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Question 5 (AQA GCSE English Language): Exam Questions

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Question 5

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11 mark

A student has answered an AQA English Language exam question:

Paper 2, Q5: 'Scientists say that teenagers are not like adults; they learn and socialise differently and need sleep at different times. Education needs a radical re-think to meet the needs of students.' 

Write a letter to the Minister of Education explaining your point of view on this statement.

Priscilla’s answer: “Think of the long-term economic benefits of this Minister: a golden generation ready to improve and contribute meaningfully to the success of our nation!”

What is the purpose of the exclamation mark in this sentence?

  • to introduce a quotation

  • to separate unrelated ideas

  • to emphasise or elaborate on the preceding clause

  • to list key benefits

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21 mark

A student has answered an AQA English Language exam question:

Paper 2, Q5: 'Scientists say that teenagers are not like adults; they learn and socialise differently and need sleep at different times. Education needs a radical re-think to meet the needs of students.' 

Write a letter to the Minister of Education explaining your point of view on this statement.

Artie’s answer: “Firstly, adjusting school times could positively impact exam results.”

What is the purpose of the comma in this sentence?

  • to indicate a pause for dramatic effect

  • to separate an introductory adverb from the main clause

  • to introduce a list of reasons

  • to separate two independent clauses

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31 mark

A student has answered an AQA English Language exam question:

Paper 2, Q5: 'Scientists say that teenagers are not like adults; they learn and socialise differently and need sleep at different times. Education needs a radical re-think to meet the needs of students.' 

Write a letter to the Minister of Education explaining your point of view on this statement.

Puja’s answer: “Imagine a whole nation of students who feel eager and ready to learn, achieving the best of their potential.”

What is the purpose of the comma in this sentence?

  • It separates two unrelated ideas.

  • It indicates a pause for emphasis.

  • It separates the clauses in a complex sentence.

  • It introduces a list of benefits.

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41 mark

A student has answered an AQA English Language exam question:

Paper 2, Q5: 'Education is not just about which school you go to, or what qualifications you gain; it is also about what you learn from your experiences outside of school.' 

Write a speech for your school or college Leavers' Day to explain what you think makes a good education.

Gregory’s answer: “SATs. End-of-term tests. Mock exams. GCSEs.”

What is the purpose of the full stops used in this extract?

  •  The full stops separate clauses in a compound sentence.

  • The full stops create a list for emphasis.

  • The full stops introduce additional information.

  • The full stops help to create a sense of suspense.

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51 mark

A student has answered an AQA English Language exam question:

Paper 2, Q5: 'Education is not just about which school you go to, or what qualifications you gain; it is also about what you learn from your experiences outside of school.' 

Write a speech for your school or college Leavers' Day to explain what you think makes a good education.

Margot’s answer: “Employers in 6 out of 10 industries also say that they value real-world experience over qualifications.”

What type of sentence has the student used in this extract?

  • simple sentence

  • compound sentence

  • complex sentence

  • compound-complex sentence

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61 mark

A student has answered an AQA English Language exam question:

Paper 2, Q5: 'Education is not just about which school you go to, or what qualifications you gain; it is also about what you learn from your experiences outside of school.' 

Write a speech for your school or college Leavers' Day to explain what you think makes a good education.

Hafsah’s answer: “Well, my fellow students, I’m here today to tell you something controversial: I believe exams aren’t all that important.”

What is the purpose of the colon in this sentence?

  • to emphasise the controversial statement that follows

  • to separate unrelated ideas

  • to introduce a list of reasons

  • to show a pause in thought

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71 mark

A student has answered an AQA English Language exam question:

Paper 2, Q5 exam question: ‘Cars are convenient, comfortable and save time. However, we need to use them less by making public transport such as trains, trams and buses cheaper, more reliable and easier to access.’ 

Write a speech to be given at a meeting of your local council in which you argue your point of view on this statement.

Mohammed’s answer: We need to put the brakes on using cars because of their terrible impact on the environment and health.

What type of sentence has Mohammed used in this extract?

  • imperative sentence

  • interrogative sentence

  • declarative sentence

  • exclamatory sentence

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11 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5: ‘Cars are convenient, comfortable and save time. However, we need to use them less by making public transport such as trains, trams and buses cheaper, more reliable and easier to access.’ 

