Paper 2: How to Answer Question 3 (AQA GCSE English Language)

Each question in Paper 2 Section A (reading) is worth a different number of marks, and you are being tested on specific skills for each. However, your approach to each question should be the same; the only difference is how you write each answer.

This guide will provide you with the information you need to answer Paper 2 Question 3 to a high standard.

This guide includes:

• Overview of Paper 2 Question 3
• How to approach Question 3
• Understanding the wording of the language question
• Steps to success for the language question
• Exam tips for the language question
• Things to avoid in the language question

Paper 2 Question 3 is the language question. You are being tested on your ability to comment on the language choices the writer has made and their effects. It assesses AO2:

In Question 3, you will be asked to engage with the language used in a short paragraph from either Source A or Source B. You are expected to identify interesting uses of language and comment on the effects they create. For this question, you need to be able to give clear explanations of how language creates effects. You are asked to focus on how the writer uses language in one of the sources.

This question is very similar to Question 2 on Paper 1 which is also a language question. However, this question is worth 12 marks and, therefore, your answer should be a more extended response. You should spend no more than 15 minutes on this question. 

• You will be given a section of the source text and asked “How does the writer use language to…”
•  It is very important that you only take your answers from the lines you are given in the question

The following example is taken from the AQA GCSE English Language June 2019 exam paper:

• This question assesses your ability to comment on the writer’s use of language and to explore the effect of the language choices made
• This includes phrases, language features, language techniques and sentence forms
• The wording of this question will always be the same:
  • It will ask you “How does the writer use language to…”
• The question makes clear the focus is to analyse the language within the given lines only
  • For example, in the above example, it is for lines 16-26 only
• The passage that will be selected from the extract will be deliberately rich in language use
  • • The examiner will have chosen an extract so you have a wealth of material to draw on
    • You must always ensure that your explanations are in relation to the context of the passage
• Higher responses typically focus on the effects of specific word choices rather than writing about complex language techniques
• Having a focused approach will help you to structure your response and will enable you to write more about less
  • Close reading of a tеxt means paying attention to thе small dеtails, word choices and sеntеncе structures which will enable a dееpеr undеrstanding of thе writеr’s intеntions
  • Quality ovеr quantity is kеy to achiеving a high grade in thе еxam 

It is important that you understand the wording of each part of the question so that you know how to respond to it accurately. An explanation of each part of the question is explored below:

Following these steps will give you a strategy for answering this question effectively:

1. Grab your highlighter and read the question first:
   • Read the question carefully and highlight which lines you need to use in the source text for your answers
   • Highlight the focus of the question
2. Scan the section of text:
   • Highlight only the information directly relevant to the focus of the question
   • Annotate in the margins. For example, what do the writer’s choices tell you about the power of the sea?
3. Start your answer using the wording of the question:
   • For example: “The writer uses language to describe the power of the sea firstly by…”
   • This demonstrates to the examiner that you have understood both the question and the text
4. Go into detail:
   • Now you need to make as many points as possible, ranging throughout the section of text
   • It is a good idea to make your points in chronological order, if possible
   • Use the annotations you have made in the margins to form the basis of each point
   • For the highest marks, you should zoom in on particular word choices and write about their effects
   • For a full example of this, please see Paper 2 Question 3: Model Answer
5. Sum up:
   • Finish your answer with a “So overall…” statement
   • Your finishing statement should sum up what you have discovered about the writer’s use of language in this section

• To get the highest marks, do not get distracted by technical terms or spotting language features that the writer may have used:
• This is called “feature spotting” and will not get you marks, unless you are able to demonstrate your understanding of why the writer may have used something and what the effect of its use is
• Make sure that your selection of quotes are precise and directly relevant to the focus of the question”:
• Deconstruct the quotations you choose, analysing each one in detail
• You can include word level analysis, exploring the effect of single words, but you also need to think about how elements combine to create meaning
• Focus on the effects of the writer’s choices, thinking about what the writer is doing and why
• If you identify a language feature, always explain its intended effect:
• For example, “The writer personifies the sea by describing it as ‘towering over’ the tiny boat, implying its superior size and power.”

To ensure a high grade in the exam you must:

• Avoid just re-writing long quotations from the text:
  • Break them down and embed them into your sentence
• Only use the section of text given to you in the question and do not refer to anything outside these lines
• Make sure that selections are precise and that your comments and analysis relate to the question being asked
• Avoid speculative and generic comments on how ‘the reader’ might respond:
  • Generalised comments such as “This makes the reader want to read on…” are not creditworthy
  • Try to be as precise and specific as you can