English Language Paper 1 Exam Strategy

This page provides a detailed overview of the English Language Paper 1 exam structure and strategies for tackling each question effectively.

The exam lasts 1 hour and 45 minutes, with a 5-minute reading period at the start. During this time, students should focus on highlighting key quotes and identifying interesting structural features in the text.

Question 1 (15 minutes):

• List four things from the given extract
• Straightforward recall question

Question 2 (12 minutes):

• Language analysis question
• Write four paragraphs using the following structure:
  1. "Firstly, in this extract, the writer uses... to suggest that..."
  2. "Furthermore, the writer... by saying... This is effective because..."
  3. & 4. Repeat the structure for two more points

Highlight: Key language devices to look for include onomatopoeia, simile, metaphor, anaphora, personification, and zoomorphism.

Question 3 (12 minutes):

• Structure analysis question
• Write four paragraphs using the following structure:
  1. "Initially, the reader's attention is focused on... This effectively creates a... tone and... is also used for a slow/fast pace to make the reader think..."
  2. "The focus then moves to/between... This makes the reader feel..."
  3. "The writer then switches the attention to... in particular..."
  4. "Finally,... is introduced/zoomed in on to show its significance. At the end,... is used to craft a slow/fast pace to make the reader think..."

Highlight: Key structural features to analyze include focus shifts, sentence lengths, cyclical structure, syndetic or asyndetic listing, zooming in and out, and pacing.

Question 4 (25 minutes):

• Evaluation question: "To what extent do you agree with the statement?"
• Write four paragraphs plus an introduction and conclusion:
  • Intro: State your overall position
  • P1 & P2: Agree with the statement, providing evidence and analysis
  • P3 & P4: Disagree with the statement (or continue agreeing if disagreement is difficult)
  • Conclusion: Summarize your argument and link back to the question

Question 5 (45 minutes):

• Creative writing task
• Focus on clear structure, sophisticated language, and varied sentence lengths for impact

Example: For Question 2, a sample paragraph might be: "Firstly, in this extract, the writer uses the simile 'rain falling like spears in the sky' to suggest the violent and threatening nature of the storm. This effectively creates a sense of danger and foreboding for the reader."