Learn: Mastering Paper 1

Welcome!Welcome, Year 11 student! Today, we'll focus on mastering Paper 1 of the AQA GCSE English Language specification. By the end of this lesson, you'll feel confident in your ability to tackle the reading and writing sections effectively. Let's get started!

Understanding Paper 1Paper 1 focuses on Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing. You'll analyse a single unseen literature fiction text from the 20th or 21st century and demonstrate your creative writing skills by crafting a description or narrative. This paper is worth 50% of your GCSE grade and lasts 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Exploring Section A: ReadingIn this section, you'll read a fiction extract and answer four questions. These questions assess your ability to retrieve information, analyse language and structure, and evaluate a writer's methods. It's important to identify explicit and implicit ideas, and understand how the writer uses language and structure to engage the reader.

Key Skills for Section ATo excel in Section A, develop the following skills:Retrieval: Locate and interpret explicit details from the text.Inference: Read between the lines to understand implicit meanings.Analysis: Explain how language and structure create effects and influence the reader.Evaluation: Critically assess the effectiveness of the writer’s choices.

Deconstructing Question TypesEach question in Section A targets specific skills:Q1: Identify explicit information (4 marks).Q2: Analyse how language is used (8 marks).Q3: Analyse how structure is used (8 marks).Q4: Evaluate the writer's methods and express your opinion (20 marks).

Approaching Section B: WritingIn Section B, you'll be asked to write a narrative or descriptive piece. This is worth 40 marks, with 24 marks for content (AO5) and 16 marks for technical accuracy (AO6). Planning your response is crucial to ensure your work is well-organised, engaging, and free of errors.

Key Skills for WritingStructure: Use effective openings, endings, paragraphs, and discourse markers.Language: Choose precise vocabulary and varied sentence structures for impact.Tone and register: Tailor your writing to suit the audience and purpose.Accuracy: Ensure correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

Planning Your WritingBefore you start writing, plan your response carefully. Identify your audience, purpose, and form. Think about your structure and the tone you want to use. A strong plan ensures your writing is clear and impactful.

Review Time!Great work so far! You've learned about the structure and key skills needed for Paper 1. Now let's test your knowledge with a few final questions.

Congratulations!You've completed the lesson on mastering Paper 1. You've learned how to approach both the reading and writing sections, and practised key skills. Keep practising these techniques to ensure you're prepared for your exam!