go higher on the mark’

3 unseen non-fiction sources thematically linked

Q1. Source 1 – retrieval/inference 8 marksQ2. Source 2 – headline/picture linked to text 8 marksQ3. Source 3 (literary in style) – inference 8 marksQ4. ‘Comparison’ of two texts: Source 3 + the 16 marks

candidate’s choice – focus is language andcomparison

Question 1 – Source 1 (8marks)

• A ‘what?’ type question• Emphasis on retrieval

of information• For Band 4, there needs

to be a comment or inference (reading between the lines) as well as retrieval

• Candidates need to show understanding of CONTENT

• This question DOES NOT want a comment on language or presentational features

From reading the article, what do youunderstand about the issues the writer has with Facebook?

Question 1 – Source 1 (8marks)

• Bullet 1 is related to ‘understanding’

• Bullet 4 is related to ‘support’ (relevant quotes/references)

• The best way for ‘D’ grade candidates to get into Band 3 is through sufficient ‘retrieval’ to demonstrate ‘understanding’

• To access Band 4, a candidate must add some inference/interpretation into their response

General feedback – Q1

• Responses are too brief (need to be 1 ½ sides MINIMUM

• Need to focus on the wording of the question: issues the writer has with Facebook

• More comment from across the whole text• Need more interpretation/personal response

Question 2 – Source 2 (8 marks)

• Emphasis is on ‘explain’, ‘effect’, ‘link’

• Candidates do not have to address each aspect equally but must address both

Candidates must focus on 4 things:• Effect of words in the

headline• How they link with the

text• Effect of details in the

picture• How they link with the

text

Read the article. Explain how the headline and picture are effective and

how they link to the text.

Question 2 – Source 2 (8 marks)

The first bullet ‘Effect of words in the headline’ is almost a LANGUAGE question in disguise – candidates must choose specific words in the headlines and text to comment on.

The question is not looking for vague comments on ‘bold’, ‘colourful’, ‘attention grabbing’ etc. It is NOT a presentational features question. Students must describe and comment on the specific details they can see in the image and text.

It hooks the reader

It grabs our attention

It makes the reader want to read on

What to avoid…

In the article the headline is effective because now we know what the text is about so when we read the text we already have an idea of what it is about.

The title gives the reader an insight to what the article is about but doesn’t give too much away so the reader will have to continue reading to understand the full story.

As soon as you read the headline you know what the article is going to be about.

The fact that it is written in big and bold draws you into the rest of the article and makes it effective because it is hard to miss it and it grabs your attention.

The headline is effective as it is bold, eye-catching and easy to read. It is linked to the text as it is explaining what the text is saying but in a shorter way. This is effective as it makes the reader want to know more about the article before they actually begin to read it.

The picture is colourful and is showing that the text is about. This is effective because when you read the article you would want to have an image drawn in your head. The image is there so you can imagine it as you read. It is also effective as it emphasises what the article is about.

General feedback – Q2

• Do not link the headline to the picture• Some students did not mention the picture at all• Need to zoom in on 4-6 specific details in the

picture• If you notice the use of alliteration say:

“Alliteration is a typical feature of newspaper headlines to engage the reader with the idea of…”

Question 3 – source 3 (8 marks)

• Key word is ‘Explain’• Emphasis is on

‘inference’ (interpretation or comment) – not just retrieval

• Band 4 responses need to acknowledge changes that take place

• Bright candidates sometimes fall down by analysing LANGUAGE and its effect on the reader.

• Language is NOT relevant to this question

Now read SOURCE 3, ‘Stranded on Vanuatu’, which is an extract from a non-fiction book

Explain some of the thoughts and feelings the writer has whilst he is on the island.

General feedback – Q3

• Misunderstanding of the focus and talking about the READER and talking about language features.

• Checking inferences matches the character’s feelings in the text

• Got to comment on start, middle and end of the text and shift in tone.

Question 4 – Source 3 + one other (16 marks)

• This is the hardest question on the Reading section

• Key words are: ‘used for effect’ and to a lesser extent, ‘compare’

• Emphasis is on analysis of LANGUAGE within contexts

• Focus is on SPECIFIC words and phrases

• Candidates are being asked to do a comparison and language analysis. However, language analysis is much more important.

Now you need to refer to SOURCE 3, ‘Stranded onVanuatu’, and EITHER SOURCE 1 OR SOURCE 2.

You are going to compare the use of language in TWOtexts, one of which you have chosen.

Compare the ways in which language is usedfor effect in the two texts. Give some examples and analyse what the effects are.

Question 4 – Source 3 + one other (16 marks)

• Source 3 must be the basis of the answer as it is always LITERARY in style and lends itself better to language analysis

• Maximum mark for ignoring instructions and writing about Sources 1 & 2 is 12 marks (Band 3)

• If candidates only write about Source 3, the maximum mark is 9

Question 4 – Source 3 + one other (16 marks)

• Band 3 and 4 are only accessible if the candidate offers a range of appropriate quotations .

• Frequent short quotes are essential. The first quote should appear in the first sentence.

• The first piece of interesting language is “_____”, which creates the idea that________.

• Candidates must avoid feature spotting and ensure they link language to effects.

Source 3 is a descriptive piece of writing that focuses on the character’s thoughts and feelings through the use of imagery and lots of specific detail about their experiences. Whereas Source 2 has the features of a typical article such as a headline that uses a pun/alliteration (etc.) and a factual, informative tone.

How are they different?

The key to success in this question is the structure of the answer and quotes.

Source 3

Source 1 or 2

Short compare/contrast

The only way you can analyse

language is to quote

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There is going to be a Summer Festival in your area and the organisers are asking for ideas about what to put on.Write a letter to the organisers which describes what you would like to include and explains why your ideas would appeal to thecommunity. (16 marks)

The following quotation is from an article in anational newspaper:‘Young people today have become obsessed with social networking sites which are a bad influence and can take over their lives. These sites should be banned.’Write an article in reply in which you agree or disagree with the quotation. (24 marks)

General feedback for the writing tasks

• Use the basic genre features – what type of text is it?• Are any of the sources on the same topic? Can they be

used for ideas?• Plan• Always answer 6 before 5• Learn vocabulary phrases in revision guides• Tick off punctuation as you use it

General feedback Q5

Letter:

• Forgotten to use Dear / Yours sincerely…• Begin with a personal anecdote/”Can you imagine…”

then link to the task• Often too short - has to be 1 ½ sides minimum• Tick off punctuation on top of sheet as they use them

– on back of insert

There is going to be a Summer Festival in your area and the organisers are asking for ideas about what to put on.Write a letter to the organisers which describes what you would like to include and explains why your ideas would appeal to thecommunity. (16 marks)

General feedback Q5 & Q6 Article:

• Headline• Never begin: “I agree with this

statement…” • Learn vocab phrases• Too short – has to be

minimum 2 ½ sides • Use the sources for ideas

Highlight on source – 5 things to steal/tone/ structure

• But you can’t copy obvious phrases

The following quotation is from an article in anational newspaper:‘Young people today have become obsessed with social networking sites which are a bad influence and can take over their lives. These sites should be banned.’Write an article in reply in which you agree or disagree with the quotation. (24 marks)

Anti-social Media!

Don’t begin: I agree with this statement.

Instead: Without a shadow of a doubt, it is clear that social media should be banned. The universal consensus on this issue is that teenagers are wasting their lives staring blankly into a screen waiting for the latest inane update to some minor celebrity’s boyfriend/girlfriend status.