Paper 2 Question 2: Model Answer (AQA GCSE English Language)

Revision Note

Nick Redgrove

Written by: Nick Redgrove

Reviewed by: Kate Lee

Paper 2 Question 2: Model Answer

For Question 2, you will be set a question which assesses your ability to write a summary by synthesising and interpreting evidence from both sources, according to a given focus. You will be asked to comment on both source texts.

Below you will find detailed model answers for an example of Question 2.

The examples below are all based on the following AQA GCSE English Language June 2019 past exam question:

english-language-aqa-paper2-question-2

Choosing what to summarise in the summary question

Question 2 requires you to synthesise information from two different texts and form this into a summary. It requires you to extract the most essential information, organise it in a logical order and present it in a way that fully addresses the question, in your own words. 

Remember, choosing what to synthesise requires careful consideration of the question. By following the points outlined below and selecting relevant and significant quotes, you'll be able to focus your summary and provide a well-supported response in the exam.

We are now going to explore how you might choose what to include in your summary from two different texts. The examples below are all based on the following AQA GCSE English Language June 2019 past exam question. [insert link] It is helpful if you locate the insert and read through both Source A and Source B before exploring the model answers below.

This question indicates that the speakers in Source A and Source B “are travelling on very different types of boat”. The question, therefore, is asking you to find evidence as to how the boats are different in each source and to synthesise this information into a summary.

In order to address this question, you should first identify where the descriptions of the boat are located within each source. 

Here are some ideas which the writers reveal about the boats and which you might choose to comment on in your response:

Ideas about the boats presented in Source A and Source B

Age

Size

Condition

Safety features

Number of passengers

Power source

Number of cabins

Purpose/design

Once you have determined which ideas you are going to focus on in your response, you should select several quotes or references from each text that you will use in your summary. Remember, you do not need to use direct quotes in your response and can choose to use references instead from the texts.

In the examples below we have identified four different quotes which are used to describe the boats:

 

Source A

Source B

Quotes

“Our boat was brand spanking new”

“Ours was a very curious boat, ancient and much damaged”

“It had coped with the seas we had experienced thus far incredibly well”

“For the groaning sound of its straining timbers … and it was tired of the struggle”

Next, you should begin to think about what could be inferred from each of these quotes:

 

Source A

Inference

Quote 1

“Our boat was brand spanking new”

This suggests that the boat should be well-equipped, reliable and seaworthy for the voyage ahead

 

Source B

Inference

Quote 1

“Ours was a very curious boat, ancient and much damaged”

This suggests the vessel is quite old and has undergone significant wear and tear from previous voyages, which means it may be unreliable

 

Source A

Inference

Quote 2

“It had coped with the seas we had experienced thus far incredibly well”

This suggests that the boat has already encountered challenging waters and demonstrates its ability to withstand these

 

Source B

Inference

Quote 2

“For the groaning sound of its straining timbers … and it was tired of the struggle”

This suggests the boat has deteriorated over time and underscores its aged and potentially fragile condition

Examiner Tips and Tricks

The mark scheme does not reward the number of textual details cited but the standard and quality of your response and the inferences being made. Textual references and/or direct quotations can be used but they should only be used to inform content and not to analyse language, as that is not the focus of this question.

Structuring your summary

Having identified the relevant information from both texts the requirement to synthesise information into a summary means that you can either write:

  • one integrated paragraph as a response to both sources

  • two linked paragraphs to both sources

Regardless of whether you should to write one or two paragraphs, you should aim to structure your answer in the following way:

  • Develop a thesis statement:

    • Based on your summary, develop a clear thesis statement that captures your main overview of the text

  • Provide evidence and analysis:

    • Support your summary with specific evidence from the text

    • Explain how these quotes support your thesis and contribute to your overall summary of the text

  • Revise and refine your synthesis:

    • Review your summary, ensuring clarity, coherence and logical progression of ideas

Developing your summary

In order to develop your summary, you may which to use discourse markers and connectives to help you write a more cohesive response. This will help to ensure that you are meeting a key requirement of the Assessment Objective that is being assessed. 

Below are some discourse markers which you could use to develop your summary:

Discourse markers and sentence starters

In contrast…

Similarly…

Therefore…

Unlike…

Furthermore…

On the other hand…

This might suggest to me that…

You could infer from this that…

From this, we might gather that…

Here's a step-by-step guide to help you structure your response effectively:

  • Read through both texts thoroughly:

    • Make sure you grasp the main ideas and any key details that might be relevant to your summary

  • Identify explicit information that is directly stated in the texts:

    • Look for facts, descriptions and statements that are clearly presented and explain what they reveal

  • Identify implicit information that is not directly stated but can be inferred frоm the text:

    • Pay attention to subtle clues and consider what the writer is implying

  • Identify main ideas:

    • Consider what the writer is trying to convey and how explicit and implicit information contributes to these main ideas

  • Select relevant evidence:

    • When synthesising evidence from both sources, select evidence that supports the points you want to make

    • Always choose quotes, examples or textual references that are strong and relevant to your argument

  • Compare and synthesise evidence:

    • Compare and contrast the evidence you've selected from each text

    • For example, do they share similarities or differences in conveying explicit and implicit information?

