Paper 2 Question 4 Skills: Comparing Texts (AQA GCSE English Language) : Revision Note

Nick Redgrove

Written by: Nick Redgrove

Reviewed by: Kate Lee

Updated on

Paper 2 Question 4 tests you on your ability to compare the writers’ ideas and perspectives in two different sources. You are expected to:

  • Bring together and compare the two perspectives on a specific subject

  • Analyse the differences between the writers’ perspectives

  • Link these points of view to the methods used by the writers to convey them

The following guide contains everything you need to know about answering the comparison question:

  • How do I compare texts? 

  • Comparison of the writers’ perspectives and ideas

  • Commenting on the writers’ methods

  • Comparing perspectives in the exam

How do I compare texts?

Understanding the question

What you need to do for Question 4 is relatively complex, and without careful preparation for the exam, many students find it difficult to combine the different skills assessed in this question. A good place to start is to examine the bullet points you are given as part of the question:

AQA GCSE English Language Paper 2 Question 4
Question 4

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Each of the three preceding reading questions provide you with practice and inspiration for Question 4. 

You will have some understanding of ideas introduced by Question 1; you will have an overview of both texts from Question 2; and you will have focused on how one writer has used methods in Question 3. 

These questions offer you stepping stones towards meeting the challenge of Question 4, so make sure you answer the questions in order.

Comparing and contrasting texts

When you're comparing non-fiction texts, your goal is to identify areas where the texts share common ground. Contrasting involves pointing out the differences between the texts. These similarities or differences can be in terms of:

  • Ideas

  • Themes

  • Literary features

  • Structure

  • Or any other relevant aspect

When comparing and contrasting, it's crucial to:

  • Provide specific examples from the texts:

    • These make your comparisons more robust 

  • Identify the purpose of each text

  • Identify the audience of each text

  • Understand each writer’s main ideas

Here are some words and phrases that can be used to signal comparisons and contrasts in your response: 

Words to compare

Similarly

Likewise

Equally

Both

Comparably

In the same way

Words to  contrast

On the other hand

Although

However

While

Whereas

In contrast

Examiner Tips and Tricks

The ultimate goal of comparing and contrasting is to draw insights from the similarities and differences you have identified.

What do these shared and distinct elements reveal about the writers’ intentions and perspectives? Do comparisons and contrasts shed light on the larger context or themes within which these texts exist?

Comparison of the writers’ perspectives and ideas

Part of Question 4 will ask you to compare the writers’ feelings and perspectives. This means analysing and contrasting how each writer’s viewpoint on a particular subject or theme is presented within their texts. 

The writer’s perspective refers to their unique way of presenting:

  • Ideas

  • Themes

  • Characters

  • Events

A writer’s perspective shapes how they develop their narrative and engage with the reader. Having a different point of view means that different writers can approach similar themes in unique ways.

Below are some ideas which you should consider when thinking about how to compare the writers’ perspectives and ideas:

Analyse perspectives

Identify themes

Compare and contrast

How does each writer present their viewpoint, opinions and ideas within their text? This includes looking at their use of dialogue, narration and use of literary devices

What central themes or ideas does each writer explore? These could be recurring motifs or messages that the writers want to convey to their readers

What are the similarities and differences between these perspectives and ideas? Consider how each writer has approached a similar theme or topic, as well as how they diverge in their approaches and message

Contextualise

Use evidence

Draw conclusions

When and where did the writers write their texts? Consider the purpose, audience and form of each text

What evidence best supports your view of each writer's perspective? Select quotations and explain how these contribute to the overall understanding of their writing

Draw conclusions about the writers’ intentions, viewpoints and the impact of their ideas on the reader's understanding

You may wish to consider using something like a Venn diagram to plan your response to this question:

AQA GCSE English Language  Venn diagram
Venn diagram

Commenting on the writers’ methods

Question 4 also requires you to comment on the methods the writers use to convey their different perspectives and feelings. The word “methods” encapsulates a number of concepts:

  • The style of the writing

  • The words and phrases used

  • The language techniques used

  • The form of the writing

  • Its structure

  • Its purpose

“Different perspectives and ideas” is an umbrella term to capture what a writer is writing about and how they present it to the reader. The reader can be either:

  • The intended reader in the time period in which a text is written

  • Or you as a reader of the source

Examiner Tips and Tricks

In Question 4, some students make the mistake of repeating some of the material they have used in their response to Question 2

You are reminded that the focus of Question 4 will always be different from the focus for Question 2; these two questions require different skills. Therefore you need to ensure you have a distinctly different approach to and write different things for each question in Section A.