Write a speech to be given at a meeting of your local council in which you argue your point of view on this statement.

Tom’s answer: “The air pollution from cars has a serious — and sometimes lethal — impact on people’s health, most especially affecting children.”

Which punctuation used by Tom contributes to the effectiveness of this line?

  • The use of dashes to add extra, unrelated information to the sentence.

  • The use of a full stop to abruptly end the sentence.

  • The use of dashes to add emphasis and extra information.

  • The use of dashes to introduce a list of reasons why air pollution is dangerous.

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21 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5: 'People have become obsessed with travelling even further and faster. However, travel is expensive, dangerous, damaging and a foolish waste of time!' 

Write an article for a news website in which you argue your point of view on this statement.

Lena’s answer: “The train journey to Holyhead was incredible: glorious views of sandy beaches, rugged coastlines and weather-beaten castles dotted the three-hour route.”

Which feature of Lena’s sentence structure makes this line effective?

  • The use of a simple sentence to express a single idea.

  • The use of a complex sentence to develop multiple ideas in detail.

  • The use of a colon to introduce a vivid and descriptive list.

  • The use of a declarative sentence to assert a clear argument.

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31 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5: 'People have become obsessed with travelling even further and faster. However, travel is expensive, dangerous, damaging and a foolish waste of time!' 

Write an article for a news website in which you argue your point of view on this statement.

Monica’s answer: “The way most holidaymakers travel is not just damaging: it is destroying the planet.”

Which punctuation feature contributes to the effectiveness of Monica’s sentence?

  • The use of a colon to contrast two ideas.

  • The use of a colon to emphasise the severity of the second clause.

  • The use of a colon to introduce a list.

  • The use of a full stop to create a light-hearted pause.

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41 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5: 'It is people who have extraordinary skill, courage and determination who deserve to be famous, not those who have good looks or lots of money or behave badly.' 

Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper in which you argue your point of view in response to this statement.

Thierry’s answer: “Does he deserve to be rich and famous? Does he deserve so much publicity in your paper? Should you be shining a spotlight on him for his actions?”

Which feature of Thierry’s punctuation contributes to the effectiveness of this line?

  • The use of rhetorical questions to separate ideas clearly.

  • The use of rhetorical questions to engage and challenge the audience.

  • The use of rhetorical questions to convey strong emotions.

  • The use of rhetorical questions to highlight key phrases.

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51 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5: 'It is people who have extraordinary skill, courage and determination who deserve to be famous, not those who have good looks or lots of money or behave badly.' 

Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper in which you argue your point of view in response to this statement.

Alessia’s answer: “My belief is that fame should be given to those who contribute meaningfully to society: the inventors; the pioneers; those who overcome obstacles with dignity and grace.”

Which feature of Alessia’s spelling and vocabulary makes this line effective?

  • The use of simple vocabulary to ensure clarity.

  • The use of ambitious vocabulary such as “contribute” and “pioneers”.

  • The repetition of key words for emphasis.

  • The use of ambitious vocabulary to display the writer’s intelligence.

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61 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5: 'It is people who have extraordinary skill, courage and determination who deserve to be famous, not those who have good looks or lots of money or behave badly.' 

Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper in which you argue your point of view in response to this statement.

Frida’s answer: “Gareth Bell is a terrible role model, but you have given him the limelight — so the responsibility for his fame ultimately lies with you.”

What makes Frida’s sentence effective for its audience?

  • The use of a comma to add a dramatic pause in the middle of the first clause.

  • The use of short sentence length to create urgency.

  • The use of a dash to link two unrelated clauses.

  • The use of a compound sentence to link two related ideas.

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71 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5: 'Cars are noisy, dirty, smelly and downright dangerous. They should be banned from all town and city centres, allowing people to walk and cycle in peace.' 

Write a letter to the Minister for Transport arguing your point of view on this statement.

Ayo’s answer: “Imagine for a second a town centre that was car-free. Healthier. Happier. Cleaner. Quieter.”

What makes the structure of Ayo’s line effective?

  • The use of repetition to reinforce key ideas.

  • The use of single-word sentences to challenge the reader to act.

