Article Model Answer (Edexcel IGCSE English Language A)

Genre (format)

Audience

Purpose

What am I writing?

Who am I writing for?

Why am I writing?

AO5

23-27 marks

• Communication is perceptive, mature and sophisticated

• The response is sharply focused on the purpose of the task and the expectations/requirements of the intended reader

• There is sophisticated use of form, tone and register

AO6

16-18 marks

• The response manipulates complex ideas, using a range of structural and grammatical features to support overall coherence and cohesion

• The response uses extensive vocabulary strategically, with only occasional spelling errors which do not detract from overall meaning

• The response is punctuated with accuracy to aid emphasis and meaning, using a range of sentence structures accurately and selectively to achieve particular effects

Are Hobbies out of Habit? [Marking comment]

How often have you heard yourself say, “I haven’t got time”? This seems to be the mantra for 21st-century living. Life is crazy: jobs, children, other family members, friendships, socialising, exercising, trying to find some “me” time - it’s a wonder we fit it all in! [Marking comment]Increasingly, having a specific hobby or interest seems to get pushed further down our list of priorities, but as life gets more stressful, maybe it’s time we got back into the habit of having a hobby. [Marking comment]

The importance of hobbies [Marking comment]

Having a hobby or interest seemed to be commonplace for earlier generations. Crafting, sports, cooking or baking or being outdoors and spending quality time doing these things was a part of life, but the pressures and the busy nature of modern-day life seems to have taken over. In addition, our increasingly technologically advanced world means that we have instant access to a wealth of information and entertainment literally at our fingertips. However, I’m not sure I would count TikTok as a hobby! [Marking comment] Every age has its pressures, but having a specific hobby or interest is as important now as it has ever been, in terms of our mental and physical health and emotional well-being. 

My hobby journey [Marking comment]

After a particularly lazy January sat on the sofa doing nothing in particular, I decided to embark on my own journey of getting back into the habit of having a hobby. I used to be a keen tennis player when I was younger, and there was a tennis club close to my home which I had resolutely ignored for the past few years. But, for the purpose of research, I decided to become a member and joined a Tuesday night “Rusty Racket” group. My apologies at the start of my first session were endless: “I haven’t played for ages”, “My serve is terrible”, “Good luck to whoever is partnering me!” But everyone was friendly, welcoming and, crucially for me, not that competitive. After a few warm-up serves, I was happily dancing around the court, swinging my racket left, right and centre like I was on Centre Court at Wimbledon. It was a clear evening, and it felt good to be out in the fresh air, trying to improve my technique but not taking myself too seriously at the same time. And I’ve kept it up! I still can’t serve very well, but I enjoy the process of trying to get better at something, as well as being out in the fresh air to brush away any stresses of the day. I make sure I prioritise that time and can now count “tennis” as my hobby. [Marking comment]

Benefits of hobbies

Taking up a sport seems the obvious choice, and there is no doubt that being outside is beneficial to your health, but this does not mean you need to go out and join the first running club you see. Just making time for regular walks in nature can help decrease anxiety levels and feelings of stress. Regular access to green spaces has been linked to lower instances of depression and improved concentration and attention. The charity Mind says that “being outside in natural light can be helpful if you experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD)”. Fishing, hiking, mountain biking, geo-caching, orienteering, or even rambling can all become something to be passionate about. If you are lucky enough to live near the coast, open water swimming and paddleboarding are increasingly popular, and will definitely wake you up! [Marking comment]

Less active hobbies are just as beneficial. Brain-training activities, such as Sudoku, word-searches and crosswords can all help keep our minds active, and crafting is both a way of keeping your fingers supple and possibly saving money. Lots of people have turned their hobbies into their careers, possibly due to the popularity of shows such as The Great British Bake Off and The Great British Sewing Bee. [Marking comment] Anything creative can also help to reduce stress, and several studies have shown that hobbies such as art, writing and music can even prevent stress in the first place. Hobbies can also help people socialise, bringing like-minded individuals together, which can have a further positive impact on our mental well-being. But above all, having a hobby or interest helps to reduce screen time and is, well, fun! 

So, whether it’s gardening, sewing, go-karting or ice-skating, finding a hobby or interest that you find fun, relaxing and rewarding can have real physical and mental benefits for you and for your loved ones. So maybe it’s time to dust off your own rusty racket and take the plunge! [Marking comment]The good thing about the internet is that it has never been easier to find a club or a hobby to try, so why not try one today? [Marking comment]