Paper 2: How to Answer Question 3 (AQA GCSE English Language) : Revision Note

Paper 2, Section A: Question 3 is the language analysis question.

How to answer Paper 2 Question 3

Let’s look at Question 3 from the June 2019 exam:

Step-by-step guide to Question 3

In order to achieve 12 marks for this question, you should:

1. Grab your highlighter:

   • Read the question carefully

   • Highlight which lines you need to use in the source text for your answers

   • Highlight the focus of the question

2. Scan the section of text:

   • Highlight information directly relevant to the focus of the question

   • Annotate in the margins reasons why the writer might have used a particular word or language feature (not just what the feature is)

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

   • For example:  The writer uses language to describe the power of the sea as…

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

4. Go into detail:

   • You need to make 2–3 main 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

   • For the highest marks, write about the effects of a writer’s choice of language

5. Sum up:

   • Your concluding statement should sum up what you have discovered about the writer’s language choices as a whole

How to get full marks on Paper 2 Question 3

• Question 3 tests your ability to analyse the effects of a writer’s choice of words, phrases and language devices

• Language choices may also include:

  • Sentence types

  • Sentence lengths

• If you identify a language feature, always explain its intended effect:

  • For example: The writer portrays the character’s impending sorrow by using pathetic fallacy; as death is associated with winter, it is used to foreshadow the deaths of other characters, which immediately establishes a sense of fear.

• The passage that will be selected from the extract will be deliberately rich in language use:

  • The examiner will have chosen an extract so you have a wealth of material to draw on

  • You must always ensure that your explanations are in relation to the context of the passage

• Higher responses typically focus on the effects of specific word choices, rather than writing about complex language techniques

• Before you start writing, have an idea about what points you will be making:

  • Having a focused approach will help you to structure your response and focus on quality rather than quantity

  • Pay attention to the small details, word choices and sentence structures which will enable a deeper understanding of the writer’s intentions

Language analysis exam tips

Common mistakes

• Only use the section of text given to you in the question and do not refer to anything outside these lines

• Do not get distracted by technical terms that the writer may have used:

  • This is called “feature spotting” and will not get you marks

  • If you do include subject terminology, demonstrate your understanding of why the writer may have used something and what the effect of its use is

• Avoid just re-writing long quotations from the text:

  • Break them down and embed them into your sentences

• Avoid speculative and vague comments on how an imagined “reader” might respond:

  • Generalised comments such as “This makes the reader want to read on…” are not credit worthy

  • Try to be as precise and specific as you can about the effects that the language choices are intended to make

Grade 9 tips

• Your answers should be written in paragraphs:

  • Try to include 3–4 paragraphs that cover 3–4 different points

• Always use direct quotations from the text to support your points

• All quotations need to be directly relevant to the focus of the question:

• Deconstruct the quotations you choose, analysing each one in detail

• You can include word-level analysis, exploring the effect of single words, but you also need to think about how multiple language features combine to create an overall effect, or meaning

• Focus on the effects of the writer’s choices, thinking about what the writer is doing and why

• If you identify a language feature, always explain its intended effect:

  • For example: The writer personifies the sea by describing it as ‘towering over’ the tiny boat, emphasising its superior size and power.

Learn more and test yourself

For more great tips and tricks, check out our dedicated revision notes on the Paper 2 Question 3 mark scheme and our fully annotated Paper 2 Question 3 model answer.

You can also test yourself on Paper 2 Question 3 by answering full questions and getting them marked by Smart Mark, our AI model created by English Language experts.