This comprehensive guide is designed to help GCSE students excel in both the reading and descriptive writing sections of the AQA English Language Paper 1. It provides clear, practical strategies for approaching each type of question, with step-by-step advice and model responses tailored to exam requirements.
Key Features
Reading Section:
Extract and Practice Questions: The extract is taken from a thriller novel set in the 1950s. Typical AQA questions are provided to assess comprehension.
In-Depth Question Guidance: Detailed advice on how to respond to each question type, from basic information retrieval to deeper analysis and evaluation.
Model Answers: Example responses to show students how to structure answers, use subject-specific vocabulary, and apply evaluative language.
Topic Sentences and Analytical Vocabulary: Tips on crafting solid topic sentences and incorporating evaluative and descriptive words to build strong, clear answers.
Exam Skills: Strategies to help students identify key information, understand how to interpret language and structure, and analyze the writer’s techniques effectively.
Descriptive Writing Section:
Step-by-Step Writing Plan: A writing plan template that breaks down the process of crafting a descriptive piece based on a picture prompt, guiding students through each section - foreground, background, and action.
Sensory and Figurative Language: Practical examples and exercises to help students develop their use of sensory details and figurative language, such as similes and metaphors, to create vivid, atmospheric descriptions.
Exam-Specific Tips: Tailored advice for AQA Paper 1, focusing on breaking down the task, using strong topic sentences, and structuring responses to maximize marks.
Model Descriptive Paragraphs: High-quality example paragraphs that demonstrate effective use of descriptive techniques and language choices.
Self-Assessment Checklist: A checklist to help students review and refine their work, ensuring they meet exam criteria for high marks.
Perfect For:
Teachers seeking comprehensive resources for teaching both reading and descriptive writing skills
Students aiming to improve their understanding of reading comprehension and creative writing techniques
Tutors looking to support students with exam preparation for AQA English Language Paper 1
This guide will help students build confidence in their reading and writing skills, offering structured guidance and practical tools for exam success.
The following GCSE, English Literature guide includes a practice GCSE question, extract, guidance, model essay and independent writing task.
A list of keywords and phrases from the model essay is provided to familiarise students with vocabulary they need to write a successful response.
The detailed essay is effective in helping students think about the elements that make an engaging response. This is followed by a guidance section, demonstrating the features of the essay based on the AQA Assessment Criteria.
Finally, there is an independent writing question with an extract from Chapter 1. This will allow students to practise the essay writing skills they have learnt.
An additional quiz is also available to recap the main events of Chapter 4. This can be used as an extension exercise to help familiarise themselves with this crucial part of the novel.
AQA Paper 1 (Creative Reading and Writing) - Flicker of Hope
This unit helps prepare for the GCSE (AQA) Paper 1 and provides opportunity to focus on successful responses.
It contains:
A Practice Paper: Focuses on analyising a fiction text, with questions designed to assess reading comprehension, language analysis, and structure. There is also a picture based writing section as well as a story prompt.
Answer Guidance : Detailed guidance including some model responses. Based on AQA Assessment Objectives
Literary Devices Quiz: A useful multiple choice quiz to support learning of the key literary devices.
The practice paper and quiz are invaluable in preparing students for Paper One of the AQA, English Language Exam!
Based on the AQA (GCSE) Q5, Paper 1, the unit focuses on the ability to use a range of sentence openers and vocabulary to describe clothes.
Writing in depth description of the clothes people wear is complicated. This unit uses model paragraphs, a vocabulary list, pictures, independent writing tasks and a marking rubric to guide GCSE, English Language students to improve their description of people.
Although aimed at AQA, English Language students, the unit is useful for GCSE students who wish to improve their creative writing and descriptions.
The unit has proved successful in raising the attainment of students who struggle with this skill.
This unit is designed for GCSE, English Literature - Macbeth. It focuses on Act 1, Scene 2 and engages students who struggle with the content and language.
There is a Macbeth, rap poem to summarise the plot, as well as a modern gangster version of the scene. The genre of a gangster scene has been successful in engaging reluctant students!
After they read the modern version there are multiple choice quizzes to help students summarise the plot of the scene and understand the main characters.
The second resource contains a key quotation, colouring activity to aid memory and the original version with comic book style illustrations. The second resources finishes with a comic strip of the Macbeth soliloquy. Students are required to write down what he said.
Full of engaging images and content, the unit is an excellent way to engage SEN and ESL students and help them understand Act 2, Scene 1!
