Paper 1 Question 5: SPaG (AQA GCSE English Language)

Question 5 awards up to 16 marks for accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar or, as it is called in the mark scheme, technical accuracy. This means that you are awarded marks for using punctuation and grammar correctly, as well as for spelling words accurately. However, to gain the most marks in this question, you are also required to use punctuation and grammar deliberately for effect. 

The Assessment Objective for technical accuracy is AO6:

AO6 Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation

One of the key things the examiners are looking for is a range of different sentence forms in your writing, which will naturally lead to a greater range of punctuation which the examiners can reward. However, getting the basics right and consistency are key. Leaving five minutes to proof-read your work when you have finished writing is therefore really important, as it is easy to make silly mistakes under the pressure of an exam.

There are six strands which make up the 16 marks for technical accuracy. Below we will explore each of these strands (click to go straight to the section):

• Sentence demarcation
• Range of punctuation
• Range of sentence forms
• Standard English and secure grammar
• Accurate spelling and ambitious vocabulary

This means that you have started your sentences with a capital letter and ended them correctly, using either a full-stop, question mark or exclamation mark. This sounds simple enough, but comma-splicing and run-on sentences are some of the most common errors made in terms of technical accuracy in the exam, so it is important to review that you know exactly when a sentence finishes and how to indicate that it has finished.

Sentences end with three types of punctuation:

• A full stop (for a statement)
• A question mark (for a direct question)
• An exclamation mark (to indicate surprise, shock, anger or happiness)

All sentences must begin with a capital letter.

Have a look at the example below. Sentence demarcation is absent, so consider how much harder it is to make sense of what has been written:

The afternoon baked the market an exhaustion and breathlessness silently encroached on the first-time visitors, but the everyday buyers proudly held on against the torture of the market’s heat and kept shopping the deafening chaos made ears split as though standing under a giant speaker vendors yelled prices and frustrated housewives angrily argued with the annoyed shopkeepers.

Now compare the example above with the example below, which uses the correct sentence demarcations:

The afternoon baked the market. An exhaustion and breathlessness silently encroached on the first-time visitors, but the everyday buyers proudly held on against the torture of the market’s heat and kept shopping. The deafening chaos made ears split as though standing under a giant speaker. Vendors yelled prices and frustrated housewives angrily argued with the annoyed shopkeepers.

The more sophisticated and complex your sentences, the more important accurate sentence demarcation is. Varying the length of your sentences will create a more dynamic rhythm to your writing.

For the highest marks, you need to accurately and purposefully use a wide range of punctuation to achieve specific effects. This means that you make conscious choices about the type of punctuation you are using in your writing, and why you are using it. However, it is worth remembering that using apostrophes, semi-colons and colons accurately just a few times is preferable to using them indiscriminately and incorrectly. It is also very important to know how to punctuate dialogue accurately if you choose to use it in a piece of creative writing; if you are not sure of the rules of punctuating direct speech, then avoid it!

The bottom tier of the punctuation pyramid below shows the range of punctuation you should be aiming to use:

Remember, punctuation shapes meaning. If sentences are not punctuated correctly, the meaning of the sentence can completely change. For example:

A woman, without her man, is nothing.

In the example above, the underlying meaning of the sentence is that women need men in order to be something.

However, by changing only the punctuation, we can completely change the meaning of the sentence:

A woman: without her, man is nothing.

Now, the emphasis becomes that a man is nothing without a woman. Punctuation is powerful!

Here, the mark scheme states “for effect”, which means that you have to deliberately consider how your sentence structure and form create a tone of voice. For example, short sentences can indicate tension or urgency, especially if they are written in the imperative form. Long, complex sentences can sound quite formal, but too many of them can be monotonous and difficult to read.

Below you will find some of the ways you can vary your sentences:

Type of sentence	Explanation
Sentence openers	This means varying how you start your sentences, avoiding starting each one with personal pronouns (“I”) or with the same word
	Instead, you could start your sentences with: An adverb, e.g., “Suddenly”, “Quietly” A preposition, e.g., “In the distance”, “Over the hill” A verb, e.g., “Running breathlessly, I…” A double adjective, e.g., “Strong and powerful,...” A connective, e.g., “While”, “Although”
Sentence length	Try to vary the length of your sentences, as too many long sentences can overshadow the sense of your writing, whereas too many short sentences sounds simple
	In general, if your paragraph consists of only one or two long sentences, you need to revisit it to consider how easy it is for your reader to identify your main points and the purpose of the paragraph
	Alternating between sentence lengths allows writers to use sentences strategically, emphasising important points through short sentences and providing detail with longer ones
	For example: Sunlight filtered in through the tented stall roofs, while specks of dust danced in the shafts of brightness. All was still. I slowly turned, expecting to see the stranger at any moment, but I saw nothing but shadows in the corners of my eyes.
Sentence type	There are four main types of sentences:
	Simple: a simple sentence is a single clause with no conjunction or dependent clause
	Compound: a compound sentence is two independent clauses joined by a conjunction (and, because, but, although)
	Complex: a complex sentence contains one main clause and at least one dependent clause (which relies on the main clause for meaning)
	Compound-complex: a compound-complex sentence contains multiple independent clauses and at least one dependent clause
	Understanding sentence type will help you avoid repetition and monotony in your writing

Standard English is accepted as the “correct” form of English, used in formal writing. It follows grammatical rules such as subject-verb agreement and the correct use of verb tenses. Non-standard English often contains slang and is used in more informal situations. This does not mean that you cannot use colloquial language in your writing, but this will be determined by the task and topic.

It is worth noting that mistakes with sentence agreement (subject-verb agreement) and the inconsistent use of tense are frequently flagged by examiners as being an issue in exams. Therefore, it is important that you:

• Use plurals correctly
• Maintain a consistent use of tense:
  • If you are writing in the past tense, ensure that this is consistent throughout your writing
  • If you do change from past to present tense, it should be done purposefully and for effect
• Ensure you are using apostrophes correctly, especially to show possession

This strand awards marks across two skills:

• You are rewarded for the use of ambitious vocabulary:
• However, your use of ambitious vocabulary should be appropriate and precise; do not use a more sophisticated word just because you think it “sounds” better if you are not 100% sure of its meaning
• The examiners note that the over-use of “wow” words, such as “plethora”, “incandescent” and “azure” can actually hinder your response, as your writing can sound contrived:
• Advanced vocabulary does not add quality unless the words are used sparingly and with understanding
• You are also awarded for your ability to spell complex words correctly:
• This should not dissuade you from attempting to use more sophisticated vocabulary even if you are unsure of the spelling, as you will still be rewarded for attempting them

To achieve marks in the AO6 Level 4 band (13-16 marks), you need to demonstrate:

• An extensive and ambitious use of vocabulary AND
• A high level of accuracy in spelling, including ambitious vocabulary

To achieve marks in the AO6 Level 3 band (9-12 marks), you need to demonstrate:

• An increasingly sophisticated use of vocabulary AND
• Generally accurate spelling, including complex and irregular words