Section B: Your Own Writing (Question 5)
This 40-mark question is worth the most, so nail your timing: 5 minutes planning, 35 minutes writing, 5 minutes proofreading. You'll write in response to a theme from Section A, usually as an article, speech, or letter.
Pick a clear character perspective - maybe an angry parent, experienced teacher, or concerned teenager. This helps you maintain consistent tone and makes your writing more engaging. Stick to arguing one side strongly rather than sitting on the fence.
Your persuasive techniques toolkit includes facts, statistics, direct address, rhetorical questions, and emotive language. Use sentence variety for impact - sometimes a single-line paragraph hits harder than a long explanation.
Remember the technical details: correct letter formats, catchy article headlines with alliteration, and matching your formality to your audience. The examiners want to see you can argue, persuade, or advise convincingly.
Remember: 24 marks go to your ideas and style, 16 marks to spelling, punctuation, and grammar - both matter!