English Language Paper 1 Overview

English Language is all about skills, not memorising content. The only way to get better is by practising your responses under timed conditions - there's no shortcut to success here!

This support booklet gives you everything you need to prepare effectively. You've got two past papers: one from your October mocks (with example answers at grade 5 and 7 levels) and a fresh one for independent practice.

The key to revision success is planning responses and writing them in timed conditions. Think of it like training for a sport - you need to build up your exam muscles through regular practice, not just reading about techniques.

Top Tip: Always plan your Question 5 creative writing response before you start writing - it'll save you time and improve your grade!

The Source Text: "The Pearl"

You'll be working with an extract from John Steinbeck's 1947 novel "The Pearl" - a gripping piece of 20th-century prose fiction that's perfect for demonstrating your analytical skills.

The extract is from the very beginning of the novel, introducing us to Kino (a poor pearl diver), his wife Juana, and their baby Coyotito in their Mexican village home. This opening scene is brilliantly crafted to hook readers from the first line.

AQA always uses high-quality literary extracts that give you plenty to analyse in terms of language, structure, and narrative techniques. The source material is provided as a separate insert, so you can annotate it freely during your 15-minute reading time.

Remember: Spend those crucial 15 minutes at the start reading through the source and all five questions - this planning time is gold dust for your final grade!

The Scorpion Scene Analysis

This extract creates immediate tension and drama as a deadly scorpion threatens baby Coyotito. Steinbeck uses this life-or-death situation to showcase his masterful descriptive writing and character development.

The scene begins peacefully with sunlight warming the family's brush house, then quickly shifts to terror as the scorpion appears. Notice how Steinbeck builds suspense through detailed descriptions of movement - both the scorpion's deliberate descent and Kino's careful response.

Key moments to analyse: Kino's internal "Song of Evil," the precise choreography of the confrontation, and the tragic moment when baby Coyotito's laughter causes the scorpion to fall and sting him. The extract ends with Juana's desperate attempt to save their child by demanding they see a doctor.

The writing demonstrates brilliant use of imagery, symbolism, and tension-building - exactly the kind of techniques you need to identify and analyse in your responses.

Exam Focus: This type of dramatic scene gives you rich material for Questions 2, 3, and 4 - practise identifying language devices, structural features, and methods for creating atmosphere.

Exam Paper Structure and Timing

Paper 1 lasts 1 hour 45 minutes and is worth 80 marks total, split equally between reading (Section A) and writing (Section B). This timing might feel tight, but with practice, you'll nail it.

Section A gives you 45 minutes for four reading questions worth 40 marks. Question 1 (4 marks) asks for simple information retrieval, Question 2 (8 marks) focuses on language analysis, Question 3 (8 marks) examines structure, and Question 4 (20 marks) requires you to evaluate the writer's methods.

Section B is your creative writing showcase - Question 5 is worth 40 marks and gives you the remaining hour. You'll choose between a descriptive or narrative writing task, both linked thematically to the reading extract.

Essential exam rules: Use black pen only, work within the answer boxes provided, and don't use a dictionary. Your English skills and clear presentation count towards your final grade, so take pride in your work.

Time Management Tip: Stick to roughly 10-12 minutes each for Questions 2 and 3 - don't let these shorter questions eat into your time for the higher-mark questions!

Reading Questions Breakdown

Question 1 might seem simple, but don't rush it - those 4 marks are easy points if you read carefully. You'll need to list four specific things about a short section of the text, so focus on concrete details rather than interpretations.

Question 2 is your language analysis - this always asks "How does the writer use language to describe/show...?" followed by specific line numbers. Write at least 2 solid paragraphs analysing word choices, language features, and sentence forms. Quality over quantity here!

The key marking criteria expect you to quote effectively, demonstrate inference through language analysis, and use proper subject terminology. Look at how the grade 5 example focuses on verbs and adverbs, while the grade 9 response uses sophisticated terms like "sibilance" and "asyndetic listing."

Top techniques to spot: metaphors, similes, personification, alliteration, sentence structure, and how these create specific effects on the reader.

Analysis Secret: Always explain the effect on the reader - don't just identify techniques, explore why the writer chose them and how they make you feel as you read.

Structure and Evaluation Questions

Question 3 focuses on structural techniques across the whole source. Think about how the writer grabs attention at the beginning, shifts focus throughout, and uses features like dialogue, single-sentence paragraphs, or changes in pace.

A simple but effective approach is to analyse the beginning, middle, and end of the extract. Look for how tension builds, where the climax occurs, and how the writer uses structural devices to keep you hooked as a reader.

Structural terminology to master: introduce, zoom in/out, focus attention, develop understanding, shift focus, rising tension, climax. These terms will make your analysis sound sophisticated and precise.

Question 4 (evaluation) will ask you to judge how successfully the writer achieves a particular effect, backing up your opinion with detailed analysis. This is worth 20 marks, so it needs substantial development and multiple examples.

Structure Strategy: Start each paragraph with a clear topic sentence about what the writer focuses on, then analyse specific techniques and their effects on you as a reader.