Paper 1: How to Answer Question 2 (AQA GCSE English Language)

Each question in Paper 1 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 1 Question 2 to a high standard.

This guide includes (click to go straight to the topic):

• Overview of Paper 1 Question 2
• How to approach Question 2
• Understanding the wording of the language question
• Steps to success for the language question
• Exam tips for the language question

Paper 1 Question 2 is the language question. It can also be referred to as the “how” 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 2 you will be set a question that asks you to comment on a short extract taken from the source text in Section A. The text will always be a prose text from either the 20th or 21st century. You will be asked to consider how the writer uses language to capture the interest of the reader in the section of text. It is very important that you only form your answer using the lines you are given in the question.

• Question 2 will always ask you
  • How does the writer use language here to describe or convey…
• 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 9-14 only
• The bullet points underneath the question are there to give you clues about what you might want to consider
  • Remember, these are only prompts and should not be treated as a checklist
  • This means you can be flexible in how to respond and focus on aspects of language you find interesting and are confident in exploring
• Your answers should be written in paragraphs, and you must use direct quotations from the text to support your points
• • These quotes need to be directly relevant to the focus of the question
• 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 focus on quality rather than quantity

Here is an example of Question 2:

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, in the question above, write down any adjectives that come to mind that describe Zoe’s feelings as you read
3. Start your answer using the wording of the question:
• For example: “The writer uses language to describe Zoe’s feelings firstly by comparing the moment she is experiencing to something clear and pure, such as ice.”
• 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 example: “Zoe feels free because the writer uses the metaphor of Zoe as an eagle….”
• 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 1 Question 2: 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, “Thе writеr portrays thе charactеr’s impеnding sorrow by using pathеtic fallacy; as dеath is anothеr association of wintеr, it is usеd to forеshadow thе dеaths of other characters, which immеdiatеly еstablishеs a sеnsе of fеar”
• 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 of these lines
• 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 credit worthy
• Try to be as precise and specific as you can