english language paper 2 question 5 speech

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Is it that time of year again? Worry not! Beyond is here to provide stage-by-stage English Language Paper 2 revision, sharing a range of hints and tips that’ll see students triumph in their exams. Our dedicated Paper 2 blog goes into great detail across each section of the exam, including:

AQA English Language Paper 2 Breakdown

• Reading source A and B
• Answering question 1
• Answering question 2
• Answering question 3
• Answering question 4
• Answering question 5
• Tips and tricks

AQA English Language Paper 2 revision resources

If you’re looking for even more hints and tips, check out our revision guides below:

English Language Paper 2 Digital Micro Mocks

It’s always a good idea to ensure you have a proper grasp of each aspect of the exam you’re revising for! Getting a handle on the available marks and suggested timings is a great way to make sure you don’t pour all of your effort into the first question, run out of time and end up 40 marks short overall!

Below is the AQA English Language Paper 2 breakdown, which highlights each section of the exam, its corresponding marks and how long we suggest you spend on it.

Reading Source A and B

• Suggested time spent : 8 minutes per reading source, 16 minutes overall

What do I need to do?

Read the non-fiction texts provided. You will need to read, analyse and compare these texts in this exam. These texst will be a 20 th or 21 st century piece of non-fiction writing and can be any one of the following:

• Autobiography
• Newspaper article
• Series of letters
• Don’t skim through the text first time round – make sure you read it carefully.
• If there are any words or phrases you don’t understand, try to use their context in the writing to work out their meaning.
• Remember that you can write on the text as you go through the questions. This is your exam paper! Scribble until your heart’s content!

English Language Reading Paper 2: Question 1

• Worth : 4 marks
• Suggested time spent : 5 minutes
• Assessed via : AO1
• Identify and interpret explicit and implicit information and ideas . Select and synthesise evidence from different texts

Look at Source A only. Choose four statements that are true from a list of eight. The information you are given may be surface meaning (such as a fact) or implied meaning (such as a suggestion or hint). You must choose a maximum of four statements.

• Read through the statements carefully and tick off any you are certain of straightaway.
• This is a four-mark question, so don’t spend a long time on it.
• Look carefully at the choices of statement. Which can you rule out straight away? Read the text carefully for implied meaning.
• Use the line references to get to the appropriate piece of text quickly.
• Make sure you take your information from the text – don’t attempt to answer from memory!

English Language Reading Paper 2: Question 2

• Worth: 8 marks
• Suggested time spent: 10 minutes
• Assessed via: AO1

Look at both Source A and Source B. Using details from each, write a summary about the similarities or differences in the text.

• Read the question carefully – you will be asked to summarise one thing in particular
• This is a summary and so should be in your own words
• Make sure you talk about both texts
• Sample question 2 answers can be found here

English Language Reading Paper 2: Question 3

• Worth: 12 marks
• Suggested time spent: 12 minutes
• Assessed via: AO2
• Explain, comment on and analyse how writers use language and structure to achieve effects and influence readers, using relevant subject terminology to support their views

Analyse how the writer uses words, phrases, language features and sentence forms to create particular effects, within the whole text. You will need to quote from the text directly and you will need to explain how the quotations you have chosen make your points.

• Make sure you refer to language in your answer – you can’t get high marks if you don’t reference this carefully
• Highlight the text words or phrases you think you may use in your answer
• Remember to use short, precise quotations from the text
• It’s not enough to just identify the techniques being used – you must explain how they are effective
• Sample question 3 answers can be found here

The following phrases may be useful when writing your answer:

• The writer / narrator uses / refers to / employs…
• The writer / narrator builds / creates / develops…
• The writer / narrator creates a mood / atmosphere / sense / feeling of…
• The use of simile / metaphor / personification / short sentences / ellipsis creates a sense of…
• The pace / rhythm of the text increases / decreases here so that…

English Language Reading Paper 2: Question 4

• Worth: 16 marks
• Suggested time spent: 16 minutes
• Assessed via: AO3
• Compare writers’ ideas and perspectives, as well as how these are conveyed, across two or more texts

Compare how the writers of Source A and Source B explore or address a particular idea or theme. You will need to look at surface meaning (such as a fact) and implied meaning (such as a suggestion or hint) within the texts. You will need to use evidence (quotations) from both texts. You need to make detailed comparisons between the two.

