Paper 1 Question 5: Mark Scheme (AQA GCSE English Language)
Revision Note
Paper 1 Question 5: Mark Scheme
Writing can be very subjective and the mark scheme for Question 5 reflects this. Examiners are required to start at the lowest level of the mark scheme and use it as a ladder to see whether your response meets the descriptors for that level. The descriptors for the level indicate the different qualities that might be seen in your answer for that level. If your answer meets the lowest level, then the examiner will go on to the next one, and so on. Examiners are required to use the full range of marks and should not hesitate to give full marks if your response merits it.
It is therefore essential to understand the mark scheme really well yourself: if you understand exactly what you are being assessed on, you understand how to improve.
Translating the Question 5 AO5 mark scheme
Paper 1 Question 5 is the fiction writing question. While Questions 1-4 focus on your analysis and understanding of a chosen writer’s language, use of literary devices and structural choices, Question 5 asks you to apply these skills in your own creative or descriptive writing.
In Question 5, you will be set a task that asks you to write in a cohesive and compelling way. The question assesses your ability to construct a well-crafted response appropriate to the task. This means you are assessed on the relevance and organisation of your ideas, as well as your spelling and grammar.
For Question 5, 24 of the 40 marks are awarded for AO5:
AO5 (24 marks) - content and organisation Communicate clearly, effectively and imaginatively, selecting and adapting tone, style and register for different forms, purposes and audiences Organise information and ideas, using structural and grammatical features to support coherence and cohesion of texts |
Here is the AQA mark scheme for each level of AO5 in Question 5:
Level | Skills Descriptor: Content | Skills Descriptor: Organisation |
|---|---|---|
Level 4 19-24 marks | Content is convincing and crafted | Organisation is structured, developed, complex |
Upper Level 4 - 22-24 marks:
| Upper Level 4 - 22-24 marks:
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Lower Level 4 - 19-21 marks:
| Lower Level 4 - 19-21 marks:
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Level 3 13-18 marks | Content is clear and chosen for effect | Organisation is engaging, connected |
Upper Level 3 - 16-18 marks:
| Upper Level 3 - 16-18 marks:
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Lower Level 3 - 13-15 marks:
| Lower Level 3 - 13-15 marks:
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Level 2 7-12 marks | Content is successful and controlled | Organisation is linked/relevant and paragraphed |
Upper Level 2 - 10-12 marks:
| Upper Level 2 - 10-12 marks:
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Lower Level 2 - 7-9 marks:
| Lower Level 2 - 7-9 marks:
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Level 1 1-6 marks | Content is simple | Organisation is simple |
Upper Level 1 - 4-6 marks:
| Upper Level 1 - 4-6 marks:
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Lower Level 1 - 1-3 marks:
| Lower Level 1 - 1-3 marks:
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Here is a simplified version of the mark scheme:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
At Level 1 there will be reference to the task and evidence of a relevant idea/s, with little evidence of using linguistic techniques | At Level 2 there will be consistent reference to the task and appropriate use of relevant linguistic techniques in paragraphs, as well as evidence of the conventions of form | At Level 3 the writing will clearly and consistently respond to task (that is, a clear fluency of ideas) with clear construction of tone and successful use of linguistic techniques in well-developed paragraphs | At Level 4 the response will be convincing and interesting, engaging, , with a carefully constructed tone and successful integration of complex ideas |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
The best responses are those where the student has considered the order of information, focusing each paragraph on a different idea to move the reader through a ‘journey’ of development. It is more successful to describe a small event than construct an intricate plot with lots of characters and twists and turns.
Understanding the different levels of AO5: consistent and clear versus compelling and convincing
The mark schemes for Level 3 and 4 make the distinction between “clear and consistent” and “convincing and compelling”. To be awarded a Level 4 mark, you must write a response which successfully achieves the purpose of the task and does this in a convincing way.
A compelling response involves a more carefully thought-out piece of writing. It considers the subject in relation to the reader, and shows a careful crafting of ideas to create effects. A compelling response ‘flows’ coherently from start to finish, moving the reader through ideas engagingly.
A Level 3 answer will respond to the question clearly by considering a range of ideas and using a variety of appropriate language and structural techniques. What sets a Level 4 answer apart from a Level 3 answer, however, is the level of sophistication in your writing, the construction of a tone of voice and the subtle manipulation of techniques to achieve purpose.
Level 3 AO5: Consistent and clear (13-18 marks)
The key words in the mark scheme for a Level 3 mark are “clear” and “consistent”.
A consistent and clear response means that you answer the task in the question clearly and consistently. Tenses, perspective and tone are consistent. Ideas have been communicated successfully using clear paragraphs, and relevant techniques have been used for the specific task and to create effect.
Consistent and clear 13-18 marks | Skills Descriptors | |
Content
| Organisation
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What this means | ||
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Level 4 AO5: Compelling and convincing (19-24 marks)
The key words in the mark scheme for a Level 4 mark are “convincing” and “compelling”. This involvеs taking into account the way the writing is experienced by the reader. It means you have considered the brief in the question carefully and constructed your writing with a reader in your mind. A compelling piece of writing addresses the task in a very specific way and has control over their story or description with skillful manipulation of language and structure.