This unit is designed for GCSE, English Literature - Macbeth. It focuses on Act 1, Scene 2 and engages students who struggle with the content and language.
There is a Macbeth, rap poem to summarise the plot, as well as a modern gangster version of the scene. The genre of a gangster scene has been successful in engaging reluctant students!
After they read the modern version there are multiple choice quizzes to help students summarise the plot of the scene and understand the main characters.
The second resource contains a key quotation, colouring activity to aid memory and the original version with comic book style illustrations. The second resources finishes with a comic strip of the sergeant approaching King Duncan. Students are required to write down what he said.
Full of engaging images and content, the unit is an excellent way to engage SEN and ESL students and help them understand Act 1, Scene 2!
Help students enhance their understanding of A Christmas Carol with this comprehensive PDF series, designed to prepare for the GCSE, English Literature examination. This pack offers detailed study resources for each stave of the novella, including three carefully selected extracts with corresponding comprehension questions, language analysis, and creative critical thinking prompts. There are 15 extracts and accompanying comprehensions in total!
The students can explore key themes in a structured way to suit all abilities, while sharpening skills in textual analysis and interpretation. Each extract is paired with thought-provoking questions that delve into Dickens’ use of language, tone, and narrative perspective, helping students master the text for exams. Whether used for revision or seeking deeper insights into the novel, this resource will boost confidence and enhance literary skills.
For students with additional needs there is an Understanding the Text section which leads into Analytical, Interpretation and Creative Thinking for the More Able. The carefully selcted extracts also help students digest information in a manageable way.
Ideal for self-study, classroom support, or exam preparation, these PDFs provide a structured and engaging way to explore Dickens’ classic tale.
Unlock your students’ potential in non-fiction writing with this comprehensive resource designed specifically for Eduqas/WJEC GCSE English Language Component Two. There is a reading booklet and a writing booklet based on the exam paper for these assessments, along with marking rubrics and model answers.
The reading section contains exam paper texts and questions, emphasizing reading comprehension and analysis. Students will engage with two texts centered around fossil discoveries, set in different time periods and contexts. Through this exploration, they will enhance their ability to extract key information, understand writers’ intentions, and analyze how language, tone, and structure shape meaning.
Text A features a determined female fossil hunter in 1883, who embarks on a professional expedition to Lyme Regis. Text B, on the other hand, presents a modern-day adventure where a group of friends set out for a lighthearted day of fossil hunting.
The unit includes a marking rubric and model responses to help students understand how to respond effectively to these texts.
The writing task is tailored to improve communication, organisation, and effective language use and helps students master key skills such as vocabulary, sentence structure, and paragraphing through engaging tasks.
The resource includes two key writing tasks:
Writing an article on maintaining a balanced lifestyle during exams.
Delivering a talk encouraging classmates to participate in community volunteering.
Both tasks encourage students to consider purpose and audience while providing opportunities to showcase their creativity and critical thinking. With detailed model responses and a self-assessment marking rubric, this resource offers clear guidance on how to approach these exam questions.
Ideal for classroom use or independent study, the pack is an essential tool for improving students’ writing abilities and reading comprehension, helping them develop confidence and clarity in Component Two.
Social Inequality in A Christmas Carol - GCSE, English Literature (AQA) Practice Question/Model Answer.
This resource includes a detailed extract from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, focusing on the iconic scene where the Ghost of Christmas Present reveals the symbolic children, Ignorance and Want.
It offers:
A deep exploration of the theme of social inequality in the novella.
A model essay answer that guides students through how to respond to GCSE English Literature questions on this theme.
Structured guidance on analyzing key quotes and understanding how Dickens critiques Victorian society’s neglect of the poor.
This resource is ideal for students studying Dickens and Victorian literature, helping them develop skills in critical analysis, essay structure, and understanding historical context(social inequality).
Word Search Activity
This word search resource is an engaging tool designed to complement English learning activities. It offers:
A fun and interactive way for students to reinforce key vocabulary and concepts related to social inequality.
An answer key for easy review.
Great as a supplementary activity to break up more intense studying or to prompt sentence writing related to A Christmas Carol.
This resource offers comprehensive guidance for students tackling GCSE AQA English Language Paper 2. It contains a practice paper on the theme of cycling and consists of two main component.
AQA Paper 2 Guidance:
This section provides step-by-step strategies for answering each question in Section A, focusing on reading comprehension and comparison of non-fiction texts. It includes specific advice on how to approach true/false statements (Q1), summarizing similarities between texts (Q2), analyzing language use (Q3), and comparing attitudes in two texts (Q4).
