Answering English Language GCSE Paper 1

Albert Einstein: "Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid"

Navigating the English Language Paper 1 Exam: A Parent's Guide to Helping Your Child Succeed

As parents, we all want to see our children succeed, especially when it comes to their education. One area that can be particularly challenging is preparing for standardized exams such as the English Language Paper 1. This blog post delves into the insights shared during a recent workshop designed to address parental concerns and provide actionable strategies for students grappling with this exam.

Understanding the Format

Before diving into specific strategies, it's crucial to understand what your child faces in Paper 1 of the exam. The structure is remarkably consistent from year to year:

1. Listing facts (Question 1)

2. Analysing language (Question 2)

3. Examining structure (Question 3)

4. Evaluating a statement (Question 4)

5. Engaging in creative writing (Question 5)

By familiarising yourself with this format, you can help your child know exactly what type of questions they will encounter.

Tackling Question by Question

For Question 1, remind your child that simplicity is key; they should list facts straight from the text without any need for deeper analysis or interpretation—this question tests their ability to identify relevant information quickly.

When approaching Question 2, reading comprehension becomes vital. Encourage them not only to read but also comprehend the entire extract before attempting this question—it’s about understanding how language features like metaphors or similes impact readers and analysing why writers make certain choices.

You will need to write roughly 3 paragraphs here starting with what your point is, your evidence (quote) and why you feel the author used this technique and the impact it has on the reader.

The third question examines structural elements within a text such as sentence length and punctuation use—a more technical aspect of literary analysis that requires attention beyond just content but also form and its effect on reading experience.

Again you will be looking for roughly 3 paragraphs. The first one will focus on how the author draws you in at the outset. Is it the location, an action, speech, the use of language structure?

The next paragraph will focus on where there is a change of tone or direction in the extract. Why is this affective? Why has the author done it? How does it continue to draw you in?

The final paragraph is taken from the end. How does the extract leave you feeling? Were you expecting that? Do you want to read on? What impact does it leave on the reader.

In answering Question Four's evaluative prompt about whether descriptions justify character reactions or scenarios presented in texts, students should practice highlighting textual evidence supporting their points while expanding vocabulary usage which could enhance overall marks significantly due improved articulation skills developed through varied word choice application during responses crafting process!

Here analysis is key. The bulk of your marks will be for the depth of your analysis and your personal interpretation. You need to be critical with your evaluation and be perceptive in your interpretation of the author's use of language and structure.

Effective Revision Strategies

One major takeaway from our speaker was that quality trumps quantity regarding revision sessions; short yet focused study periods are often more beneficial than long hours filled with distractions or procrastination tendencies creeping up unnoticed sometimes! Creating personalized revision planners tailored specifically towards each student’s needs helps maintain discipline & consistency throughout preparation period leading up until examination day arrives eventually – persistence coupled focus remain paramount ingredients recipe success here indeed!

Moreover looking at past mark schemes provides invaluable insight into what examiners expect answer-wise per given question thus allowing better targeting areas needing improvement whether be critical thinking aspects related structuring arguments coherently enough convincing convincingly others read work submitted evaluation purposes ultimately...

Finding Personal Motivation

Lastly finding personal motivation remains an essential factor keeping momentum going strong throughout the entire journey, mastering material necessary to pass exams.

Always remember the 'why' behind the efforts put forth on a daily basis helps stay on course even when times get tough.

With that said, here are 12 action steps to take today 👊

1. Create a Study Schedule:

- Develop a revision planner that allocates time for each section of Paper 1.

- Ensure the plan is realistic, with short, focused study sessions to maintain concentration.

2. Understand Question Formats:

- Familiarise yourself with the consistent format of Paper 1 questions.

- Go through past exam papers to get comfortable with the question types and expectations.

3. Practice Fact Listing (Q1):

- Practice identifying and listing facts from various texts without adding personal analysis or interpretation.

4. Improve Comprehension Skills:

- Encourage reading the entire extract before answering any questions to ensure full understanding.

- Discuss different texts at home to enhance comprehension abilities outside of schoolwork.

5. Language Analysis (Q2):

- Identify language features such as metaphors, similes, personification, etc., in practice exercises.

- Analyse their effects on readers by discussing potential impacts during your study sessions.

6. Structure Analysis (Q3):

- Observe how authors use sentence length, punctuation, and paragraphing in different texts.

- Discuss how these structural choices can guide reader response or create emphasis.

7. Evaluating Statements (Q4):

– Work on justifying points by finding evidence within the text that supports or contradicts statements given in exam questions.

– Practice writing responses that include a wide range of vocabulary to demonstrate understanding and depth of thought.

8. Creative Writing Skills (Q5):

– Engage in regular creative writing exercises based on prompts similar to those found in past papers.

– Seek feedback from teachers or peers on these creative pieces to improve storytelling techniques and originality.

9. Review Mark Schemes:

– Obtain mark schemes from previous years’ exams; analyse what examiners are looking for in high-scoring answers.

– Use this insight when practicing responses so you can tailor your answers accordingly.

