What do AO1-6 mean and how do I use them?

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Daniel Hart · Answer

Thank you for your question Matilde, this is one of my favourite features of the curriculum. AO 1-6 are the analytical elements that the examiner will be looking for when they read your essay/assessment. They make for an interesting essay as they involve;AO1: Interpreting and linking the meanings within and across the text. AO2: Understanding the effect on the audience/reader, which the writer achieves through his use of language and structure.AO3: Context! For instance, being able to make references to the historical aspects of the time and why the writer may have been influenced to include certain messages within the narrative.AO4: Choosing quotes judiciously. Making sure you choose quotes that back up the points and inferences that you make.AO5: Be sophisticated in the way you communicate your ideas, using subject terminology and structuring your answer in a way that builds on each point that you make. AO6: Use a wide range of vocabulary and sentence types to convey your understanding of the text, being careful with your grammar and spelling.

Jessica Crutchley · Answer

AOs are Assessment Objectives. They are ultimately what the exam board uses to assess your ability and competency when answering an exam question. Each AO is broken down into levels of ability. E.g. AO2 Level 1 means you have shown the examiner the most basic application of the AO2 skill. AO2 Level 4 means you have shown the examiner a perceptive and detailed application of the AO2 skill. In an English Language exam paper, each question represents an individual AO, for example, Language Paper 1 Question 2 only assesses the student's ability to meet AO2.However, You may need to present your ability to meet multiple assessment objectives in a response. For example, when answering English Language Paper 1 Question 5 you will be assessed on your ability to meet both AO5 and AO6.AOs are important to know because they help students to better understand what is being asked of them. Language Paper 1 Question 2 asks students 'How does the writer use language to...', by teaching students that Question 2 assesses AO2 it helps students understand that they must explain and analyse during their response to Question 2 not just present information. You can use AOs during lessons by using subject-specific keywords during teaching to help students remember the demands. You can also have students use the AOs to 'mark' a piece of work and see how the AOs were or weren't met. You can also use close activities, omitting key AO verbs to aid with memory.

What do AO1-6 mean and how do I use them?

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