For Section B, students are guided through writing tasks, with a model response for argumentative writing. Tips are provided on structuring arguments, using persuasive language, and integrating rhetorical devices.
Mastering Subject-Specific Vocabulary and Language for Non-Fiction Writing:
This guide emphasizes the importance of using precise, subject-specific vocabulary to enhance the quality of writing in non-fiction tasks. It offers practical advice on blending technical terms with everyday language and employing rhetorical devices effectively. The guide includes examples of advanced sentence structures and how to adapt tone based on the writing task (letter, report, article, etc.).
By mastering these skills, students will learn how to craft clear, persuasive, and authoritative non-fiction writing, meeting the criteria for higher marks on the AQA exam.
This resource equips students with essential tools for excelling in reading and writing non-fiction, covering both analysis and the crafting of sophisticated responses.
This comprehensive bundle for GCSE (AQA) - Paper 1 includes practice papers, detailed, model answers for both reading and writing and guidance.
The practice paper units include practice papers, model answers to show students how to write a reading response and/or detailed guidance on the requirements for each question. These practice paper units also include quizzes and articles to support Paper One mastery.
The writing units offer examples of how to approach the picture prompt question in a step by step manner and supply picture prompts, model answers, plans and sensory analysis sheets.
Every unit is based on the AQA, Assessment Objectives, ensuring that you meet the requirements for language analysis, text structure analysis, information retrieval and writing skills.
This unit offers everything you need to prepare students for Paper One and is ideal preparation for a term’s work or as a revision class.
This comprehensive guide is designed to help GCSE students excel in both the reading and short story writing sections of the WJEC - Eduqas, English Language, Component 1 exam.
A practice paper is provided based on a mystery story extract that focuses on strange noises in a house in which the protagonist Maya resides.
It provides clear, practical strategies for approaching each type of question, with step-by-step advice and model responses tailored to exam requirements. The guide focuses on key areas such as language analysis, mood shifts, thoughts and feelings, and evaluation.
The unit also offers four creative short story prompts along with model responses. These can be shared with students to discuss successful features of the writing.
An additional resource is provided to explain how to analyse language using subject-specific vocabulary.
This resource gives students the tools and confidence they need to succeed in both the reading comprehension and writing sections.
These writing frames provide structured support for GCSE, English Literature students responding to extracts from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, focusing on key themes and character dynamics. Designed with accessibility in mind, the frames encourage deeper engagement with the text while helping students articulate their thoughts clearly.
Themes and Characters Explored
Fate: Students will explore how fate influences the characters and their decisions. The writing frame guides them to analyze key quotes, such as Romeo’s reflections on fate, and encourages them to connect these thoughts to the broader implications of fate throughout the play.
Conflict: The second writing frame focuses on the intense conflicts between characters, particularly Tybalt, Mercutio, and Romeo. Students will examine the language used in the extract and how it reflects the escalating tension between the feuding families, as well as the personal conflicts that arise.
Love as a Transformative Force: The final theme centers on the transformative power of love as experienced by Romeo and Juliet. Students will analyze how their love alters their identities and decisions, and reflect on its consequences within the tragic narrative.
Structure of the Frames
Each writing frame consists of:
A GCSE, style extract and question: A question and extract is provided
An Introduction: A brief explanation of the theme, helping students to set the context for their analysis.
Extract Analysis: Prompts guiding students to examine specific lines and phrases, allowing them to explore character emotions and thematic elements.
Paragraph Development: Suggestions for developing arguments through structured paragraphs, reinforcing the importance of textual evidence and cohesive reasoning.
Conclusion: A space for summarizing insights and connecting the analysis back to the overarching themes of the play.
A model essay which uses the frames is also provided.
Along with the writing frames and model answers, there is also a summary of the play to help familiarise students with the key events!
These frames aim to foster independent thinking and enhance comprehension, making Shakespeare’s classic play more accessible and engaging for students with additional needs. By breaking down complex themes and character interactions, students can develop a more nuanced understanding of Romeo and Juliet and improve their writing skills in preparation for their GCSE English Literature assessments.
This resource provides comprehensive guidance for tackling GCSE, English Language (AQA) - Paper 1, Question 5, which focuses on descriptive and narrative writing.
Inside, you’ll find three engaging picture-based tasks designed to inspire creative responses, complete with detailed, extended model answers that demonstrates effective use of language techniques. The resource emphasizes the importance of literary devices, sensory detail, and structure to craft vivid descriptions.
