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Question 5 (AQA GCSE English Language): Exam Questions

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Question 5

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11 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

Paper 2, Q5: 'People protest about the cruelty of keeping animals in captivity, but they seem happy enough to eat meat, keep pets and visit zoos. All animals should be free!'
Write an article for a magazine in which you explain your point of view on this statement.

Alison’s answer: My view is that zoos should be shut down and people banned from having pets.

What has Alison done well in this sentence?

  • They have softened their language to avoid putting readers off.

  • They have stated their viewpoint to make their position clear.

  • They have used technical vocabulary to add credibility to their argument.

  • They have used appropriate humour to engage the audience.

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21 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

Paper 2, Q5: 'People protest about the cruelty of keeping animals in captivity, but they seem happy enough to eat meat, keep pets and visit zoos. All animals should be free!'
Write an article for a magazine in which you explain your point of view on this statement.

Fergus’ answer: You might say, like others, that ‘zoos perform a really conservation important job’. Agreed. Some zoos do important scientific research, protect endangered animals and reintroduce them into the wild. But sadly this is the minority.

What has Fergus done well in this extract?

  • They have used formal language to maintain professionalism.

  • They have acknowledged a counter-argument to strengthen their own argument.

  • They have appealed to the audience's emotions with dramatic language.

  • They have listed multiple examples to showcase their expertise.

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31 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5: 'People protest about the cruelty of keeping animals in captivity, but they seem happy enough to eat meat, keep pets and visit zoos. All animals should be free!'
Write an article for a magazine in which you explain your point of view on this statement.

Ami’s answer: In a zoo in Vienna last year, something truly appalling happened. But it wasn’t on the news, and the zoo didn’t even shut for business for a single day. Prince, an eight-year-old Bengal tiger, died.

What has Ami done well in this extract?

  • They have provided an emotive example to capture the reader’s attention.

  • They have used figures to lend credibility to their argument.

  • They have varied sentence lengths to retain the reader’s attention.

  • They have used a declarative tone throughout to give a sense of balan

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41 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5 exam: 'People protest about the cruelty of keeping animals in captivity, but they seem happy enough to eat meat, keep pets and visit zoos. All animals should be free!'
Write an article for a magazine in which you explain your point of view on this statement.

Archie’s answer: People seem to be in general agreement that using animals for scientific testing is cruel, but surely the damage done to a majestic creature like Prince should make us stop to think: isn’t keeping wild animals in captivity also cruel?

What has Archie done well in this extract?

  • A. They have addressed the counterargument directly to demonstrate scientific rigour.

  • B. They have posed an open question in order to provide a sense of balance.

  • C. They have used personal pronouns as part of a clear call to action for the reader.

  • D. They have posed a rhetorical question to encourage readers to reflect on the issue.

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51 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

Paper 2, Q5: ‘It is people who have extraordinary skill, courage and determination who deserve to be famous, not those who have good looks or lots of money or behave badly.' 

Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper in which you argue your point of view in response to this statement. 

Esther’s answer: Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing in response to your front-page article from last week (‘Gareth Bell’s Rehab Hell’). I was appalled that you decided to give more space and time to this so-called ‘footballer’ in your newspaper.

What has Esther done well in this extract?

  • A. They have used statistical evidence to make their argument more persuasive.

  • B. They have used complex sentences to present an effective counterargument..

  • C. They have addressed the editor directly in a formal tone, appropriate for a letter.

  • D. They have used humour to mock the editor’s choice of content.

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61 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5: ‘It is people who have extraordinary skill, courage and determination who deserve to be famous, not those who have good looks or lots of money or behave badly.’

Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper in which you argue your point of view in response to this statement.

David’s answer: Does he deserve to be rich and famous? Does he deserve so much publicity in your paper? Should you be shining a spotlight on him for his actions?

What has David done well in this extract?

  • A. The repetition of “Does” emphasises the quantity of evidence supporting their claim.

  • B. They have included rhetorical questions to challenge the reader’s perspective.

  • C. They have provided evidence of Gareth Bell’s actions to persuade the reader.

  • D. They have used a humorous tone to make their argument more persuasive.

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71 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5: ‘It is people who have extraordinary skill, courage and determination who deserve to be famous, not those who have good looks or lots of money or behave badly.’

Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper in which you argue your point of view in response to this statement.

David’s answer: It is high time that we, as a society, looked at ourselves in the mirror and decided not to celebrate these ‘celebrities’; only those who have extraordinary skill, courage and determination deserve to be famous.

What has David done well in this extract?

  • A. They have used inclusive language to add balance to their argument.

  • B. They have used inclusive language to engage the audience.

  • C. They have appealed to the reader’s emotions by sharing a personal story.

  • D. They have used colloquial language to keep the tone informal.

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81 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5 exam question: ‘It is people who have extraordinary skill, courage and determination who deserve to be famous, not those who have good looks or lots of money or behave badly.’

Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper in which you argue your point of view in response to this statement.

