Essential Guide to GCSE English Paper 1: Structure, Skills, and Tips for Success

GCSE English Paper 1

Timing: • 2 hours allowed in total • Section A: Tests Reading Skills allow 40 minutes • Section B: Tests Writing Skills allow 30 minutes for B1 allow 50 minutes for B2

Section A: Reading • Two extracts – Literature • Standard comprehension questions • Looks at : • Character • Meaning • Language • Thoughts & Feelings

Finding Information: • Firstly - read the text really carefully • Secondly - read question to make sure you understand exactly what it's asking you • Thirdly - use skimming and scanning skills and annotate the text by underlining or highlighting

PEE: Point Evidence (a quotation) and Explanation

PEE: Connectives Supporting an idea: • However... therefore... because... but... and... furthermore.. also... in addition... then... as well as... next... whereas... in contrast... later... at first... similarly...

PEE: Connectives Explaining an idea: • This implies... this suggests... which gives the impression that... this shows... this clearly shows... possibly... perhaps... this indicates that... obviously... this conveys to the reader that...

Questions: Character • Focus – Show that you understand how the writer creates characters using language • Explain and comment on words / sentences and why a writer has chosen them Eg: ‘If she could only cry now, cry for a long time over everything’ – Shows she is emotional, yet reserved, through the choice of the conditional verb ‘if’ and the repetition of the word’ cry’

Questions: Meaning • Focus: how the writer conveys emotions and atmosphere through the choices of language and literary devices • E.g. ‘Frank found himself advancing alone through a wall of fog’ – The writer shows horror by highlighting isolation and using a metaphor for the weather which affects Frank’s vision

Questions: Language • Focus – show you understand how a writer uses language for effect • Explain and comment on words / sentences and why a writer has chosen them • E.g. ‘The gold was shrouded in mystery’ – T his word suggests that the treasure has been covered up, hidden or has links with the semantic field of death

Questions: Thoughts and Feelings • Focus: consider language, character and meaning and how they contribute and how they contribute to your thoughts and feelings about the extract • Look carefully at the task and what it asks you to do. Eg: • Write about the whole passage or • Write about part of the passage

B1 Writing to describe No choice given One task Spend 30 mins on this section B2 Narrative writing 5/6 choices given Complete one task Spend 50 mins on this section Section B: Writing

Section B1: Planning B1 • Use the 5 senses • Vary punctuation • Include: similes, metaphors, personification, alliteration, emotive language • Describe minute detail • 5+ paragraphs

Section B2: Planning B2 • Vary punctuation • Include: similes, metaphors, personification, alliteration, emotive language • Use speech sparingly • 5+ paragraphs

Punctuation:

Section B: Proof Reading • Make sure you spend 5 mins proof reading your writing • Have you got paragraphs? • Have you used punctuation? • Have you varied your punctuation? • Could you add anymore detail? • Could you vary vocab making it even more interesting?

And Finally: Don’t panic! Do your best! and Good luck!

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Essential Guide to GCSE English Paper 1: Structure, Skills, and Tips for Success