    • Synthesise these findings to draw broader conclusions

  • Revise and refine your summary:

    • Review your ideas for clarity, coherence and accuracy

We will now explore some examples of how you might begin to write your ideas into a response. They are based on the June 2019 AQA GCSE English Language Paper 2 past paper. It is useful to read through this extract and the wording of Question 2 before exploring the model responses below.

Below, you will find an opening thesis and a comment on the “different types of boat” in each source and what is understood about them:

Key Focus

Differences

Both Source A and Source B describe the boats in very contrasting ways: the boat in Source A is small and brand new, whilst the boat in Source B is larger, significantly older and damaged. In Source A, the writer describes their experience on a “brand spanking new” boat. The fact that it is new suggests that it should be well-equipped and seaworthy for the challenging voyage ahead. However, the writer's description of the deteriorating weather raises questions about whether the boat's design and capabilities will be sufficient to handle the impending storm. The fact that the boat is unable to outrun the massive wave reinforces the potential limitations of the boat's speed and manoeuverability. As the boat is sucked into the belly of the wave, the boat's relative smallness, compared to the towering wave, becomes evident as it is engulfed. This highlights the contrast between the boat's small size and the power of the ocean.

We will now examine another paragraph which continues to extend this summary:

Key Focus

Differences

In contrast, the boat in Source B is a significantly larger one than the one in Source A and is an old and damaged steamship. The use of the word “ancient” highlights its age, implying that the vessel is quite old and the boat's condition is further detailed as being “much damaged”, indicating that it has undergone significant wear and tear from previous voyages. This suggests the boat has deteriorated over time and underscores its aged and potentially fragile condition. Furthermore, the groaning sound of its straining timbers also indicates that it is a result of the timbers’ age and wear. The use of the word "groaning" implies that the boat's timbers are being pushed beyond their limits. This suggests that the timbers have deteriorated over time, perhaps making the ship less reliable and more prone to failure during challenging voyages. This strain and stress on the vessel's structure could also be viewed as compromising its seaworthiness and safety.

Question 2: Level 4 Model Answer

If you want to achieve a Grade 9, you should be aiming for a Level 4 response. Below is an example of a full-length Level 4 model answer:

Level 4 Response (8/8 marks)

Both Source A and Source B describe the boats in very contrasting ways: the boat in Source A is small and brand new, whilst the boat in Source B is larger, significantly older and damaged.

In Source A, the writer describes their experience on a “brand spanking new” boat. The fact that it is brand new suggests that it should be well-equipped and seaworthy for the challenging voyage ahead. However, the writer's description of the deteriorating weather raises questions about whether the boat's design and capabilities will be sufficient to handle the impending storm. The fact that the boat is unable to outrun the massive wave reinforces the potential limitations of the boat's speed and manoeuverability. As the boat is sucked into the belly of the wave, the boat's relative smallness, compared to the towering wave, becomes evident as it is engulfed. This highlights the contrast between the boat's small size and the power of the ocean.

In contrast, the boat in Source B is a significantly larger one than the one in Source A and is an old and damaged steamship. The use of the word “ancient” highlights its age, implying that the vessel is quite old and the boat's condition is further detailed as being “much damaged”, indicating that it has undergone significant wear and tear from previous voyages. This suggests the boat has deteriorated over time and underscores its aged and potentially fragile condition. Furthermore, the groaning sound of its straining timbers also indicates that it is a result of the timbers’ age and wear. The use of the word “groaning” implies that the boat's timbers are being pushed beyond their limits. This suggests that the timbers have deteriorated over time, perhaps making the ship less reliable and more prone to failure during challenging voyages. This strain and stress on the vessel's structure could also be viewed as compromising its seaworthiness and safety

Why would this answer get 8/8 marks?

  • This response provides a perceptive and detailed synthesis and interpretation of both texts

  • It makes perceptive inferences and analyses the differences within both texts

  • Judicious references are used which relate to the focus of the question

Key points to remember for Question 2

  • Give extended and detailed explanations of a small number of inferences:

    • This is more beneficial than making a larger number of less precise inferences

  • Interpretation is at the heart of both key skills assessed in this question (making inferences and showing differences):

    • This is true regardless of whether the focus of the question is concrete or abstract

  • Where the focus of the question is on similarities, comments on differences will also be rewarded if they are appropriate to the focus of the question

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Whilst there will always be a number of textual details that you can use, in practice you should be selective about the ones that you can infer something about. 

You should always bear in mind that time is commensurate with the marks and weighting for this question, so you should not cite too many textual examples as this could lead you to treat each one superficially.

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Nick Redgrove

Author: Nick Redgrove

Expertise: English Senior Content Creator

Nick is a graduate of the University of Cambridge and King’s College London. He started his career in journalism and publishing, working as an editor on a political magazine and a number of books, before training as an English teacher. After nearly 10 years working in London schools, where he held leadership positions in English departments and within a Sixth Form, he moved on to become an examiner and education consultant. With more than a decade of experience as a tutor, Nick specialises in English, but has also taught Politics, Classical Civilisation and Religious Studies.

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.