English Language

What we are doing...

The purpose of these lessons is to help you prepare for your English Language exams. We will see different examples for higher tier and foundation tier, so be sure to pay attention to the information that applies to you (and remember to be polite and keep quiet when the information doesn’t apply to you).

Some information will apply to everyone - so stay alert!

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Look out for...

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F

H

Applies to candidates sitting higher and foundation paper

Applies to candidates sitting foundation paper

Applies to candidates sitting higher paper

Unit 1: Studying written language (reading paper)

1 hour

Two non-fiction texts.

May include: fact-sheets, leaflets, letters, extracts from autobiographies, biographies, diaries, advertisements, reports, articles and digital and multi-modal texts of various kinds from newspapers and magazines, brochures and the internet.

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Unit 2: Using written language (writing paper)

1 hour

Test different writing styles.

Two tasks (20 marks each).

Across the two tasks candidates will be offered opportunities to write for a range of audiences and purposes, adapting style to form and real-life context in, for example, letters, articles, leaflets, reviews etc.

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What the examiners are looking for

understand how meaning is created through words, sentences and whole texts, recognising the effects of language choices and patterns

evaluate the ways in which texts may be interpreted differently according to the view of the reader

explore differences in language and how it varies according to audience and reader

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Also important...

Correct SPaG - spelling, punctuation and grammar!

Express your ideas clearly and concisely

Form your own views and challenge or argue with what you read through using evidence (either from the text or from your own knowledge)

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Paper one exemplar HTop tip:

Read the questions carefully before you

read or write anything. This way, you know what you should be looking

for and can highlight or

underline key words.

You can also write yourself notes on

the page.

Four paragraphs

Paper one exemplar FTop tip:

Read the questions carefully before you

read or write anything. This way, you know what you should be looking

for and can highlight or

underline key words.

You should also write yourself notes

on the page.

Three paragraphs

Three headings

“Compare and contrast”

Both questions from the higher and foundation tier papers asked you to “compare and contrast” the two texts given in the exam.

Question: What does “compare and contrast” mean?

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Compare: Point out the similarities in two pieces of text

Contrast: Point out the differences between two pieces of text

Basically, the examiner wants to know what is Basically, the examiner wants to know what is

similar and what is different about the texts you similar and what is different about the texts you

have been given.have been given.

Make a note of this in your Make a note of this in your book…book…

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PEE – without the E…When answering for a reading paper, you must remember to show the reader where you have picked up on certain points you are making – think of a PEE chain, but without the extra E on the end…

POINT: Say something about the text (which the question is asking)

EVIDENCE: Write down a quote from the text that you have read which has made you think or feel what you have written previously

Unlike a PEE chain, you do not have to explain your reasons when answering a reading paper question!

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PEE: Make a point and give evidence, but you do not have to explain your reasons for this (just the P-E is enough!)

Make a note of this in your Make a note of this in your work book…work book…

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Question 1

Look at your past paper question.

Answer question one only. Be prepared to share with the class.

Higher tier will answer first; then foundation.

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Answers…

Higher and foundation answers

As we go through the paper, a grid will be filled in on screen. If you are struggling to answer, make notes from what you see.

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Question 2

Look at your past paper question.

Answer question two only. Be prepared to share with the class.

Higher tier will answer first; then foundation.

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Question 3

Look at your past paper question.

Answer question three only. Be prepared to share with the class.

Higher tier will answer first; then foundation.

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Question 4

Look at your past paper question.

Answer question four only. Be prepared to share with the class.

Higher tier will answer first; then foundation.

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Problem areas

Were there any parts of those questions that you struggled with or found difficult?

Write them down on the Post-It note in bullet point form.

Write “H” or “F” on your Post-It to show which paper you are revising for.

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exemplar HTop tip:

Read the questions carefully before you

read or write anything. This way, you know what you should be looking

for and can highlight or

underline key words.

You can also write yourself notes on

the page.

Formal layout

Speech

exemplar FTop tip:

Read the questions carefully before you

read or write anything. This way, you know what you should be looking

for and can highlight or

underline key words.

You should also write yourself notes

on the page.

Question one

Formal letterThree

paragraphs

Address

exemplar FTop tip:

Read the questions carefully before you

read or write anything. This way, you know what you should be looking

for and can highlight or

underline key words.

You should also write yourself notes

on the page.

Three paragraphs

Speech

Formal letter layoutBoth papers require you to write a letter applying for a job.

This would require a formal letter layout.

Working with a partner, come up with an outline for a formal letter, showing where you would write:

•Your address

•The address of the person/people you are writing to

•Date

•Your letter

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How to start a formal letter

Starting and ending a formal letter is very important.

If you are given a person’s name (i.e. who you need to write to), you should begin your letter:

Dear Mr Jones

If you do not know who you should write to, you should begin your letter with:

Dear Sir/Madam or Dear Sirs

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How to end a formal letterIf you know who you are writing your letter to (remember Mr Jones from earlier?), you should end your letter with:

Yours sincerely

If you do not know who you are writing to (that is, if you are writing to Sir or Madam), you should end your letter with:

Yours faithfully

A way to remember: If you know the person’s name, you can be sincere (serious); if you do not, you put faith in that person that they will reply to you.

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If you know the person’s name:- start with “Dear (person’s name)”- end with “Yours sincerely”

If you do not know the person’s name:- start with “Dear Sir/Madam or Dear Sirs”- end with “Yours faithfully”

Make a note of this in your Make a note of this in your work book…work book…

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Persuasive techniques

Both papers ask you to “give a talk” to your fellow students about an upcoming charity event. This will require you to use persuasive techniques.

Question: What is the point of persuasive techniques (what do they do?) and can you name any?

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Need to revise

persuasive techniques?

Click me!

Planning

It is important to plan what you are going to write for these kinds of questions.

•Typically, you should take five minutes per question to create a plan of what you are going to write.

•When you have completed your plan, cross off your points as you write them down, and put an X across your page once you are done. It is okay to do this in exams – examiners will be able to see you have taken time to plan, and by crossing it out they know not to mark it.

TASK: Create a plan now for questions 1 and 2. Do not begin writing your answer yet, only bullet points for your plan!

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Question 1Look at your past paper question.

Answer question one only.

When you have finished, swap books with your partner and make sure they have:

-Correct formal letter layout

-Correct SPaG

-Written in paragraphs

-(F only) Included all of the points shown on the question paper

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Question 2Look at your past paper question.

Answer question two only.

When you have finished, swap books with your partner and make sure they have:

-Correct speech layout

-Correct SPaG

-Written in paragraphs

-(F only) Included all of the points shown on the question paper

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Persuasive techniquesSome persuasive techniques you might be able to use:Some persuasive techniques you might be able to use:

•Repetition: repeating a word, phrase or point to make a point

•Tripling: using three different words, phrases or ideas to make a point that your readers/listeners remember

•Adjectives: describing something using greater detail

•Emotive language: making a reader/listener feel a particular emotion, e.g. happiness, sadness, guilt, anger…

•Personal pronouns: address your reader/listener and making them feel involved with what you are saying, e.g. “you”, “we”, “they”, “him/her”…

Take me back…

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