Paper 2 Question 5: SPaG (AQA GCSE English Language) : Revision Note
Question 5 awards up to 16 marks for accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar or, as it is called in the mark scheme, technical accuracy. To gain the most marks in this question, you are also required to use punctuation and grammar deliberately for effect.
There are five strands which make up the 16 marks for technical accuracy. Below we will explore each of these strands below:
Sentence demarcation
Range of punctuation
Range of sentence forms
Standard English and secure grammar
Accurate spelling and ambitious vocabulary
Sentence demarcation
This means that you have started your sentences with a capital letter and ended them correctly, using either:
A full-stop (for a statement)
A question mark (for a direct question)
An exclamation mark (to indicate surprise, shock, anger or happiness)
This sounds simple enough, but comma-splicing and run-on sentences are some of the most common errors made in the exam, so it is important that you know exactly when a sentence finishes and how to indicate that it has finished. For more details on these errors and how to fix them, check out our exam skills page on mastering sentences.
Have a look at the example below. Sentence demarcation is absent, so consider how much harder it is to make sense of what has been written:
Whether or not you think smartphones are a good thing, the fact of life in today’s society is that the mobile phone is no longer just a phone in fact they are our lives we network, socialise, gossip and get information from them, we have our bus passes, train tickets, bank cards, timetables and reminders on them we can even do our college work on them what we use them for is constantly changing and expanding. |
Now compare the example above with the example below, which uses the correct sentence demarcations:
Whether or not you think smartphones are a good thing, the fact of life in today’s society is that the mobile phone is no longer just a phone. In fact, they are our lives. We network, socialise, gossip and get information from them. We have our bus passes, train tickets, bank cards, timetables and reminders on them. We can even do our college work on them. What we use them for is constantly changing and expanding. |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
The more sophisticated and complex your sentences, the more important accurate sentence demarcation is.
Varying the length of your sentences will create a more dynamic rhythm to your writing.
Range of punctuation
For the highest marks, you need to accurately and purposefully use a wide range of punctuation to achieve specific effects. This means that you make conscious choices about the type of punctuation you are using in your writing, and why you are using it.
The bottom tier of the punctuation pyramid below shows the range of punctuation you should be aiming to use:
Below you will find a brief explanation of two great punctuation marks to use in your writing: colons and semi-colons.
Colons
Colons can introduce lists, quotes or long explanations. They can be used in an article, for example, to introduce a list of tips if you are giving advice. They can also be used before a direct quote (one you may have made up from an “expert”). For example:
The media officer for London Zoo advised: “We take the protection and welfare of our animals extremely seriously. Any reported concerns regarding the health of our animals would be acted upon immediately.”
Semi-colons
Semi-colons can be used to connect two related sentences instead of a full stop or a conjunction. They are therefore a good way of adding variety to your writing. For example:
Most celebrities in today’s culture do very little except promote themselves tirelessly; they do no actual work and rely on social media to do the work for them.
Semicolons can also be used instead of commas when separating items in a very long or wordy list.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Using semi-colons and colons accurately just a few times is preferable to using them indiscriminately and incorrectly.
For more details, check out our exam skills page on mastering punctuation.
Range of sentence forms
Here, the mark scheme states “for effect”, which means that you have to deliberately consider how your sentence structure and form create a tone of voice.
Below you will find some of the ways you can vary your sentences:
Type of sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|
Sentence openers | This means varying how you start your sentences, avoiding starting each one with personal pronouns (“I”) or with the same word |
Instead, you could start your sentences with:
| |
Sentence length | Try to vary the length of your sentences, as too many long sentences can overshadow your arguments, whereas too many short sentences sounds simple or makes your arguments stunted |
If your paragraph consists of only long sentences, revisit it to consider how easy it is for your reader to identify your main points and the purpose of the paragraph | |
Alternating between sentence lengths allows writers to use sentences strategically, emphasising important points through short sentences and providing detail with longer ones | |
For example: The oil company reported that their profits had risen by more than 10% over the period of half a year. This information shocked the public. How, in a period of financial difficulty for the entire nation, could a single company justify raising prices and lining their pockets while ordinary people suffered? | |
Sentence type | There are four main types of sentences. Try to use of range of each: |
Simple: a simple sentence is a single clause with no conjunction or dependent clause | |
Compound: a compound sentence is two independent clauses joined by a conjunction (and, because, but, although) | |
Complex: a complex sentence contains one main clause and at least one dependent clause (which relies on the main clause for meaning) | |
Compound-complex: a compound-complex sentence contains multiple independent clauses and at least one dependent clause |
Need more help telling the difference between sentence types, or what the difference is between an adjective and an adverb? For more detailed guides, check out our exam skills pages of mastering sentences, and mastering word classes.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
One of the key things the examiners are looking for is a range of different sentence forms in your writing, which will naturally lead to a greater range of punctuation which the examiners can reward.
However, getting the basics right and consistency are key. Leaving 5 minutes to proof-read your work when you have finished writing is therefore really important, as it is easy to make silly mistakes under the pressure of an exam.
Standard English and secure grammar
Standard English is accepted as the “correct” form of English, used in formal writing. It follows grammatical rules such as subject-verb agreement and the correct use of verb tenses. In fact, these two mistakes are frequently flagged by examiners as being an issue in exams. Therefore, it is important that you:
Use plurals correctly
Maintain a consistent use of tense:
If you are writing in the past tense, ensure this is consistent throughout your writing
If you do change from past to present tense, it should be done purposefully and for effect
Ensure you are using apostrophes correctly, especially to show possession
For more help on fixing issues with apostrophes, and other common mistakes, check out our mastering punctuation exam skills page.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Non-standard English often contains slang and is used in more informal situations.
This does not mean that you cannot use colloquial language in your non-fiction writing, but this will be determined by the task and topic.
Accurate spelling and ambitious vocabulary
This strand awards marks across two skills:
Skill | Top tips from examiners |
|---|---|
Use of ambitious vocabulary |
|
Ability to spell words accurately |
|
To achieve Level 4 for AO6 (13–16 marks), you need to demonstrate:
An extensive and ambitious use of vocabulary AND
A high level of accuracy in spelling, including ambitious vocabulary
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Question 5 rewards you for using punctuation and grammar deliberately for effect. The best answers use a variety of sentence structures and technical accuracy features, which have been skilfully used to construct a tone of voice relevant to the task.
Learn more and test yourself
For more great tips and tricks, check out our dedicated revision notes on how to answer the non-fiction writing question and our fully annotated non-fiction writing model answers:
You can also test yourself on Paper 2 Question 5 by building your spelling, punctuation and grammar skills with our Paper 2 Question 5 multiple-choice SPaG questions and by writing your own non-fiction and getting it marked by Smart Mark, our AI model created by English Language experts.
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