Paper 2: How to Answer Question 4 (AQA GCSE English Language): Revision Notes
📚 Revision Notes
Paper 2: How to Answer Question 4
What is it asking?
- This is the big comparison question (16 marks).
- You are asked to compare the writers' methods and ideas.
- In practice, this means:
- What each writer thinks/feels (perspectives and viewpoints).
- How each writer gets these ideas across (methods = language + structure).
- It's like combining the skills from Q2 (summarising ideas) and Q3 (analysing methods).
Timings
| Marks | Timings |
|---|---|
| [16] | 20–25 minutes |
How to Approach the Question (Step by Step)
- Read the question carefully – it will usually ask about a specific theme (e.g. travel, work, attitudes to children).
- Underline the focus in both sources – what is each writer's viewpoint on this theme?
- Plan quickly – jot down 2–3 key comparisons (similarities and/or differences).
- Start with a clear comparative statement – show the link between the two sources immediately.
- Work through each source – give a quote, analyse the method (language/structure), explain what it shows.
- Compare explicitly – use connectives ("however," "in contrast," "on the other hand," "similarly") to link ideas directly.
- Finish with a summary – show overall similarities/differences in the writers' viewpoints.
Structure
In this question, you can talk about the impacts of both language and structure.
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| Clear, comparative statement that answers the question | Both texts present travel as challenging, but Source A emphasises the excitement whilst Source B highlights the danger… |
| Source A method | The writer has used […] and an example of this is… |
| Source A word analysis | This is suggested through the word… |
| Source A perspective | Here, the writer is presenting X as Y because… |
| Source B compare perspective | Similarly…, By contrast…, Unlike Source A, Source B… |
| Source B method | Source B uses […] to convey… |
| Source B word analysis | The writer employs the word… |
| Source B perspective | This reflects their viewpoint because it shows… |
| Comparative summary | Overall, both writers share concern about X, but Source A is more positive while Source B is more critical… |
Structural Analysis Help
When analysing the effects of structure, use the acronym BEST SECONDZ (as in Paper 1, Q3):
- Beginnings
- Endings
- Sentence lengths (relative to the surrounding text)
- Time (e.g. chronological, flashback)
- Shifts in focus (e.g. changes in weather, time, place, person, theme)
- Echoes from earlier in the text (repetition)
- Contrast
- Order of events/ideas (do they follow on from one another?)
- Narrative perspective (first, second, third person)
- Discourse markers & dialogue (connectives e.g. After, However)
- Zooming into description (careful: don't slip into language analysis here)
chatImportant
Top tips:
- Skip introductions – they waste time and don't earn marks. Start comparing straight away.
- Use a variety of vocabulary to describe perspectives (avoid vague words like positive/negative on their own). E.g. instead of happy, use optimistic, cheerful, hopeful.
- Make comparison explicit – don't just describe Source A and then Source B separately. Link them:
- "Source A suggests X, whereas Source B presents Y."
- "Both writers agree that…, but Source A emphasises…, while Source B focuses on…"
- Aim for 2–3 developed comparisons rather than rushing lots of short points.