• Make sure your answer refers specifically to the question – you will be given a particular aspect of the pieces to look at
• You must use specific quotations from both texts
• Your comparison must give equal weight to both texts – don’t focus on one more than another
• You must look at the language, structure and themes in both texts
• Don’t just give quotations and facts – analyse how the writers both achieve particular effects
• As well as specific facts, you may need to look at the overall tone or impressions of the texts

The following phrases may be useful when making links between the texts:

English Language Reading Paper 2: Question 5

• Worth: 40 marks
• Suggested time spent: 45 minutes
• Assessed via: AO5 and AO6
• AO5 (24 marks)
• Communicate clearly, effectively and imaginatively, selecting and adapting tone, style and register for different forms, purposes and audiences. Organise information and ideas, using structural and grammatical features to support coherence and cohesion of texts.
• AO6 (16 marks)
• Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation .

Complete the non-fiction writing task you are given. It will require you to write an engaging non-fiction piece. It should be appropriate to the purpose, audience and form stated in the question. The task will be on a similar theme to the texts supplied in Section A of the exam.

• Make sure your piece is carefully structured – take two minutes to plan it first
• Use a wide range of vocabulary, sentence structures and literary devices – this is your opportunity to show off
• Make sure you have read the question carefully – it’s important that your writing fits the task given
• Think very carefully about the tone of your piece – it must be appropriate to the purpose, audience and format specified
• Take great care with spelling, punctuation and grammar – 16 marks are available for technical accuracy
• Print out our Section B support guide

Try using some of the following discourse markers in your writing:

• Additionally
• Consequently
• Furthermore
• In conclusion
• Nevertheless
• On the other hand

Try using some of the following literary devices in your writing:

• Alliteration
• Direct address
• Emotive language
• Personification
• Rhetorical question
• Rule of three

AQA English Language Paper 2 Revision Final Tips

When you know the time of your exam, work out what the timings for each question will be.

e.g. Exam starts at 1.30pm:

If you miss your timings, don’t panic. Move to the next question quickly – you can always return to the previous one if you have time at the end.

Read the text provided carefully. If you’re unsure of what some of the words mean, try to work out their meanings by looking at their context in the sentence.

Remember to read for implied meaning, as well as surface meaning.

Read the questions very carefully. If need be, underline key words so you are sure what you are being asked.

Look at the marks available and adapt your response accordingly. There is no point writing two pages for a six mark question and half a page for a 15 mark question.

Write on your copy of the text if you want to. This is your exam paper – annotate and highlight as you need.

Keep quotations short – a few words at most.

Try to integrate quotations into your sentences.

Never criticise a writer. You can evaluate their work, using evidence from the text, but do not make sweeping statements about whether you personally like or dislike the text.

Plan your written task – a spider diagram, list or flow chart will help you to create cohesion in your writing.

Pay attention to your spelling, punctuation and grammar. This is worth 16 marks in Section B of the exam. Don’t make silly mistakes, such as forgetting to use capital letters correctly.

Check your work carefully when you have finished. Use every minute you have.

Finally: believe in yourself. You are prepared and YOU CAN DO THIS!

AQA English Language Digital Revision Booklet

All of the suggestions on this page are taken from the revision booklet , which includes additional tasks and exercises and can be purchased in our revision shop!

So, there you have it! Definitive AQA English Language Paper 2 revision, all in one place. You can find our Paper 1 blog here and for any other English GCSE revision needs, simply click here . Good luck!

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AQA GCSE English Language Paper 2 – Revision Guide

Welcome to the complete revision guide for AQA GCSE English Language paper 2. Keep reading for our top tips and advice on each question, as we break down the English Language paper 2. Find out what to expect from each question, how to revise effectively and how to get top marks. 

