GCSE (AQA) ,Paper 2 - Practice Paper (The Channel Crossing) and Guidance

The Practice Paper for GCSE English Language ,Paper Two (The Channel Crossing) offers comprehensive support for teachers following the AQA curriculum.

Here’s an overview of its content and its usefulness in supporting students in understanding how to respond to the different questions:

Reading Section: The paper contains two rich, contrasting texts on The Channel Crossing - one contemporary and the other from the 1890s. Students are tasked with summarizing differences, analyzing language, and comparing perspectives across both texts. This structure mirrors AQA exam questions, enhancing students’ exam readiness.

Writing Section: The second part requires students to compose an argumentative essay about travelling by train or ferry, allowing them to practice argumentative writing and structuring arguments effectively.
Marking Support: The model answers act as exemplars, illustrating what successful responses should look like. These provide an opportunity to look closely at the language features and the structure of successful reading responses.There is also a guidance section which teachers can share with students for writing.

For students with additional difficulties, an engaging, short play about writing an argument is provided to help prepare for the writing question.

This paper will be invaluable for AQA teachers, offering realistic practice and clear guidance aligned with curriculum expectations.