1. GCSE English Language
Unit 1 Exam
Don’t
panic!
Prepare yourself
with this helpful
guide 

2. Step one: read the questions, then
the items.
• As soon as possible, please invest in a
highlighter or even better a pack of
them !– use them to mark key points,
interesting uses of language etc as you
read the items so you can find them
quickly later!
• This should take you about fifteen minutes
• Begin answering question 1 only when
you have read the lot!

3. Question 1
• The examiner wants to see that you have fully
understood the whole text.
• Start your answer with the most important
points.
• Then add lots of detail, using BREADCRUMB
QUOTES.
• You should include some inference too, eg the
reader can tell she enjoyed it, he was nervous…
• DON’T analyse use of language
• X3 SPEED 12 MINS.

4. Question 2
• Explain why heading, subheading & picture are
effective AND how EACH of them link to the
main text.
• This will entail some stating of the obvious, eg
the heading mentions ‘new life’ which the main
text explains is newly-discovered species.
• You may point out effective language use.
• You MUST refer to (quote from?) the main text –
don’t discuss the headline, sub head and picture
in isolation!
• X3 SPEED 12 MINS

5. Question 3
• The examiner wants to see that you can
infer (read between the lines) what the
main person in item 3 is thinking and
feeling.
• Use quotes – SPEED structure is fine.
• Try to cover the whole of item 3
• X3 SPEED 12 MINS

6. Question 4
• Compare use of language – hopefully, you will
have already highlighted a few interesting
features (short sentences, technical language,
informality, imagery…)
• SPEED back & forth between your 2 chosen
items – link with comparison connectives.
• How are the items similar & how different?
• Your answer should show you understand that
the language differs with PURPOSE &
AUDIENCE.
• X6 SPEED 24 MINS

7. Question 5
• Writing to INFORM, EXPLAIN, DESCRIBE
• .,:;””!?-/…()
• PLAN 3 or 4 paras, order and LINK them
• SHOW OFF as much as you can from the very
first sentence!
• Use a variety of sentence structures.
• -LY and –ING openers
• Engage your readers!!
• BAG OF FULL STOPS

8. Question 6
• Writing to ARGUE or PERSUADE
• .,!””()?:;…
• SHOW OFF as much as you can from the very first
sentence!
• Use a variety of sentence structures.
• Anecdote
• Pivot paragraph
• Magic sentence: 1; 2; 3.
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Anecdote

9. Check your
answers.

10. Timing
• 15 mins reading
• 1h for qs1,2,3 & 4
» Q1 – 12 mins
» Q2 – 12 mins
» Q3 – 12 mins
» Q4 – 24 mins
• 1h for qs 5 & 6
» Q5 – 25 mins
» Q6 – 35 mins