To revise effectively for GCSE English Language you do need to set aside plenty of revision time. Our tutors always hear students say that they don’t need to – or even can’t – revise for English Language. That’s all wrong. You must   revise for the subject, you just need to know how. 

You should focus on:

• understanding how each of the papers is structured; 
• knowing what the examiner is looking for on each question; and
• doing lots of practice questions and marking your own work to improve quickly. 

You can also find our guide to AQA GCSE English Language Paper 1 here .

Alongside our revision guides, our team of top English tutors provide one-to-one lessons designed specifically to help you succeed in the exams. Contact us directly to book your first lesson. 

Overview of the paper

AQA GCSE English Language paper 2 explores non-fiction writers’ viewpoints and perspectives. Section A consists of 4 questions, in which you’ll analyse two linked sources across different time periods and genres. Section B consists of a single big question where you will write your own text for a specified audience, purpose and form. Here you’ll provide your own perspective on a task related to the theme that was introduced in section A. 

There is 1 hour 45 minutes to complete the paper. There are 80 marks at stake, making up 50% of your GCSE English Language qualification. 

AQA English Language Paper 2 Section A

Read the sources carefully – spend 15 mins here.

Make sure you spend the first 10-15 minutes of the exam carefully reading the sources. You should: 

• read the texts carefully and thoroughly;
• read the questions; and
• highlight important parts of the sources for use later. 

Question 1 – select 4 true statements – spend 5 mins here

The first question should be fairly straightforward but do ensure you take a few minutes to think it through carefully. You’ll be asked to focus on a small part of source A and select four true statements from a selection of eight. Be a little careful here because there will be some statements that you think could possibly be true, but you should be able to point to where you’re told this in the text for it to be true. That will confirm your choice. 

Things to remember on this question: 

• focus only on the specific section of source A; 
• pinpoint where in the text the writer tells you each of your choices; and
• don’t spend more than 5 minutes here. 

Question 2 – summary of differences or similarities – spend 10 mins here

For question 2 you need to refer to both source A and B. The question is out of 8 marks. You’ll be asked to write a summary of the differences or similarities between something/ someone in source A and something/ someone in source B. You don’t need to worry about analysing language or structure here, simply identify 3-4 differences or similarities (focused on what is in your specific question). Summarise each of the differences in turn, with quotations, and explore perceptive inferences from both texts. Inferences are not explicitly said, they are the extra layers of understanding that are suggested by the writer and which you pick up  from “reading between the lines”. To get top marks you need to examine what the writers imply about the issue.  

Things to remember for this question: 

• you do  not  need to analyse any language or structure here;
• focus on explaining perceptive inferences from both texts to explain the key differences or similarities; and
• cover three or four points with quotations. 

Question 3 – the writer’s use of language to describe something – spend 12 mins here

There are 12 marks up for grabs here. You will always be asked, ‘how does the writer use language to describe…’ followed by something specific from part of one source. You need to analyse the effects of the writer’s choice of language. Make around four points and explore them using good quotations and sophisticated use of subject terminology. The language features you pick out could include things like: metaphors, similes, alliteration, onomatopoeia, personification, sentence forms and the use of specific types of words or phrases. 

• focus on analysing the effects of the writer’s choice of language; 
• use accurate subject terminology by identifying specific language techniques; and
• cover four points with excellent quotations. 

Question 4 – comparing different perspectives – spend 18 mins here

Question 4 is a bigger, extended question with 16 marks at stake. As such, the examiner is expecting more from you. The question will always ask you to “compare how the writers convey their different perspectives/attitudes about…” something specific to the sources. You need to perceptively compare their different perspectives or attitudes, and most importantly,  compare the methods the writers use  to convey their different perspectives or attitudes. Everything is in scope here, so you can analyse any methods, including both language and structure. Aim to write about four good comparison points. These four paragraphs will cover both sources (in order to compare them properly) and they’ll be more developed than in the earlier questions. 

• keep focused on the specific task in the question;
• analyse the methods used by the writers to convey their attitudes to the topic; and
• consider both language and structure. 

AQA GCSE English Language Paper 2 Section B

Question 5 – writing to present a viewpoint – spend 45 mins here.

