How to Answer Paper 2 Question 2 Flashcards
All 10 cards in this deck
How many marks is Paper 2 Question 2 worth, which AO does it test, and how long should you spend on it?
8 marks, testing AO1: interpreting explicit and implicit information, and selecting and synthesising evidence from both sources. Spend about 8 minutes.
What does the 2026 wording of Paper 2 Question 2 look like?
"You need to refer to Source A and Source B for this question. The writers in Source A and Source B are [doing something]. What can you infer about the differences between [the two things]?" Some years it asks about similarities instead.
How did Paper 2 Question 2 change from June 2026?
The old "write a summary" wording went. The question now always says infer, to make clear the marks are for working things out, not retelling. The marks, levels and caps did not change.
What does a top-level (7–8 mark) answer to Paper 2 Question 2 do?
It makes perceptive inferences from both sources, backed by well-chosen, short references, and shows perceptive differences (or similarities) that stay on the exact focus of the question.
What is the maximum mark for a Paper 2 Question 2 answer that only uses one source?
3 marks. One-source answers are capped: 1 mark at Level 1 quality and 3 marks at Level 2 quality. You must use both sources (and the right focus) to reach Level 3 or above.
Should you analyse the writers' language in Paper 2 Question 2?
No. Q2 gives no marks for methods or terminology. It rewards what you can infer about the subject (the trains, the towns, the guides). Save language analysis for Q3 and methods for Q4.
What is examiners' biggest complaint about Paper 2 Question 2 answers?
Paraphrase instead of inference: retelling what each source says ("Source A's train is long") without saying what it suggests. Paraphrase keeps an answer in Level 1.
In Paper 2 Question 2, why is writing about how each writer feels a mistake?
The question has a stated focus, such as the two trains. Answers that drift into the writers' feelings or attitudes are answering Question 4 instead, and you need the correct focus to reach Level 3.
What is a good paragraph plan for Paper 2 Question 2?
One point per paragraph: difference/similarity → Source A detail + inference → comparative connective → Source B detail + inference. Two or three developed paragraphs beat a long list of thin points.
In Paper 2 Question 2, what should you check in the question before you start reading for evidence?
Two things: whether it asks for differences or similarities, and exactly what the focus is (the places, the animals, the guides). Underline both, then collect evidence only on that focus.