Paper 1: Question 1 Example (AQA GCSE English Language)

Revision Note

Deb Orrock

Written by: Deb Orrock

Reviewed by: Kate Lee

Paper 1: Question 1 Example

Paper 1 Question 1 is designed to settle you down into the exam, so even though it is only worth 4 marks, these should be easy marks to pick up.

This guide will show you an example of this question, taken from the November 2019 AQA GCSE English Language paper, along with suggested answers. 

Paper 1 Question 1 example

english-language-aqa-paper1-question1
english-language-paper-1-question-1a

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Have a go at writing your four answers to the example question, and then compare what you have written to the suggested answers below. The examiner will accept any other valid response that they are able to verify by checking the text. They will also accept answers that start with “There are..” or “She can see…”

Paper 1 Question 1 suggested answers

The examiner will award one mark for each point about Zoe’s surroundings. The table below details examples of what you would be awarded a mark for, and what you would not get a mark for (and why):

One mark each

No marks

It was snowing

It is snowing

It is snowy

It was dark (no mention of this in the text)

The snow is gentle

It is gentle (no mention of snow)

The snow is beautiful (implied)

The snow has six-pointed flakes

The snow has flakes (not specific enough)

The snow flakes settled on Zoe’s jacket sleeve

The snow looked like it was from a picture book (implied)

The snow is from a picture book (it’s not - it just looks like it is)

The surroundings are magical (implied)

Zoe is on a mountain

The mountain air is icy

The air was icy

The air prickled with ice

The air smells of pine resin

The air smells (doesn’t say of what)

Saint-Bernard-en-Haut is below her

Below her is Bernard (not specific to the text)

There is a village/resort below her


She is in a village (no she’s not - she is on a mountain)

There is a Pyrenean resort village several hundred metres below her

To the west she can see the Pyrenees

There is a mountain range to the west

She can see a range (needs to specify mountain range)

The mountain range has irregular peaks

It was irregular (must include mountains or peaks)

She can see the dark outlines of the village below her

She can see outlines (needs to specify of what)

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Deb Orrock

Author: Deb Orrock

Expertise: English Content Creator

Deb is a graduate of Lancaster University and The University of Wolverhampton. After some time travelling and a successful career in the travel industry, she re-trained in education, specialising in literacy. She has over 16 years’ experience of working in education, teaching English Literature, English Language, Functional Skills English, ESOL and on Access to HE courses. She has also held curriculum and quality manager roles, and worked with organisations on embedding literacy and numeracy into vocational curriculums. She most recently managed a post-16 English curriculum as well as writing educational content and resources.

Kate Lee

Author: Kate Lee

Expertise: English and Languages Lead

Kate has over 12 years of teaching experience as a Head of English and as a private tutor. Having also worked at the exam board AQA and in educational publishing, she's been writing educational resources to support learners in their exams throughout her career. She's passionate about helping students achieve their potential by developing their literacy and exam skills.