  • The use of short, impactful sentences to create emphasis.

  • The use of simple sentences to acknowledge the downsides of a car-free town centre.

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81 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5: 'Cars are noisy, dirty, smelly and downright dangerous. They should be banned from all town and city centres, allowing people to walk and cycle in peace.' 

Write a letter to the Minister for Transport arguing your point of view on this statement.

Gabriel’s answer: “Is the convenience of travelling by car worth even one death of an innocent child?”

What makes Gabriel’s sentence effective for its audience?

  • The use of declarative sentence to state a strong fact.

  • The use of a rhetorical question to provoke an emotional response.

  • The use of short sentence length to create a sense of panic.

  • The use of an imperative sentence to enhance authority.

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11 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5: ‘Cars are convenient, comfortable and save time. However, we need to use them less by making public transport such as trains, trams and buses cheaper, more reliable and easier to access.’ 

Write a speech to be given at a meeting of your local council in which you argue your point of view on this statement.

Farida’s answer: “Are we, as a society, prepared to lose another single child for the convenience of driving a car?”

What makes Farida’s sentence effective for its audience?

  • It uses a declarative sentence to make a strong statement.

  • It uses an interrogative sentence question to provoke thought and emotional engagement.

  • It uses ambitious vocabulary to impress the audience.

  • It uses emotive language to create an argument based on scientific evidence.

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21 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5: 'People have become obsessed with travelling even further and faster. However, travel is expensive, dangerous, damaging and a foolish waste of time!' 

Write an article for a news website in which you argue your point of view on this statement.

Sean’s answer: “If we don’t, we won’t have a planet to explore at all.”

Which feature of Sean’s sentence makes this line effective?

  • The use of conditional grammar to emphasise the potential consequences.

  • The use of simple vocabulary to create an informal tone.

  • The use of a compound sentence to link two independent ideas.

  • The use of an imperative sentence to challenge the audience to act.

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31 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5: 'Cars are noisy, dirty, smelly and downright dangerous. They should be banned from all town and city centres, allowing people to walk and cycle in peace.' 

Write a letter to the Minister for Transport arguing your point of view on this statement.

David’s answer: “But it’s not just the planet whose health is being threatened. Air pollution from cars is serious. It has a lethal impact on people’s health. This most especially affects children.”

Based on what he has written here, what feedback could you give David to help him improve his writing?

  • Use more simple vocabulary to make the tone more persuasive.

  • Combine shorter sentences to create more complex structures, improving the flow of ideas.

  • Replace all the full stops with semicolons to link related ideas together.

  • Include more information in brackets to strengthen the argument.

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41 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5: 'Cars are noisy, dirty, smelly and downright dangerous. They should be banned from all town and city centres, allowing people to walk and cycle in peace.' 

Write a letter to the Minister for Transport arguing your point of view on this statement.

Femi’s answer: “Walking and cycling not only have positive benefits for people’s physical health, studies have also shown that increasing the amount of physical exercise by as little as 30 minutes a day has a hugely positive impact on mental health too.”

Based on this extract, what feedback could you give Femi to help him improve his writing?

  • Replace the phrase "hugely positive" with a more technical term to increase formality.

  • Remove the evidence from the scientific research and replace it with an anecdote.

  • Use a semicolon to separate the two related ideas, improving clarity and sentence structure.

  • Add commas to the sentence to introduce pauses to make the point more direct and impactful.

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51 mark

A student has answered the following AQA English Language exam question:

 Paper 2, Q5: 'Cars are noisy, dirty, smelly and downright dangerous. They should be banned from all town and city centres, allowing people to walk and cycle in peace.' 

Write a letter to the Minister for Transport arguing your point of view on this statement.

Grace’s answer: “On the other hand, there are so many benefits (both mental and physical, as well as emotional) of switching from a car (or type of vehicle, or even public transport) to cycling or walking”

Based on this sentence, what feedback could you give Grace to help her improve her writing?

  • Avoid overusing brackets, as they disrupt the flow of ideas.

  • Add more specific details about the mental and physical benefits of exercise in this sentence.

  • Replace the phrase “benefits (both mental and physical, as well as emotional)” with simpler vocabulary.

  • Replace “On the other hand” with a more simple connective for clarity.

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