Edexcel English Language

Paper 1: Approach
10/4/20

Jonathan Peel JLS 2017

 A new examination: A new format

• Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes

• 2 sections, each worth 45 marks
• Section A: Unseen and prepared non fiction
• Section B: Transactional writing

Jonathan Peel JLS 2017

 Assessment overview : from Edexcel….

Paper 1 assesses 60% of the total English Language (Specification A)qualification and assesses Reading (30%) and Writing (30%).
There will be two sections in the paper.
Section A: Non-fiction.
Students are advised to allocate 60 minutes plus 15 minutes of reading time to Section A.
• There will be a mixture of short and long-answer questions related to a non-fiction text from Part 1 of the Pearson Edexcel International IGCSE English Anthology and one previously unseen extract.
Students will answer all questions in this section.
• Total of 45 marks for this section. Questions will test the following assessment objectives:
AO1
read and understand a variety of texts, selecting and interpreting information, ideas and perspectives
AO2
understand and analyse how writers use linguistic and structural devices to achieve their effects
AO3
explore links and connections between writers’ ideas and perspectives, as well as how these are conveyed
Section B: Transactional Writing
•Students are advised to allocate 60minutes to Section B.
•There will be one writing task, based on a choice of two prompts involving a given audience, form or purpose.
•Students will answer one question in this section.
•Total of 45marks for this section. Questions will test the following assessment objectives:
AO4
communicate effectively and imaginatively, adapting form, tone and register of writing for specific purposes and audiences
AO5
write clearly, using a range of vocabulary and sentence structures, with appropriate paragraphing and accurate spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Jonathan Peel JLS 2017

 Section A: “Students are advised to allocate
about 1 hour and 30 minutes including reading
time to Section A.”
• Use your clocks and watches and police your timings closely.
• No fixed number of questions BUT the long comparison is worth 22 marks and the analysis of the prepared passage
is worth 12. The rest of the marks will be built up from a number of shorter questions to add up to 45.
• Reading Time: should be plenty for the unseen passage . Ideally, save some to refresh the prepared passage.
• Reading 1: for sense and comprehension. Annotate at this stage for obvious structural and stylistic features – shifts
to direct speech, long or short paragraphs and so on.
• Reading 2: Before this reading, look at the short answer questions. Use this reading to answer the short answer
questions. Annotate for literary devices – remember that the comparative question will always have a ‘how
does…?’ stem and focus on writer’s craft.
• Then:…
Jonathan Peel JLS 2017
 Section A: “Students are advised to allocate about 1
hour and 30 minutes including reading time to
Section A.” (2)
• Youtrouble
Remind yourself of the prepared passage. NOTE: if you have not revised these passages you will be in serious must not
regarding time. They should be as second nature to you. ignore
• Plan your response quickly and write an answer with quotations to answer the specific question asked. structure. The
placing of
material for
• The long question must be planned – there are too many marks at stake!
maximum
• Remember to compare like with like in a comparison and also that differences and similarities should be included. effect.
• You must quote in the response and I recommend using the unseen passage as your first text. It will show stronger
engagement with the material in the paper.
• AO2:Understand and analyse how writers use linguistic and structural devices to achieve their effects
• AO3: explore links and connections between writers’ ideas and perspectives, as well as how these are conveyed.

Jonathan Peel JLS 2017

Consider the purpose of the writing
from the writer’s perspective
 In the exam
• Timing is critical.
• Think of the marks….
• 22 marks: longest question – longest time
• 12 marks next longest….
• The ‘shrapnel’ or ‘millionaire questions; as quickly and accurately as possible…
22 mark comparison 25-30 minutes
12 mark prepared analysis 15-20 minutes
‘In your own words’ 10-15 minutes (including a quick plan to
focus)
Short questions As little as possible – during ‘reading
time’
Jonathan Peel JLS 2017
 Section B: Transactional writing

• "Students are advised to allocate 45 minutes to Section B.” This does not mean writing a
structure-less and directionless piece of work.
• You have ample time to plan and to review/edit the completed work.

• Clear your mind; choose your task and plan.

• Depending on the task, think about models you have recently read/heard: newspaper
articles, biographies, assemblies, lectures, lessons, letters (if in doubt ask your parents for
examples of business letters).
Jonathan Peel JLS 2017
 TRANSACTION

• The term given to writing involving a ‘given audience, form or purpose’.

• It is vital this emerges in your writing.
• Tone or register must vary depending on audience – the level of informality and
balance between personal and a more objective response needs to be recognised.
• The form is equally vital – each format has a specific form which must be shown to
the examiner – remember that letters and speeches in particular need to show this
at the end as well as the beginning.

Jonathan Peel JLS 2017

task comment
Speech 1st person, uses audience and engages by 2nd person and 1st plural, may be less
formal depending on audience, contains anecdote, may use RQs as a means to
engage. Greet and say farewell. Any questions?

Letter Possible tasks

Register determined by recipient, 1 st person information at opening, needs
evidence – use quotations – dear… yours… sign on and off! IED structure

Review Who, what, why, when + qualitative judgement and quotations… vox pop?
Subjective.

Report Highly objective, clear structure round IED. Formal in language and tone, use “”
to inject variety. No need for qualitative personal response – show sources.

Article for paper/magazine Headline, writing varies by task – magazine more entertaining than reporting.
Broadsheet or tabloid?
Interview Well chosen RQs as structural device. Answer can be less formal and show a clear
1st person subjectivity. Use answers in next question – linking… that’s
interesting…. Moving on now…on that point.
Blog post Headlng. Personal, maybe quite informal. Consider links to other posts

?????

Jonathan Peel JLS 2017

 Structure is rewarded

• Plan for this. Think about the dominant Inform, Explain, Describe literary features. These are not
the only writing-types you will need, but they will help to structure your work.

• Plan by using your knowledge of the Anthology of texts. Get used to recognising the IED elements
in each paragraph to see how the passages are structured.

• NOTE: ‘express your views’ does not mean ‘persuade’ – you are being objective and analytical, not
trying to gain support. Avoid too many RQs and use language –well chosen verbs and
adjectives/adverbs to make your point.

Jonathan Peel JLS 2017

 We can’t avoid SPAG
• In this question SPAG is worth 18 marks out of 45. That’s 20% of the whole
paper or 40% of this question. It is also 12% of your entire IGCSE grade.
• In other words, a very low SPAG mark will result in a student being unable to gain
an 8 or a 9. It is imperative that you become editors and proof readers.
• Words regarded as common, and common homophones need to be absolutely
correct. There is less punishment for mis-spelling an advanced vocabulary.
• Likewise, it is clear that a wide range of punctuation is required for the higher
bands. It is not enough to scatter a few full stops, commas and question marks –
think about punctuation for effect and use it consciously.
• Common slips include the RQs which do not get question marks and short,
powerful sentences which do not receive exclamation marks…
Jonathan Peel JLS 2017
Taken from Key
Stage 2 material.
Punctuation
Where do you fit
in? You need to
familiar with the
use of each of
these elements of
punctuation.

You should
practice using
them in your
writing.

Jonathan Peel JLS 2017

 In the exam

• Watch your time carefully.

• I suggest aiming to write for around 35 minutes. Plan and edit for 10 minutes.
• PLAN: note the transactional task and audience; know how you are going to end before you start
writing – a structure needs to be clear from the outset. Have you considered which of the
TRAPPERS features you will use? Do you know how you are going to get direct speech into the
writing?

• Proof read with care. Double check the words you know you find hard. Question your
punctuation and adjust if necessary to add impact.
Jonathan Peel JLS 2017