GCSE English Mock Exam Preparation

Section A : Reading

Learning Intention

We are learning to…- Understand the skills we need for the

first two questions- Understand how to approach and

answer them- Apply this to create successful

answers

Skills for Life: Commitment to Success

Fundamentals

You can do it Focus Hard work – writing and individual

work Learn and Practice You have to get it wrong to learn

AO2

I. Read and understand texts, selecting material appropriate to purpose, collating from different sources and making comparisons and cross-references as appropriate.

III. Explain and evaluate how writers use linguistic, grammatical, structural and presentational features to achieve effects and engage and influence the reader, supporting their comments with detailed textual references

AO2

I. Read and understand texts, selecting material appropriate to purpose, collating from different sources and making comparisons and cross-references as appropriate.

III. Explain and evaluate how writers use linguistic, grammatical, structural and presentational features to achieve effects and engage and influence the reader, supporting their comments with detailed textual references

In question 1 (F) they want

Question 1 refers to Source 1, and will be a straightforward test of the candidates’ ability to retrieve information and ideas from the source.

• Retrieving information from the text

Reading Skill

1

Success CriteriaGet marks for…

1. Find four separate points2. Don’t repeat yourself3. Express points simply and

precisely

Jamie Oliver says that he is very pleased about the school dinners in Greenwich because they have improved academic results and that is good because everyone can do well if they eat good dinners, I think this is true as well because no-one can do well if they are hungry can they?

Success CriteriaGet marks for…

1. Find four separate points2. Don’t repeat yourself3. Express points simply and

precisely

They have improved test results.

They have ………..

You could have had…

Q2

Question 2 also refers to Source 1 and will test candidates’ ability to retrieve, understand and interpret information and ideas from the source

Reading Skill 2

•Read and understand the text•Using PEE

Success CriteriaSkilled work will ...

1. Make one clear, relevant point2. Use clear, relevant evidence3. Explain the evidence – how does it

prove the point?Excellent work will

1. Make two points2. Explain the evidence with increasing

detail and development3. Read between the lines and show

more thoughtful understanding

Sample Response

Jamie Oliver’s main reaction is that he is very pleased at the results of the research. We know this because he says the results were “fantastic”. This shows that he is delighted that the research shows his dinners helped the students a lot.

Sample Response

Jamie Oliver’s main reaction is that he is very pleased at the results of the research. We know this because he says the results were “fantastic”. This shows that he is delighted that the research shows his dinners helped the students a lot.

Sample Response

Jamie Oliver’s main reaction is that he is very pleased at the results of the research. We know this because he says the results were “fantastic”. This shows that he is delighted that the research shows his dinners helped the students a lot.

Jamie Oliver’s main reaction is that he is very pleased at the results of the research. We know this because he says the results were “fantastic”. This shows that he is delighted that the research shows his dinners helped the students a lot.

Key Components

Jamie Oliver’s main reaction is ……………… ................................................................... We know this because ……………………….. …………………………………………………………….This shows that …..…………………………………. ……………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………..

What does this show about his reaction?

"It's the first time a proper study has been done into the positive effects of the campaign and it strongly suggests we were right all along,“

Also, Jamie Oliver thinks that …………………..

We can see this when he says …………………..

This shows that …………………………………….

What does this show about his reaction?

The chef said it was further evidence that faster movement was needed towards improving take-up of nutritious, home-cooked school meals across the country...

Also, Jamie Oliver reacts by saying that ……

We can see this when he says ……………….

This shows that ………………………………….

Task

Now look at your answers to Q1 &2. Pair share how you might improve.

Reading Skill 1

•Retrieving information from the text

Reading Skill 2

•Read and understand the text•Using PEE

Q3

Question 3 refers to Source 2, and will test the candidates’ ability to understand and interpret meaning.

Reading Skill 3

•Read and understand the text•Using PEE to show layers of meaning

Success CriteriaSkilled work will ...

1. Make one clear, relevant point2. Use clear, relevant evidence3. Explain the evidence – how does it

prove the point/reasons?Excellent work will

1. Make two points2. Explain the evidence with increasing

detail and development3. Read between the lines and show

more thoughtful understanding

You could have written about...

Q4

Question 4 refers to Source 3 and will test the candidates’ ability to write about the effectiveness of language employed by the writer

Q4

Reading Skill 3

• Read and understand the text

• Using PEE to show layers of meaning

Success CriteriaSkilled work will ...

1. Make clear, relevant points2. Use clear, relevant evidence3. Comment on the effects of words

and phrases to inform and advise

Excellent work will

1. Make a range of points2. Explain the evidence with increasing

detail and development3. Clear analysis of the effect of words

and phrases (language) to inform and advise

You could have said:

Q5

Question 5 refers to any two of the sources, selected by the candidate. The question will test candidates’ ability to write about presentational features and to compare two texts

Reading Skill 4

• Read and understand the text

• Using PEE for presentational features

WHAT? (Lots of techniques)

Photograph emotive image logo

headline list Centralised slogan colour cropping slogan

Shadow / drop shadow size of font style of font

Layout captions lighting pose

Fonts bullet points video links

WHY? (Precise effect on the reader)

grabs the reader’s attention is very moving makes the reader feel sad

is memorable has sudden impactdirectly involves reader

adds realism lodges the idea in the reader’s mind is humorous

adds further detail draws the eye

creates a strong contrast

is thought provoking brings attention to creates sympathy

adds informality makes it seem authentic

gives it validity makes it believable is persuasive

Refer

specifically to

the feature

Success CriteriaSkilled work will ...

1. Use clear, relevant evidence2. Comment on the effect of

presentational features in both texts

3. Some comparison and/or cross reference

Excellent work will

1. Clear analysis of the evidence with increasing detail and development

2. Increasingly clear comparison and/or cross reference showing how presentation differs between the two texts

Presentation JO

Presentation SAGT

Presentation GOWYT