Key features include:
Literary Device Breakdown: Explore how similes, metaphors, personification, and other techniques can enrich your writing.
Sensory Language Focus: Learn to incorporate sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste to create immersive scenes.
Model Answers: Analyze high-level responses that exemplify how to develop atmosphere, character, and setting.
Independent Writing Activities: Three additional picture prompts are provided to assess student responses after completing the unit.
An additional checklist is provided to assess the successful features of writing. A short play is also included in which students reflect on the process of developing successful description.
This resource is ideal for students seeking to refine their creative writing skills for the final exam, ensuring that their descriptions captivate the examiner from start to finish.
These resources are tailored to support teachers preparing students for the AQA, GCSE English Language exam, with a particular focus on Paper 2. They are suitable for students with additional needs such as dyslexia and autism because they include scaffolds to write their response. This is an effective way to prepare students to write answers independently.
As well as a practice paper, the unit provides writing scaffolds, model paragraphs and structured responses, to help students develop their skills in analyzing texts and constructing well-developed answers.
The two extracts are about experiences of avalanches, one in the 1800s and another contemporary.
The materials guide students through understanding how writers use language, structure, and setting to create meaning, with specific emphasis on autobiographical texts.
Additionally, for the writing section the resources offer detailed sentence frames and writing prompts, making them suitable for students who may benefit from extra support in breaking down tasks and building confidence in their writing.
The package includes sample responses to key exam questions using the scaffolds. These resources are perfect for helping students with additional needs master the skills required for creative reading and writing in the AQA curriculum.
These resources are tailored to support teachers preparing students for the AQA, GCSE English Language exam, with a particular focus on Paper 1. They are suitable for students with additional needs such as dyslexia and autism because they include scaffolds to write their response. This is an effective way to prepare students to write answers independently.
As well as a practice paper, the unit provides writing scaffolds, model paragraphs and structured responses, to help students develop their skills in analyzing texts and constructing well-developed answers.
The materials guide students through understanding how writers use language, structure, and setting to create meaning, with specific emphasis on psychological fiction.
Additionally, for the writing section the resources offer detailed sentence frames and writing prompts, making them suitable for students who may benefit from extra support in breaking down tasks and building confidence in their writing.
The package includes sample responses to key exam questions using the scaffolds. These resources are perfect for helping students with additional needs master the skills required for creative reading and writing in the AQA curriculum
This pack is designed to support students in preparing for the picture prompt question in AQA GCSE English Language Paper 1. It contains two key components:
Descriptive Writing Model Unit
Descriptive Writing Plan
Together, these resources provide a structured approach for students to improve their descriptive writing skills and achieve higher marks in the exam. It is particularly useful for students with additional needs such as dyslexia.
Descriptive Writing Model Unit
The Descriptive Writing Model offers an example response to a picture prompt. It showcases advanced vocabulary, sentence structures, and literary techniques. Students can use this model to understand the expectations of the exam, focusing on how to create vivid, atmospheric descriptions. The model is broken down into key components, such as:
Targeted Vocabulary Practice: The resource highlights challenging words and phrases from the model response, divided into syllables, to help students improve their spelling, pronunciation, and reading fluency. This section encourages active engagement with complex language, enhancing students’ confidence in using sophisticated vocabulary in their writing.
Sentence Openers: Students are also provided with a set of sentence starters to inspire their own descriptions. By practicing these openers, they can develop more varied and creative introductions to their descriptive passages.
The short unit finishes with an Independent Writing Task based on a picture of a desert.
Descriptive Writing Plan
The Descriptive Writing Plan helps students structure their response to a picture prompt by dividing the scene into distinct sections. These sections include:
Foreground
Middle Ground
Background
Weather/Lighting
Characters/People
For each section, students are prompted to think about key sensory details (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste), language techniques (similes, metaphors, personification), and the mood or tone they wish to convey. This clear, structured approach helps students organize their ideas, ensuring that all elements of the picture are described in a cohesive, engaging manner.
Practical and Flexible Use
This resource is designed for use both in and out of the classroom, enabling students to practice independently or with teacher guidance. The combination of a high-quality model and a structured planning tool helps students develop their descriptive writing skills with confidence. It is versatile enough to be adapted to any picture prompt, making it ideal for exam practice.
By using these resources, students can enhance their descriptive writing abilities, ensuring their responses are detailed, well-organized, and rich in language techniques, which are essential for success in AQA, GCSE English Language Paper 1.
This comprehensive resource on Chapter One is designed to help GCSE English Literature teachers guide students through the key themes, characters, and plot of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - Chapter One using drama and discussion activities. It is particularly suited to students who find reading challenging.