Question 5 provides your opportunity to show the examiner how you can write effectively to explain your point of view on a specific issue. There are a whopping 40 marks up for grabs here, so make sure you spend the full 45 mins doing this question. You’ll be given a statement on an issue related to those discussed in section A. Your task will be to write in a specific form, for a specific audience, to present your point of view on the issue. You might be asked to write a newspaper article, letter or speech, amongst other forms. The marks are allocated specifically, with 24 marks available for content and organisation and 16 marks for technical accuracy (spelling, punctuation and grammar). 

To do well in this question we recommend spending the first 5 minutes thinking deeply about the task and planning your answer. This plan will ensure your answer has a good, consistent argument and structure. When writing, make sure your style and use of language reflects the form and audience of the task. Use ambitious vocabulary, language techniques and structural features to really demonstrate what you can do. You should, of course, always ensure your spelling, punctuation and grammar are spot on. Leave a couple of minutes at the end to double check your technical accuracy. 

• match your style of writing to the purpose and audience of the task; 
• plan your answer first;
• leave the full 45 minutes to complete the task fully; and
• use ambitious vocabulary, language and structural features to present your viewpoint and really show the examiner what you can do. 

Now Keep revising for your AQA GCSE English Language Paper 2

The key thing after reading this guide is to practise. Do as many past papers and practice questions as you can. Mark your own work and try answering the questions again focusing on areas to develop. You can find all of the past AQA papers here . For fully personalised advice and support, why not try a lesson with one of our online GCSE English experts? Simply drop us a quick message and we’ll arrange your free tutoring consultation. 

GCSE Language

Key stage three

Transactional writing

Structure Strips: Speech

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Structure strips designed with AQA GCSE English Language Paper 2, Question 5. Easily adaptable to any/all tasks. Inspiration from @MrLockyer and @MrsSpalding.

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June 30, 2020.

Paper 2 Marked Answers

Looking at examples of marked answers is a great way to help you understand the skills you need to show for each question and the level of detail you need to include. on each answer you'll see annotations from the examiner in the margin. these show where the student has included a skill and at what level. at the end you'll see the final mark., these are example answers from the june 2019 paper 2. you can find the whole paper  here ..

Paper 2 Question 5: Letter Model Answer ( AQA GCSE English Language )

Revision note.

Paper 2 Question 5 Model Answer: Letter

In Question 5, you will be presented with a writing task based on a statement. The subject matter will be related to the reading in Section A. This means you can adapt some of the ideas in the texts you read and use them in your own writing. 

The question asks you to write for a specific purpose and in a specific format. It is important to use the correct conventions of the format and directly focus your writing to its purpose, as the mark scheme rewards adapting tone, style and register for different forms, purposes and audiences. 

This means: 

• The tone (sound of the writer’s ‘voice’) is appropriate and convincing 
• The register (vocabulary and phrasing)  is appropriately formal or informal, and suitable for the purpose
• The style of the writing (sentence structure and overall structure) is dynamic and effective 

Below you will find a detailed model letter in response to an example of Paper 2 Question 5, under the following sub-headings (click to go straight to that sub-heading):

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Author: Sam Evans

Sam is a graduate in English Language and Literature, specialising in journalism and the history and varieties of English. Before teaching, Sam had a career in tourism in South Africa and Europe. After training to become a teacher, Sam taught English Language and Literature and Communication and Culture in three outstanding secondary schools across England. Her teaching experience began in nursery schools, where she achieved a qualification in Early Years Foundation education. Sam went on to train in the SEN department of a secondary school, working closely with visually impaired students. From there, she went on to manage KS3 and GCSE English language and literature, as well as leading the Sixth Form curriculum. During this time, Sam trained as an examiner in AQA and iGCSE and has marked GCSE English examinations across a range of specifications. She went on to tutor Business English, English as a Second Language and international GCSE English to students around the world, as well as tutoring A level, GCSE and KS3 students for educational provisions in England. Sam freelances as a ghostwriter on novels, business articles and reports, academic resources and non-fiction books.