AQA English Language Paper 1: How to Tackle Questions 2-4

AQA English Language Paper 1: How to Tackle Questions 2-4

For many students, the reading section of AQA English Language Paper 1 can be one of the most daunting GCSE exams. The unpredictability of having an unseen extract, which could be easier or much harder than previous years, means that it can be difficult to know exactly what to expect on the day.

However, while you cannot predict the extract you will be given, you can prepare yourself with a clear understanding of what each question is asking you to do. By knowing how to approach each question and what examiners are looking for, you can make the reading section much more manageable, regardless of the extract you are given.

In this guide, I’ll break down each question on AQA English Language Paper 1, explaining what you need to do, how to approach it effectively, and some of the common mistakes that can prevent students from reaching the higher grades.

Question 2 - Language Analysis (8 Marks)

Though language analysis can be challenging for many students, this question is arguably your best bet at picking up a solid number of marks if you follow the right strategy. You can’t prepare for the specific paragraph you will have to zoom in on, but you can always find quotations to examine, regardless of whether you are confident in spotting complex techniques. For top-end students, identifying rich quotations with intricate techniques may help you glide into the top bands, but for less confident students, picking out a few individual words and phrases will absolutely suffice if you follow the right approach.

Here Is How to Tackle the Question:

Zoom in on LANGUAGE.
Look for:

• Individual words

• Phrases

• Similes

• Metaphors

• Imagery

• Personification

Aim to analyse 4 quotations.
For each quote, zoom in on TWO details.

Example:

“Pain like an icy flare hit him.”

• The simile makes the pain seem sudden and shocking through the word “icy”, suggesting coldness and numbness.

• The word “flare” juxtaposes the idea of ice with burning heat, making the pain seem overwhelming and intense.

That one quote gives you two clear analytical points to develop. If you aim to find around four strong quotations and analyse them in this way, you will have plenty of material to build an 8-mark response.

Structure:

Write 2 paragraphs.
Your point should be simple but specific:

• The writer uses language to make the mountain seem beautiful.

• The writer uses language to make the setting seem ominous.

• The writer uses language to make the character seem fearful.

Easy Sentence Starters:

• The writer suggests…

• This creates the impression…

• The word “___” implies…

Question 3 - Structure Analysis (8 Marks)

Question 3 is, understandably, the most dreaded for students of all abilities. ‘Structure’ itself is a vague term with multiple different definitions, and the long list of possible features that may or may not be present in your extract can make it incredibly difficult to answer this question well in under 10 minutes.

My biggest advice is to look at the beginning and end of the extract, and try to note down any clear dramatic moments. Imagine you are thinking of the extract as a film: what do we see happen at the start, and how does this unravel by the end? If you think of it more visually, this could help you avoid the trap of analysing ‘language’ when really you need to be focusing on the order of events.

Below Is a Clear Example of How to Approach This

Don't turn Q3 into a language-analysis question.

Focus on what the writer is doing structurally and how the text develops.

Think:

• What does the writer focus on first?

• How does the focus change?

• Why is this effective?

Look At:

• Beginning

• Middle

• End

Write 3 short paragraphs (or beginning + end in more detail).

You Can Analyse:

• Shifts in focus

• Flashbacks / flashforwards

• Foreshadowing

• Contrast

• Repetition

• Sentence lengths

• Paragraph lengths

• How it starts/ends

Example:

The writer hooks the reader at the start by describing the “old, spooky house that made Annabel feel frightened to approach”. This immediately places the reader in a tense setting and focuses on Annabel’s fear, building suspense. The writer then shifts the focus to a flashback…

Important:

Keep your focus on what the writer is doing structurally, rather than analysing individual words or techniques in detail.

Question 4 - Evaluation (20 Marks)

Finally, we get to Question 4. The biggest pitfall with this question is timing - a lot of students spend too long on Question 3, when in fact Question 4 is worth more than double the marks. A lot of students also focus too much on language or structure analysis, whilst forgetting the very thing that picks up marks: evaluation!

This is another challenging term for students, but the simplest way to think of it is ‘providing a judgement or opinion’. Essentially, you want to debate your view regarding the statement given. A top tip to keep in mind is that the statement is normally written with an element of truth to it, so unless you have a serious reason to entirely disagree, a useful approach is to consider whether you mostly agree, partially agree, or disagree.

Once you’ve established your opinion, use evidence to argue and debate why you hold this view. For top-grade students, try to think outside the box - is there a slightly different way of looking at a character in regards to the statement, or an alternative view you can provide about the text?

Here Are My Top Tips Below:

This question is about your OPINION.

You Must:

• Agree/disagree with the statement

• Constantly prove your opinion with evidence

• Analyse anything that helps support your judgement

Best Approach:

A useful starting point:

“I partially agree…”

This gives you more to discuss.

Example:

I partially agree that Elena is presented as largely powerless in the extract. This can be seen through the emotive language describing her vulnerable thoughts, such as “_____”. These words suggest that she feels unsafe and lacks control.

However, I disagree that Henry is entirely to blame, as his thoughts are also presented as vulnerable through “_____”, suggesting that he is also struggling emotionally.

Structure:

• Mini introduction giving your overall judgement

• 4 paragraphs

• Around 2 quotations per paragraph

• Aim for roughly 8 short quotations overall

Must Do:

Address both bullet points in the question.

Useful Phrases:

• This strongly suggests…

• This supports the idea that…

• This challenges the statement because…

• Therefore, I mostly agree/disagree that…

Final Tips

Ultimately, this part of the exam will always be challenging due to the unseen nature of it, but if you memorise the right approach for each question, it can feel far less intimidating and give you a much better chance of doing well on each one. Instead of blindly completing past papers and hoping for the best, students should learn what to do for each question individually and practise with that in mind.

Aside from this, the best practice is to read, read, read! Mastering an unseen text will always be easier for students who are used to reading regularly, so this tip cannot be underestimated.