Top 5 Things GCSE Examiners Want To See In Your English Language Paper 2 Exams

Hello and welcome back to another GCSE revision video. Now, if you were seeking a grade 6, 7, 8, and 9 in your final language paper two exams, you need to absolutely understand what examiners are looking for for your responses, what assessment objectives are going to be marking your answers by, what criteria they're looking for so that you can put yourself in a great position to get those marks that you want and deserve for this part of your GCSE English language paper two exams. So, what I want to go over is the top five things and the top assessment objectives that your examiners are looking for so that you can be crystal clear ahead of your final language paper two exams on what your examiners will be judging your responses based on. And most importantly, as you are practicing ahead of your final GCSE English language paper two exams, you do so with a view and a clear understanding of what your examiners want so you literally model your responses and your answers based on this, okay? So, let me get straight into it. What are your examiners looking for? These are the top five things your examiners are going to be looking for for your responses when you sit your language paper two exams. Number one, are you able to demonstrate AO1 skills? What does AO1 skills mean? Why is this important? Which questions do these relate to? Number one, remember that AO1 simply means are you able to answer the question correctly? If the question asks you to focus on source A, are you able to just make sure you're focusing on source A and not source B? If the question, for example, the multiple-choice question in question one asks you to find four statements that are true, then you are selecting the four statements that are true, okay? It's really as simple as that. Again, some students literally lose focus on what the question is asking or they rush too quickly through the questions and then lose sight of what the questions keywords are and then select the wrong information, okay? So, number one, >> [snorts] >> A1, are you able to answer the questions correctly, but also, and this is especially as it connects to question number two, are you able to synthesize the information that you're asked? You are you able to select the right quotations in your first comparison, question number two, from source A and source B where you're being asked to infer? Are you able to also weave this into a really nice comparison paragraph, okay? So, your examiners also want to see your ability to select the really strong quotations to then infer and to add into your comparison paragraphs. Now, as I said, with this A01 skills that your examiners are looking for, number one, they want to see that you're able to answer question one where you're asked to just find four statements that are true, but then also in question number two, the examiners want to see that you are able to compare and infer based on the keywords that you're asked to select to to talk about. And of course, you're also selecting the correct quotations. And of course, your A01 skills apply to questions one and two. That is the criteria examiners are going to be marking your responses as you work through questions one and two and as they are marking these first two questions in your script for language paper two. And number two, the next thing that your examiner is looking for are your A02 skills. Are you able to demonstrate A02 skills? And what this simply means in simple English is, are you able to show an awareness of subject terminology? More specifically, are you able to correctly label language techniques in connection to question number three. In other words, what you need to do is make sure you brush up on your language terminology, things like alliteration, sibilance, metaphors, personification, and so on, okay? Because your examiners want to see, especially as you're answering question number three, that you're able to identify the keywords in the question that you're supposed to focus on. Remember that question number three asked you to focus on just one specific source and talk about the writer's use of language. So, of course, when you're thinking about that one specific source and the writer's use of language to create specific effect, you need to make sure you the information that you're selecting ties in and works well with the question's keywords, but also once you do so, are you able to label language techniques, zoom in on specific words, think about the connotations that these words have for example what associations do we have with these words? For instance, as an example, the word red is a color, but actually the associations or connotations we have with this specific word is things like danger, okay? And also part of analysis is also making sure you think about things like reader effect, okay? All of this goes into your question three response and this is part of your AO2 skills. And by the way, if you are rusty on any of these techniques or generally to be honest, if you're still feeling a little bit rusty on language paper one or a little bit hazy, unclear, maybe you have questions on language paper one or or paper two even, um not only will I be going over and recapping all the techniques that you will need for your language paper two exams, especially when it comes to language for question number three and of course language and structure for question four in my night before language paper two revision classes. It's going to be on Thursday the 4th of June at 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. This is before the final language paper two exam on Friday morning. So, of course, if you not only want a refresher, but also you want to go over all five questions for the entire language paper two exam, this is going to be a mega masterclass for three hours where I'm going to be answering all five questions and of course also answering literally every single questions that you guys will have advance in advance of the final GCSE exam. So, of course, I just simply join in to that class. The link is in the description and of course, as it's a live lesson, you can ask me as many questions as you want. Now, the third thing your examiners will be looking for when they're marking your exam, is are you able to demonstrate AO3 skills. AO3 skills simply means the following. When it comes to question number four, are you firstly able to compare the writers viewpoints and perspectives? You will be asked to either talk about both writers, do they have similar views on the specific theme that they're writing about, or differences? Cuz remember that in language paper two, there's always something thematic elements that that connects both sources that you're given. Equally, what your examiners want to see is, of course, when you're answering and comparing the writers viewpoints and perspectives, you're thinking about, for instance, if you're asked to talk about similarities, only talk about similarities. Or if you're asked to talk about the writers different viewpoints and perspectives, talk about the differences and focus on that. And also, what you need to do, and as I've mentioned this already, talk about the writers use of methods, the writers use of language and structure as part of your analysis in conveying their viewpoints and perspectives. And equally, you need to talk about the writers use of tone, viewpoint, and intent. That is part of your analysis. And then, the fourth thing that your examiner is looking for is your ability to demonstrate AO5 skills. AO5 relates to question number five. And simply, what this means is Remember that in question number five, this is where you're given a debate, right? You're asked to write an article, letter, or speech based on the topical issue that you're going to be asked to talk about. Things like, should school uniform be banned? Is education worth the paper it's printed on? Maybe even AI, right? Is it good for society or bad for society? Maybe you might be lucky enough to get that as a debate question. However, regardless of the question that you get, when you're answering this response, number one your examiners want to see is your argument organized and easy to follow. Remember that when it comes to question number five, which obviously carries the lion's share of marks, it's worth 40 marks, you need to make sure that you spend at least 5 minutes planning your response. So that when you then start writing your answer is not going all over the place because if it's going all over all over the place, you are showing very limited AO5 skills. Equally, you need to show in your response an awareness of form. What that simply means is if you're asked to write an article, can you show an awareness of how an article is laid out versus a letter versus a speech and also an awareness of your audience. And finally, you need to show an awareness of whatever you're writing has a primary purpose which is to inform your reader and a secondary purpose which is to entertain your reader, okay? So, that is question number five in terms of your AO5 skills, okay? And finally, number five, your examiners are seeking AO6 skills. In other words, are you able to spell and punctuate accurately? In other words, SPAG points. Accurate spelling, punctuation, and grammar. And equally, as part of your AO6 skills, are you able to write using ambitious language? Instead of saying words like sad, using words like melancholy and so on, okay? And that of course also relates to question number five. So, as I said of course, if you have any questions, if you want to see how to write a grade nine model responses or how to even boost your marks ahead of your final GCSE exams, or if you have even questions relating to language paper two, I will be running a final night before masterclass. It's going to be a three-hour mega class from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, 4th of June before the final GCSE exams. So, make sure you join in.