Paper 1: How to Answer Question 4 (AQA GCSE English Language) : Revision Note

Paper 1, Section A: Question 4 is the evaluation question.

How to answer Paper 1 Question 4

Let’s look at Question 4 from the June 2023 exam:

The wording of this exam question from 2026 onwards has slightly changed. Instead of being asked to agree or disagree with an imaginary student’s opinion, you will be given a clear statement to evaluate.

Let’s look at an example of the new wording for this question:

Step-by-step guide to Question 4

In order to achieve 20 marks for this question, you should:

1. Grab your highlighter:

   • Read the question carefully

   • Highlight the focus of the question

   • Mark on the text where to begin your analysis from (according to the question instructions)

2. Scan the section of text:

   • Highlight only the information directly relevant to the focus of the question

   • Annotate in the margins why this evidence supports your overall judgement

3. Start your answer using the wording of the question:

   • For example: I agree with the statement that Zoe is slow to react to the warning signs…

   • This demonstrates to the examiner that you have understood both the question and the text

4. Go into detail:

   • Make 3–4 developed points, ranging throughout the section of text

   • Use the annotations you have made in the margins to form the basis of each point

   • It is a good idea to make your points in chronological order, if possible

5. Sum up:

• Your concluding statement should sum up how your evidence has supported your judgement as a whole

How to get full marks on Paper 1 Question 4

Evaluation is the interpretation of content (the what) and analysis of method (the how) in relation to a given statement. It’s important, therefore, that you evaluate the “how” as well as the “what” in your answer.

• Question 4 tests your ability to evaluate the text critically and support this with appropriate textual references:

  • The examiner is looking for a personal judgement

  • This judgement should be informed and evidenced through references to the text

  • You’ll also need to evaluate the effects of the writer’s methods

• The question will ask “to what extent you agree or disagree” with the statement:

  • You can agree, partially agree or disagree entirely with the statement, as long as your views are appropriately supported by the text

  • It is not essential to include a counter-argument, or to cover both halves of the statement

Evaluation exam tips

Common mistakes

• Avoid writing alternating paragraphs which swap between agree and disagree:

  • You should aim to write a clear answer that is straightforward in its argument

  • If you do have an alternative view, you will need to support it with clear evidence from within the text

• Avoid making assumptions without evidence:

  • Only comment on the details that relate to the question and are present in the text

• It is not essential to cover both halves of the statement:

  • If you have nothing relevant to say about part of the statement, then concentrate on the other half

Grade 9 tips

• The key skill for Question 4 is the evaluation of both the ideas in the source in relation to the given statement, and the methods used by the writer to convey these ideas:

  • Make sure you make developed comments based around both of these things

• Begin with a sense of your own evaluation before you write and construct an argument with a focus on the what and the how:

  • Separate the different elements of the statement

  • Re-read the source

  • Select relevant evidence

  • Then draw evaluative conclusions accordingly

• Contextualise your selected quotations:

  • Explain how they support your judgement

Learn more and test yourself

For more great tips and tricks, check out our dedicated revision notes on the Paper 1 Question 4 mark scheme and our fully annotated Paper 1 Question 4 model answer.

You can also test yourself on Paper 1 Question 4 with expert-created exam questions. Try answering full questions and get them marked by Smart Mark, our AI model created by English Language experts.