Paper 2: How to Answer Question 2 (AQA GCSE English Language) : Revision Note

Paper 2, Section A: Question 2 is the summarising inferences question.

How to answer Paper 2 Question 2 

Let’s look at Question 2 from the June 2023 exam:

The wording of this exam question from 2026 onwards has slightly changed, though there is no change in how you answer this question.

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

Step-by-step guide to Question 2

In order to achieve 8 marks for this question, you should:

1. Read the question carefully:

   • Highlight the focus of the question

2. Scan both Source A and Source B:

   • Highlight information directly relevant to the focus of the question

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

   • For example: 

   • Both Source A and Source B describe the boats in very contrasting ways: the boat in Source A is small and brand new, while the boat in Source B is larger, significantly older and damaged.

4. Go into detail:

   • Make valid inferences about details from both texts

   • For the highest marks, you should synthesise your ideas and give supporting evidence

How to get full marks on Paper 2 Question 2

There are essentially four skills that you need to develop in order to answer this question successfully: three reading skills and one writing skill.

Skills required

Synthesise and infer exam tips

Common mistakes

• Avoid focusing on only one of the sources:

  • Question 2 requires you to synthesise information from both sources

  • You must deal with both texts and address the correct focus of the question to achieve Level 3 or above

• The question does not require you to consider writers’ techniques or effects:

  • The question will not reference “writers” for this reason

  • Remember, aspects of writers’ techniques and effects on readers are separately assessed in AO3 in Question 4

Grade 9 tips

• Plan your response:

  • One way to do this is to highlight textual details that are relevant to the question

• You will be rewarded for responses which are either perceptive or detailed or, in some cases, both:

• Perceptive means your interpretations are insightful — they reveal something interesting or original

• Detailed means that your points are extended, developed or analytical

• Give detailed explanations of a small number of inferences:

  • This is more beneficial than making a larger number of less precise inferences

• Interpretation is at the heart of this question (making inferences and showing differences/similarities):

  • Include layers of interpretation (deeper meanings) to offer a perceptive or conceptual understanding of the ideas presented

Learn more and test yourself

For more great tips and tricks, check out our dedicated revision notes on the Paper 2 Question 2 mark scheme and our fully annotated Paper 2 Question 2 model answer.

You can also test yourself on Paper 2 Question 2 with expert-created Save My Exams quiz and exam questions. Try our Paper 2 Question 2 multiple choice questions and answer full questions and get them marked by Smart Mark, our AI model created by English Language experts.