Paper-2-Section-A-Overview-aqa

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Exam code:8700

Reading section summary

Section A overview
Part of the non-fiction paper: you will explore two non-fiction texts with particular points of view There are 4 questions Section A is worth 40 marks in total It counts as 25% of the GCSE You are assessed on your reading skills
Timings
Spend 1 hour on Section A

Section A: Reading of Paper 2 you will be given two source texts — Source A and Source B — in a separate booklet. The sources will be linked by a theme; one will be taken from the 19th century and the other from either the 20th or 21st century.

Examiner Tips and Tricks

The non-fiction insert booklet will include two set texts. They will be of different genres.

The genres include articles, reports, essays, travel writing, accounts, letters, diaries and extracts from biographies or autobiographies. Whatever the genre, your main task is to identify how the authors of these texts present their points of view via their choice of language.

How long should I spend on each reading question?

You should aim to spend no more than 1 hour on Section A, including 15 minutes’ reading time.

AQA GCSE English Language Paper 2 Section A Timings — **Paper 2 Section A timings**

Examiner Tips and Tricks

With so much to cover in Paper 2 Section A, it’s essential that you are aware of your time and manage how long you spend answering each question. Running out of time is one of the main reasons students don’t do as well in this exam as they could.

Try to judge how much you need to write according to the number of marks awarded. For example, do not spend 30 minutes answering an 8-mark question and only leave yourself 10 minutes for a 16-mark question.

What am I tested on in Section A: Reading?

Understanding the assessment objectives (AOs) of Section A will help you:

Know what skills you are expected to show in the exam
Help you identify areas to improve on

Section A
AO1	Understanding and interpreting information (12 marks)	Understand, synthesise and explain obvious and implied ideas in a text To synthesise means to bring together the information from both texts
AO2	Analysing language (12 marks)	Explain how writers use words and language devices to create effects and make readers think or feel a certain way Use subject terminology (like metaphor, simile, etc.) to back up your ideas
AO3	Comparing texts (16 marks)	Compare the ideas and perspectives of writers from two texts Explain how they express these ideas

Expert tips for all of the reading questions

Cover the whole of the section of text in your answer

It is important in your Section A answers that you cover the whole of the section or text in your answer, and include a range of evidence. Some tips to help you do this:

Cover the whole of the passage or texts by selecting evidence from:
- The start
- The middle
- The end of the section of the text
Don’t limit your comments to only the first part of what you read in either the section or the texts:
- This will limit your marks
Include evidence from both texts for Questions 2 and 4

Use connectives to structure your answers

A well-structured, cohesive response will be structured using appropriate connectives to either add to your arguments, or indicate a contrast. Some of the most common are as follows (each will need a comma after the connective word or phrase):

To add to your arguments	To compare and contrast
In addition	Whereas
Furthermore	On the other hand
Additionally	Contrastingly
Moreover	In contrast
As well as	While
Lastly	Similarly
Finally	However

Learn more

Check out our expert guides on each of the reading questions in Paper 2 here:

Paper 2 Question 1
Paper 2 Question 2
Paper 2 Question 3
Paper 2 Question 4

English Language GCSE AQA

Paper-2-Section-A-Overview-aqa

Reading section summary

Examiner Tips and Tricks

How long should I spend on each reading question?

Examiner Tips and Tricks

What am I tested on in Section A: Reading?

Expert tips for all of the reading questions

Cover the whole of the section of text in your answer

Use connectives to structure your answers

Learn more

Responses