Comparing perspectives in the exam

For the very best marks for Question 4, it’s important to analyse the writer’s feelings and perspectives across the whole of each passage you are given in the exam. 

The extracts below are from Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” (Text 1) and Nigel Dudley’s “This Poisoned Earth: Truth About Pesticides” (Text 2). Both texts are about pesticides and their impact.

It’s vital when writing a response for Question 4 that you know what the focus of the question is. Here, we will be examining each writer’s feelings and perspectives of pesticides.

Annotating the extract

Once you’ve read the question carefully and know what the focus is (for these extracts it’s “each writer’s feelings and perspectives of pesticides”), highlight relevant parts of the text and annotate how this evidence reflects each writer’s feelings or perspectives:

AQA GCSE English  Language Text 1
Text 1 annotated
AQA GCSE English  Language Text 1
Text 2 annotated

Turning your annotations into an answer

We will now use the annotations to write the beginning of a Question 4 answer. It includes a thesis statement (which is an introduction that sets out the overall argument) and an example paragraph.

Opening thesis

Both texts share a common concern that pesticides have a negative impact, albeit from distinct perspectives. While the first text laments the loss of different species and the disrupted balance in the environment, the second text focuses on the immediate health risks to human populations posed by pesticide usage.

Model paragraph

In both texts, the writers use imagery to illustrate their concern about the use of pesticides in the environment. In Text 1, the writer uses imagery to contrast the transformation of the environment from a thriving state to one which is desolate and lifeless. The opening line, “There was a strange stillness” immediately sets the tone by invoking a sense of quiet and unease. This stillness is further illustrated by the description of the missing birds and the feeding stations. As the writer shifts their focus from the sky to the land, the imagery continues to convey this devastation. The description of the roadside, “browned withered vegetation”, reinforces the idea of a barren landscape and the phrase “swept by fire” indicates an intrusive and destructive force. Similarly, in Text 2, the writer uses imagery to depict the accidents related to crop-spraying in order to convey their feelings about the harmful consequences of these practices. The phrase “fine yellow mist of fungicide” has connotations of toxicity which evoke a sense of impending danger. Furthermore, the writer’s description of people being “covered with pesticide” is equally unsettling and conveys the writer’s perspective on the alarming consequences of crop-spraying practices.

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Always try to link the perspectives of the writers to the methods they use

You must address how the writers have conveyed their views in your answer. Ignoring this will always result in a lower mark.

Learn more and test yourself

For more great tips and tricks, check out our dedicated revision notes on the Paper 2 Question 4 mark scheme and our fully annotated Paper 2 Question 4 model answer.

You can also test yourself on Paper 2 Question 4 by answering full questions and getting them marked by Smart Mark, our AI model created by English Language experts.

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Nick Redgrove

Author: Nick Redgrove

Expertise: English Senior Content Creator

Nick is a graduate of the University of Cambridge and King’s College London. He started his career in journalism and publishing, working as an editor on a political magazine and a number of books, before training as an English teacher. After nearly 10 years working in London schools, where he held leadership positions in English departments and within a Sixth Form, he moved on to become an examiner and education consultant. With more than a decade of experience as a tutor, Nick specialises in English, but has also taught Politics, Classical Civilisation and Religious Studies.

Kate Lee

Reviewer: Kate Lee

Expertise: English Content Creator

Kate has over 12 years of teaching experience as a Head of English and as a private tutor. Having also worked at the exam board AQA and in educational publishing, she's been writing educational resources to support learners in their exams throughout her career. She's passionate about helping students achieve their potential by developing their literacy and exam skills.

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