Paper 1: Section B Overview (AQA GCSE English Language): Revision Note
Exam code: 8700
Writing section summary
Section B overview | |
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Timings | |
Spend 45 minutes on Section B |
In Section B: Writing of Paper 1 (Question 5) you will be given the choice of writing to describe or writing to narrate (this option asks you to write a story). One of the options will also contain a picture prompt to use as the basis for your writing.
How long should I spend writing for Question 5?
You should aim to spend about 45 minutes on Section B, but don’t spend all of that time writing. For the best marks, it’s crucial to plan your answer and, after it’s written, to check it for mistakes:
For expert guides on planning and proofreading, check out our exam skills pages on How to Plan Your Creative Writing at GCSE and How to Check and Proofread Your Writing at GCSE.
What am I tested on in Section B: Writing?
For Question 5, you are tested on your ability to create an effective narrative or description and your use and control of spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG).
Understanding the assessment objectives (AOs) of Section B in more detail will help you:
Know what skills you are expected to show in the exam
Help you identify areas to improve on
Section B | ||
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AO5 | Content and organisation (24 marks) |
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AO6 | Technical accuracy (16 marks) |
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Expert tips for the writing question
Understand what the question is asking
The image is only a prompt:
Don’t just describe what you see
You need to include additional, original ideas to what the image gives you
For either option, you need to focus on using a variety of appropriate techniques and linguistic devices to add detail, ambition and sophistication to your writing:
For example, don’t add dialogue to a description
Plan before you write!
Your writing needs to be controlled and structured, so spend 5–10 minutes planning your writing
Before you start writing, make sure you have decided on the following:
Planning checklist | ||
Structure | The beginning, middle and end planned | ✅ |
Point of view | Who is narrating? What is their backstory? | ✅ |
Location | What is the setting like? (It’s best to stick to one location) | ✅ |
Characters | Who is involved? (It’s best to stick to two characters, maximum) | ✅ |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
If you are writing a story, start at the point just before something eventful happens. By starting at the destination, rather than including lots of set-up, you are more likely to write an engaging piece of creative writing.
You’ll also be much more likely to finish your piece of writing: completing your piece of creative writing is vital to achieve top marks in the exam.
Expert writing tips
Your use of tenses (e.g. present or past tense) must be consistent
Try to include ambitious language and detail to bring your writing to life and engage the reader
You should also try to demonstrate the accurate use of a range of punctuation
Your paragraphs should be fluently linked, so think about how each links to the last
Remember to use figurative language
There are lots of figurative language techniques you can employ to give your creative or descriptive writing interesting detail, but a useful acronym to remember in the exam is RAMPOS:
R | Of a word, phrase, image or idea. This is much more effective if you think of repetition as a motif that you use throughout your piece of writing | |
A | Remember, the words starting with the same consonant sound do not have to be consecutive. | |
M | Metaphors can be as simple as figures of speech, but are especially effective where they are extended and developed | |
P | A great way to create atmosphere at the start of your writing is by personifying the setting to your story or description | |
O | The representation of sound on paper should be more sophisticated than comic-book terms such as “boom”. It is also not helpful to put onomatopoeic words all in capital letters. Consider sound as a way of evoking the senses in order to create atmosphere | |
S | A simple comparison using “like” or “as” should be used sparingly, as this creates more impact |
Learn more
For a more detailed breakdown of the question, the mark scheme and a model answer, check out the following revision notes:
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