Compelling and convincing 19-24 marks | Skills Descriptors | |
Content
| Organisation
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What this means | ||
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Question 5 Level 4 and Level 3 response
Below is an example of a paragraph for a Level 4 response, and one for a Level 3 response. It is based on the June 2019 AQA Paper 1 past paper which can be found here.
AO5 Level 4 Response (19-24 marks) |
The Market The market roared with rage, for it now was awake from its peaceful slumber. The shops were stuffed and vendors made the street extremely narrow, forcing people to walk in a singe file like soldiers going to battle. Shops of all different species stood on either side of the street obediently. None of them had doors, for the shopkeepers knew very well that the doors would not last long against the might, impatience and violence of the customers. Herds of people climbed on top of each other at the counter of each shop yelling wildly like screeching birds in a jungle. Large tattered wagons decorated with a collage of vegetables were parked beside the street, and their owners stood beside them screaming prices like auctioneers; instead of a hammer, they had a carrot, which they would use to wave off the flies pointlessly dancing around the fresh produce. Sweaty buyers skilfully wove their way through the throng by locating minute gaps between people and squeezing through. Pickpockets hopped like rabbits in a carrot field, munching the purses out of the many pockets of innocent buyers too busy bargaining. Experienced visitors wore tight trousers for the same reason. And a helpless woman fumbled through the scores of bags she carried and tried to tick off a list with a pen clenched between her teeth. The sun warmed up the stuffy, stinking air which smelled of sweat and rotting fish. No air freshener could have defeated this sour, rancid stink which ruled over the cramped air here. The afternoon baked the market. An exhaustion and breathlessness silently encroached on the first-time visitors, but the everyday buyers proudly held on against the torture of the market’s heat and kept shopping. The deafening chaos made ears split as though standing under a giant speaker. Vendors yelled prices and frustrated housewives angrily argued with the annoyed shopkeepers. It seemed as if all the sounds in the world had come to a reunion. |
Typical features of a Level 4 response:
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AO5 Level 3 Response (13-18 marks) |
Around me all I could see were people pushing, shoving and shouting. The heat was intense, unless you were in the shade. Squeezing myself down the narrow path, I was stuck, surrounded by the smell of hot people, fruit and fish! The aroma of fresh fish fizzed in my nose while the spices and fragrance of apples wafted in the air. There were several stalls, all decorated beautifully and in a myriad of colours, with flags and banners dancing above us. Blues and greens, reds and purples everywhere. The market was crowded and noisy with animals, carts, fruit, vegetables and anything else you could imagine. The loud shouts called out to people to come and buy their products. Under the covers, people gathered and chose from the delicious selections of bright items. Aromas filled the air and the vibrant shimmer of gold and silver flashed every now and then like glittering treasures lost at sea. Later, though, the market was quieter. In the evening, people slowed down as the sun started to fade, and the crowd thinned. The market sellers began to close their stalls and pack away their goods, ready for the next day when it would all start again. |
Typical features of a Level 3 response:
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Translating the Question 5 AO6 mark scheme
Marks for technical accuracy are rewarded for the correct use of grammar, as well as accuracy in spelling and the accurate use of a wide range of punctuation. The best answers use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect in order to construct a tone of voice which is credible as well as relevant to the task.
Here is the AQA mark scheme for each level of AO6 in Question 5:
Level | Skills Descriptors |
|---|---|
Level 4 13-16 marks |
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Level 3 9-12 marks |
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Level 2 5-8 marks |
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Level 1 1-4 marks |
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Here is a simplified version of the mark scheme:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
At Level 1 there will be evidence of capital letters and full-stops, and generally accurate spelling of simple words | At Level 2 there will be evidence of varied sentence length or structures, more interesting word choice and generally accurate grammar | At Level 3 there will be evidence of a tone of voice being constructed, with relevant vocabulary chosen for effect and mostly accurate spelling and grammar | At Level 4 there will be a consistently accurate use of a variety of sentence structures for impact, as well as a strong grasp of sophisticated vocabulary |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
The best responses are those where the student uses a range of punctuation accurately. To create a more dynamic rhythm, include semi-colons to break down a long sentence, use short sentences for impact and use questions or exclamation marks to create a tone of voice.
Understanding the different AO6 levels
The mark schemes for Level 3 and 4 make the distinction between “consistently” and “mostly”. To be awarded a Level 4, you must provide a response which consistently uses accurate and effective grammar and consistently spells complex vocabulary correctly.
A consistently accurate and effective response constructs a tone of voice, using punctuation and sentence structures for effect. A consistent response demonstrates a strong grasp of tense, sentence construction and spelling throughout.
A Level 3 answer will respond to the question using mostly accurate grammar, with the occasional slip of tense or omission of correct sentence demarcation. Answers which fall into Level 3 consistently spell simple words correctly, and mostly spell more sophisticated words correctly. It is still best to attempt more complex vocabulary as you are marked for this in AO5.
Level 3 AO6: Mostly (9-12 marks)
The key word in the mark scheme for a Level 3 mark is “mostly”.
Level 3 9-12 marks | Skills Descriptors | ||
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What this means | |||
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Level 4 AO6: Consistently (13-16 marks)
The key word in the mark scheme for a Level 4 grade is “consistently”. A Level 4 answer uses a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with consistently accurate spelling and punctuation.
Level 4 13-16 marks | Skills Descriptors | |
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What this means | ||
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Typical features of a Level 4 response:
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