10. Focused Revision Techniques:

– Break down revision into manageable chunks focusing on one aspect at a time like vocabulary building one day followed by structure analysis another day

– Avoid cramming all topics into one session which leads to ineffective learning

11 . Find Personal Motivation:

– Help students identify personal reasons why succeeding at English Language Paper 1 matters; it could be future career goals or personal satisfaction

– Use this motivation as fuel during challenging moments of study

12 . Persistence is Key:

- Remind students that progress comes with consistent effort over time

Encourage them not give up even if they do not see immediate results

Remember always seek additional help if needed whether it’s hiring tutor joining study group There's no shame getting support journey academic success

Revision aids

We have recently put together a couple of revision aids over on Amazon:

What have I done to help me pass my exams

Your exams are looming.
Some days you are busy, some days you are productive. Other days just pass you by…
That’s fine, it happens.
But you will no doubt find you will be more productive if you hold yourself accountable. If at the end of each day you write yourself an account of what you have achieved. Some days you might experience that Eureka moment, other days you may do nothing more than go over something you have done in class.
Other days you may not achieve anything. Then I’d write down why, is it because you were inundated with homework, you couldn’t be bothered, you were unwell.
Is there a pattern to the days you are productive and the days you’re not?
If there is, maybe there is something you can start to mimic in your productive days to make your non-productive days more productive.
It also gives you the ability to look back and celebrate what you have achieved, the steps you have taken to help you to pass your exams. To help you know that when you walk into that exam hall, you have done everything in your power to do your very best and you should be proud of yourself regardless of the results.
Good luck, you deserve to do well.


This book is designed as a place where you can log all of your daily achievements no matter how big or small. It's more of a reflection than a planner. Somewhere that you can look back to and think; Wow, I've worked hard. To think: I know so much more now than I did. To think; I can't imagine that just a few weeks a go my goal was to learn (fill in the dots for your goal) and now I get it. My hard work has paid off. I'm glad I put the effort in.

A place you can let go of your fears and anxieties and put things into perspective.

I know if you've considered buying this book, you intend to do well. So, I wish you all the best, you deserve it.

Your exams are just around the corner!: Your 6 month GCSE revision planner : Strachan, Dawn: Amazon.co.uk: Books

Your GCSE’s are just around the corner and it’s time to ramp up or focus the revision!

First things first, good luck. I think the main thing to remember is no matter the results you get, providing you walk out of that exam knowing that you did everything you could, you should be proud of yourself. It eliminates the fear of looking back with regret and no-one can ask more of you than knowing you tried your hardest. Know that if you tried your best, no matter the outcome, those that matter most will be proud of you.

This book has been broken down into three sections. In the first section we will look at how people learn and how to use this knowledge to help us to revise.

In the second section we have a section for you to copy down the subjects you are studying and an additional section to consider how you are feeling about each individual subject. We can return to this on a monthly basis so you can acknowledge how far you have come and what needs to be your main priorities moving forwards.

Then in the final section we have the actual planner. I suggest that before the beginning of each week you think about what you want to achieve this week and when you will do it. We’ll talk more about that in the section about how to revise.

But for now... good luck.

I remember as a child sitting in a GCSE maths class and the teacher was explaining something to us. I had no idea what she was talking about and, unfortunately, she chose me to answer her question.

I sat and looked at her blankly before giving her an answer with only the slightest glimmer of hope that it might be right.

No chance. She explained it again using the exact same words. She asked me again for the answer, but I was none the wiser. She might as well have been talking in a foreign language. I had no clue.

With a roll of her eyes, she explained it for the third time in the exact the same way. I still had no idea what she was on about. But, now with a bright red face and a fear that the tears I could feel welling up inside would escape down my cheeks, she gave up. I felt like a complete fool in front of the whole class.

That night I sat with my dad who used completely different wording and I got it. It was simple. He wasn’t a teacher; he just had the patience to explain it to me in a way that I understood. That has stayed with me for a long, long time.

This book is compiled from the experiences I have encountered over the past 20+ years with my own children, through my own studies, my degree in education, and from other students like you, that I have worked with as a tutor who have given me suggestions that they have used when they’ve prepared for their GCSE’s.

This one is my favourite!

Getting to grips with angles: Amazon.co.uk: Tutoring, Clara James, Strachan, Dawn: 9798872467434: Books

Reflex angles, co-interior angles, interior angles... It's enough to blow your mind!
This book is designed using colour and plenty of white space on each page so that it is more accessible/ appealing to more learning styles.

Each section is split into 2 parts. We have a ‘how to’ section which will explain (with images) how to solve a particular aspect of working with angles.

There follows 3(ish) pages which can either be used as worksheets or approached as a game. Instructions on playing the game are given on the back of the page.

There are several reasons for using games when we learn, firstly it helps us to create multiple memories making it easier to recall the information when we need to, rather than just relying on one place in our brain where we can gather the information that we need.

Additionally, when we play games we are hopefully enjoying ourselves (especially if we find we are winning). When we are enjoying ourselves we are more willing to participate. The more we participate the practice we get. The more practice we get, the better we become and it (hopefully) becomes a spiral of success.
Angles are no longer daunting, instead they are something we feel confident with, and may be actually enjoy?

Then at the end of the book we have the answers. Not so that you can cheat, but sometimes if you have an answer it makes it easier to work out the method by working backwards, then you get that Eureka moment and everything becomes clear.

The explanations and games presented in this book are an accumulation of experience from working with my own children, my degree in childcare and education, and over 20+ years of experience of working in a variety of educational settings. In 2012 I started Clara James tutoring (named after my children - the logo is an angel, the name of my youngest daughter) and these are the games and resources that we often use. Not every child we work with at Clara James has a different learning style such as dyslexia, ADHD, ASD, etc. but many do, and that has been my interest for many years.