Paper 2: Overview (AQA GCSE English Language): Revision Notes
📚 Revision Notes
Paper 2 Section B: Overview
SECTION B: WRITING – Assessment Objectives
In Section B you will complete one extended writing task (Q5).
This is worth 40 marks total – half the paper!
| AO | What it means in practice | Which question? |
|---|---|---|
| AO5 | • Write in a way that is clear, engaging and imaginative. • Match your tone, style, and register to the form (article, letter, speech, leaflet, essay). • Structure and organise ideas logically (paragraphs, connectives, openings/endings). | Q5 |
| AO6 | • Use a wide range of vocabulary and sentence structures. • Punctuate accurately (commas, apostrophes, sentence boundaries). • Spelling must be correct. • This AO makes up 20% of the total GCSE English Language marks. | Q5 |
The Writing Task on Paper 2
- Q5 (40 marks) – Write a non-fiction text in a particular form (e.g. letter, article, speech, leaflet, essay).
- You will be asked to give your own viewpoint on a theme linked to the two reading sources.
Mark Breakdown
- AO5 = 24 marks (content + organisation)
- AO6 = 16 marks (technical accuracy: spelling, punctuation, grammar)
- TOTAL = 40 marks
Absolute minimum to remember:
- Q5 = 40 marks (biggest question!)
- AO5 = content + structure (24 marks)
- AO6 = spelling, punctuation, grammar (16 marks)
- Always plan quickly before writing – poor structure loses easy marks
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Paper 2 Section B: Writing Checklist (Q5)
Before you hand in your writing, check you have:
Content & Organisation (AO5 – 24 marks)
- A clear form (article, letter, speech, leaflet, essay) – have you followed the instructions?
- A clear purpose (to persuade, argue, inform, explain).
- An appropriate audience (formal/informal tone as required).
- A strong opening that grabs the reader's attention.
- Ideas organised in clear paragraphs (one idea per paragraph).
- Logical sequence/flow – does each paragraph lead naturally to the next?
- A clear ending/conclusion that leaves an impact.
- Use of persuasive/engaging techniques where appropriate (e.g. rhetorical questions, direct address, statistics, anecdotes, repetition).
Technical Accuracy (AO6 – 16 marks)
- Correct spelling of common and ambitious words.
- Accurate punctuation (commas, apostrophes, sentence boundaries, question marks, exclamation marks where needed).
- A range of sentence structures (short for impact, longer for detail).
- Varied vocabulary – avoid repeating simple words.
- Proper capital letters for names, places, titles.
- Proofread quickly to fix any small mistakes.
Absolute minimum to remember:
- Stick to the correct form
- Organise into paragraphs
- Check spelling, punctuation, and grammar
- End with a strong conclusion