What’s Included:
Speaking and Listening Tasks: Students explore essential themes like duality, reputation, and social responsibility through targeted speaking and listening questions. These activities encourage discussion, helping students to articulate their thoughts on Victorian values, morality, and the nature of evil as portrayed in Jekyll and Hyde.
Drama Activities and Play-Script: A play-script based on Chapter 1, The Story of the Door, allows students to perform key scenes. This hands-on approach deepens their understanding of the novella by actively engaging with the characters and narrative. Role-playing the interactions between Mr. Utterson, Mr. Hyde, and Mr. Enfield provides insight into the novel’s tension and atmosphere.
Character Analysis and Themes: Through activities like tableau, role on the wall, and conscience alley, students explore characters’ psychological depth and internal conflicts, while also reflecting on important themes such as secrecy, urban isolation, and morality.
Monologue Writing and Performance: Students write internal monologues from the perspectives of major characters like Mr. Utterson, Mr. Enfield, or Mr. Hyde. This writing exercise encourages students to delve into character motivations, moral dilemmas, and thematic concerns, followed by a performance to bring these reflections to life.
Glossary and Key Vocabulary: A glossary of challenging words from the text ensures that students can engage with the language and understand the novella’s more complex vocabulary, facilitating deeper comprehension. A reading activity is included to improve fluency and pronunciation when reading passages from Chapter One.
Learning Outcomes:
Deep Understanding of Themes: Students will develop a nuanced understanding of the novel’s themes, such as duality, reputation, and evil.
Character Insight: Through drama and monologue writing, students will gain a deeper emotional and intellectual connection to the characters.
Speaking, Listening, and Writing Skills: These activities promote critical thinking, discussion, and extended writing, preparing students for GCSE exam success.
This resource offers an interactive and creative way for students to explore Jekyll and Hyde, making complex themes and characters accessible through drama and collaborative learning.
The GCSE, AQA English Language, Paper 2 Unit offers a comprehensive set of materials to help students excel in their non-fiction reading and writing skills. These resources are designed to align closely with the demands of the AQA exam, particularly focusing on the skills needed to answer Section A (reading) and Section B (writing). This pack includes model answers, structured guidance, and detailed mark schemes, making it an essential tool for both students and educators. With a focus on key exam techniques, this bundle provides everything students need to confidently tackle the exam.
Firstly, the booklet covers Source-Based Analysis with materials that help students engage deeply with non-fiction texts. The texts are both about experiences of parks. By offering guided practice in summarising, analysing language, and comparing perspectives between two sources, the resources ensure that students become adept at tackling complex reading questions. For example, students are encouraged to draw contrasts between texts from different time periods, a skill critical for success in Question 2. This comprehensive approach to source analysis ensures that students can identify and explore key differences in language and tone effectively.
In addition, the resource includes a step-by-step guide to approaching the writing task in Question 5. This guide breaks down how to structure a well-crafted non-fiction response, covering the essential writing format - letters. Through the model response, students learn how to construct logical, persuasive, and technically accurate writing.
The marking guidance within the bundle is particularly valuable, as it offers insight into how examiners assess both AO5 (content and organisation) and AO6 (technical accuracy).
A Question Three guidance - step by step - is also provided as a separate booklet. This also contains an extension task.
In summary, this GCSE, AQA Paper 2 resource is an invaluable asset for both classroom learning and independent study. By combining targeted practice with detailed explanations of key exam techniques, it helps students build confidence and improve their performance in the English Language exam. Whether used for revision or regular classroom practice, these resources are designed to maximise student potential.
This booklet is designed to improve the use of verbs for analysing language - it is aimed at GCSE students with additional needs such as dyslexia. Students will leanr how to use verbs such as amplifies, suggests, conveys and connotes to write about an extract or picture prompt. In total twenty-nine verbs are presented which can be used to analyse language and structure.
For students who struggle with reading fluency and spelling, it contains an activity to copy the targeted verb using colour coded syllables. This will aid visual memory and help to remember how to write the targeted verbs and use in their writing.
This is followed by definitions and examples of each verb used in context.
There is a picture prompt and an extract prompt which students have to use to practise their own use of the verbs.
Finally, a separate, gap fill activity is provided to deepen their understanding of the verbs and how they can be used.
For students with additional needs such as dyslexia, ADHD and autism, targeted and explicit language work is required to help develop academic language use. The booklet will improve students’ use of language to analyse the language used in an extract!