High level model answers for questions 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the 2023 AQA Language Paper 2 paper on trains which was, by all accounts, a challenging pair of extracts. Also includes some notes for helping to answer the reading questions.

High Level Model Answers for questions 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the AQA Language Paper 2 June 2024 paper which involved two non-fiction texts on the topic of medical care. For each answer I have included two advanced model responses. Students read each response and make notes at the bottom of each sheet explaining what they notice about the differences between the responses and debate which would achieve higher marks. I have not included the extracts or the questions themselves for copyright reasons. To obtain these you would need to go on the AQA website.

2 high level model example responses to the AQA Language Paper 2 Question 5 June 2024 paper. One response primarily agrees with the statement and argues young people should choose a career that benefits society. The second response offers a more nuanced argument that primarily disagrees with the statement in the question. Both follow a 6 paragraph structure which start with a personal anecdote to hook the reader. Both explore the issue from ethical, moral and financial perspectives. Both contain an element of counter argument. Both use a cyclical structure at the end to return to the ideas expressed in the opening.

Model answers for questions 2-5 of the AQA November 2024 Paper 2 exam when the 2 non-fiction texts were about Egypt. I have included 2 answers of slightly different quality for each question so students can compare them both and adjudge the quality against the marking criteria. Note the extract and exact wording of the questions are not included and would need to be obtained from elsewhere such as the AQA website.

Model answers for questions 1-5 of the English Language Paper 1 June 2024 paper when the extract was from The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing. The resource contains both a mid-level answer and a high-level model for questions 2-5 designed to meet the criteria for the top band of the markscheme for each question. There are model responses for both the description and the narrative for question 5. Please note: This pack only contains model answers. I have not included the extract from The Grass is Singing or the questions themselves because I don’t have copyright permission to share either of these. The insert and question paper are available to download from the AQA website.

Here are my model answers to questions 1 to 5 of the AQA Language Paper 1 exam where the exam was based on an extract from Life of Pi. They may be useful for students who want to know how they could have improved on their mock. It does not include the extract or the exact wording of the questions. The extract and questions are available for download on the AQA website. Each answer has been written to try and aim for the top band of the mark scheme. For Q5, I chose to do the story rather than the description and used the drop, shift, zoom, leave method. I have also included a step by step guide with prompts for how to use this method. For model responses to the November 2022 paper on The Old Man and the Sea use this link: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12934137 Model responses for June 2022 on The Pearl can be found here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/-13031986

The drop, shift, zoom, leave method is an increasingly popular method for approaching Paper 1 Question 5 because it allows a student to show the examiner they can effectively structure a narrative deliberately for effect. This resource contains several 500 word stories written in the drop, shift, zoom, leave style. Students should read the examples. They then attempt to plan and write a drop, shift, zoom, leave narrative of their own. Also contains a worksheet with step by step questions and prompts to help students create their own drop, shift, zoom, leave narrative.

A knowledge organiser containing a brief overview of the main ideas, key quotations, structure and context for the 15 poems from the AQA Worlds and Lives new poetry anthology. Useful for anyone, like me, who is trying to prepare to teach these largely unfamiliar poems for the first time.

High level model answers for questions 2-5 of the AQA Paper 1 November 2024 paper where the extract was from ‘The Glass House’ by Eve Chase. Note this resource only contains model answers and does not include the insert or the question paper. I have provided 2 different high level thorough responses for each question so students can compare and contrast the merits of each against the mark scheme/success criteria. I have put put references to authorial methods in bold. Also provides a worksheet with step by step instructions on how to generate a drop, shift, zoom, leave response for question 5.

High level model answers to both questions from the Unseen section of the June 2024 AQA Literature Paper 2. The 24 mark question was about a poem called ‘The washing never gets done’ by Estonian poet Jaan Kaplinski. The 8 mark question involved comparing ‘The washing never gets done’ with ‘A day in autumn’ by the Welsh poet R.S. Thomas. In both answers I have put all references to authorial methods in bold because A02 is an vital aspect of the mark scheme in both questions. Please note that this only contains model answers. For the poems themselves and the specific questions, use the AQA website.

A model answer to the May 2024 AQA Power and Conflict Question. This response compares Kamikaze and Remains. Conceptual paragraph 1 explores how conflict dehumanises soldiers in both poems. Conceptual paragraph 2 explores how conflict leads to internal struggles for the soldiers. Conceptual paragraph 3 explores the debilitating nature of survivor’s guilt and shame. Quotations and poetic are analysed in thoughtful ways in each paragraph with a clear focus on authorial methods.

A bank of 200 ambitious adjectives to support students with creative writing on one printable sheet.

3 Grade 9 responses to the 2023 Language Paper 2 Question 5 question which involved writing a speech in which students had to give their opinion on a statement related to cars. Speech 1: Written in the powerful and emotional style with environmental concerns at the forefront Speech 2 Written in a slightly humorous/satirical style Speech 3: Begins and ends with an anecdote. All 3 speeches should achieve grade 9 due to the sustained use of ambitious vocabulary, a full range of punctuation and sentence structures used for effect alongside the use of cohesive devices to assist whole text structure and organisation.

An exam-style grade 9 response that would comfortable fit into band 6 that explores how Shakespeare presents Macbeth as an evil/violent character. I have not included the 2019 question or extract but it is available on the AQA website under assessment materials. There is perceptive debate with judicious use of quotations and assured analysis of methods and wider ideas. Also contains a differentiated adaptive writing frame to help lower ability students achieve a grade 4.

Free basic but effective template for planning responses comparing Handmaid’s Tale and Feminine Gospels. There are 8 questions that try to predict the theme that might come up in the AQA 2B modern times exam.

A list of 200 ambitious oxymorons for students to have fun using to help create interesting sentences.

I created this word bank to support my students in their creative writing by providing them with some ambitious words to help describe different weather settings in a sophisticated way. I hope you also find this useful.