Sonny’s answer: Gareth Bell is a terrible role model, but you have put him in the spotlight — so the responsibility for his fame ultimately lies with you. This has to stop.

What has Sonny done well in this extract?

  • A. They have used a declarative tone to present a balanced critique of Gareth Bell’s actions.

  • B. They have varied their sentence lengths in order to strengthen their argument.

  • C. They have used personal pronouns to hold the editor directly accountable.

  • D. They have used colloquial language to make the argument more persuasive.

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91 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5: ‘People have become obsessed with travelling even further and faster. However, travel is expensive, dangerous, damaging and a foolish waste of time!’

Write an article for a news website in which you argue your point of view on this statement.

Amelie’s answer: But as distances increase, so does the average traveller’s carbon footprint. And the planet is now warming at ‘an alarming rate,’ according to climate scientists.

What has Amelie done well in this extract?

  • A. They have included expert evidence to strengthen their argument.

  • B. They have juxtaposed contrasting evidence to create balance.

  • C. They have appealed to the audience’s emotions with a personal anecdote.

  • D. They have used humour to highlight the seriousness of climate change.

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101 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5: ‘People have become obsessed with travelling even further and faster. However, travel is expensive, dangerous, damaging and a foolish waste of time!’

Write an article for a news website in which you argue your point of view on this statement.

Amelie’s answer: It’s time to stop the obsession with travelling further and faster than ever before. If we don’t, we won’t have a planet to explore at all.

What has Amelie done well in this extract?

  • A. They have used direct language in order to acknowledge opposing views.

  • B. They have used direct language to present a clear call to action.

  • C. They have included colloquialisms to make their argument more relatable

  • D. They have included a personal anecdote to appeal to the audience.

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111 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5: ‘People have become obsessed with travelling even further and faster. However, travel is expensive, dangerous, damaging and a foolish waste of time!’

Write an article for a news website in which you argue your point of view on this statement.

Ethan’s answer: Modern life is so obsessed with the destination that it makes us forget that the journey can be even more fun!

What has Ethan done well in this extract?

  • A. They have maintained a formal tone in order to establish a neutral position.

  • B. They have used a rhetorical question to engage the reader.

  • C. They have used an exclamatory sentence with a clear call to action..

  • D. They have engaged the reader by challenging a common assumption.

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121 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5: ‘People have become obsessed with travelling even further and faster. However, travel is expensive, dangerous, damaging and a foolish waste of time!’

Write an article for a news website in which you argue your point of view on this statement.

Margot’s answer: The train journey to Holyhead was incredible: glorious views of sandy beaches, rugged coastlines and weather-beaten castles dotted the three-hour route.

What has Margot done well in this extract?

  • A. They have acknowledged numerical evidence that supports their argument.

  • B. They have included anecdotal evidence to show the environmental benefits of train travel.

  • C. They have used a rule of three to make the imagery memorable.

  • D. They have used a declarative statement to present an unbiased perspective.

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11 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5: ‘People have become obsessed with travelling even further and faster. However, travel is expensive, dangerous, damaging and a foolish waste of time!’

Write an article for a news website in which you argue your point of view on this statement.

Xavier’s answer: “Anyone who travels by aeroplane is effectively a murderer; your selfishness is killing species all over the world!”

Based on this sentence, what feedback could you give Xavier to help him improve his writing?

  • A. Use rhetorical questions instead of an exclamatory sentence to better call out the reader.

  • B. Add statistics to strengthen the argument and make it more credible.

  • C. Use simpler, more informal language to better suit the readership of a news website.

  • D. Use a less aggressive tone to avoid alienating the audience and to suit the purpose of an article.

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21 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5: ‘People have become obsessed with travelling even further and faster. However, travel is expensive, dangerous, damaging and a foolish waste of time!’

Write an article for a news website in which you argue your point of view on this statement.

Freya’s answer: “We, as young people, all know that too much air travel pollutes the planet!”

Based on this sentence, what feedback could you give Freya to help her improve her writing?

  • A. Avoid using phrases like “young people”, because this may alienate older readers of a news website.

  • B. Replace “young people” with a statistic to make the response more credible.

  • C. Use more colloquial language more appropriate to a reader of a news website.

  • D. Try to avoid using inclusive pronouns as this is not appropriate for an article.

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31 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5: ‘People have become obsessed with travelling even further and faster. However, travel is expensive, dangerous, damaging and a foolish waste of time!’

Write an article for a news website in which you argue your point of view on this statement.

Diane’s answer: “Travelling to faraway countries is educational for us all, it is therefore essential for everyone to make us better people.”

Based on this sentence, what feedback could you give Diane to help her improve her writing?

  • A. Use inclusive pronouns like “we” and “us” less often, as they are not appropriate for an article.

  • B. Replace “make us better people” because it doesn’t help the writer put forward their point of view.

  • C. Replace the comma after the word “all” with the correct end of sentence punctuation.

  • D. Remove the phrase “therefore essential for everyone”, as it makes the sentence unnecessarily wordy.

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