GCSE Informative Text: Model Answer (Edexcel GCSE English Language)
Revision Note
Written by: Deb Orrock
Reviewed by: Nick Redgrove
In Section B you will be given a choice of two tasks, and each task will give you the option of writing in one of the following forms (genres):
A letter
A review
A speech
An article
A section of a guide, textbook, leaflet or booklet (an informative text)
You only need to complete one task from the choice of two. Remember to put a cross in the box to indicate whether you have chosen Question 8 or Question 9 in your answer booklet. You won’t know in advance which genres will come up in the exam, so it’s best to prepare for all of them.
The following guide will demonstrate how to answer a Section B task in the format of a section of a guide. The task itself is taken from a past exam paper. It includes:
Question breakdown
Planning your response
Guide model answer
Why would this get full marks?
Question breakdown
The following example is taken from the November 2022 exam paper:
The first thing you should do is to read the task carefully and identify the format, audience and purpose of the task. This is sometimes referred to as a GAP analysis or the “3 Ws”:
G | A | P |
|---|---|---|
Genre (format) | Audience | Purpose |
A section of a guide | Not explicitly stated, but we can assume it will be aimed at a general audience, probably with an interest in wildlife | To inform and advise |
For this task, the focus is on communicating your ideas about helping wildlife. The intended audience is not specified in the question, but given it is better to write about something you are familiar with, it would be sensible to aim this at your peers or classmates. The response should be set out effectively as a section of a guide, using appropriate organisational features.
Planning your response
You should spend up to 10 minutes writing a brief plan. Here is an example:
Heading | A Guide to Helping Wildlife Through the Seasons |
Introduction: What the guide is about |
|
Paragraph 1: Spring |
|
Paragraph 2: Summer |
|
Paragraph 3: Autumn |
|
Paragraph 4: Winter |
|
Conclusion: Summing up and final thoughts |
|
Guide model answer
A Guide to Helping Wildlife Through the Seasons [Marking comment]
Spring [Marking comment] Spring is when your garden starts to come to life. During this season, new creatures are being born all the time, so creating water sources is one easy way to encourage wildlife to make your patch of land their home. [Marking comment] You can also make bug-friendly habitats by tying sticks together with string to encourage helpful critters, and plant wildlife-friendly flowers to support pollination. If you are a bird lover, hang some bird feeders and grab a pair of binoculars to watch their comings and goings. [Marking comment] Summer Summer is peak insect season, but it can also be very dry, so make sure those water sources are kept topped up daily; you can put some sugary water on plates around the garden to help struggling bees.[Marking comment] As Brits, we love to have tidy lawns and flowering borders, but pesticides can be very harmful to a whole range of wildlife, so try a more natural approach. [Marking comment] My grandmother used to swear by watering her plants with cold tea, and her garden was overflowing! Not mowing the lawn so often and letting the grass grow is another good way of creating a good balance of biodiversity. [Marking comment] Autumn As the seasons begin to crow colder, animals will start to prepare for the winter. Autumn is a time of plenty for nature, with hedgerows full of blackberries, hazelnuts and seeds. [Marking comment] Hedgehogs will be eating their fill of minibeasts like worms and beetles to gain weight for hibernation. They will also be looking for a suitable place to spend their winter, so be extra careful to check under piles of logs, especially if you are planning on having a bonfire.[Marking comment] You can help hedgehogs along by putting out a plate of food (such as cat biscuits) for them, as well as nuts for mice and squirrels to gather and store. Winter You won’t see some animals in the winter because they are hibernating — it is a challenging time for some of the UK’s wildlife. But if you are lucky enough to get snow, you should keep an eye out for mammal footprints. Look for signs of badgers, deer, foxes, squirrels and mice, as these species are normally tricky to spot and will appreciate a helping hand in chilly conditions. [Marking comment] In addition, if you have any nest boxes in your garden, now is the time to give them a good clean in preparation for the spring. You can also leave out fresh water for birds on icy days; just make sure to replace it if it freezes over. Keeping any bird feeders topped up can also make all the difference during the colder months. As you can see, with a little thought, planning and creativity, you can ensure that your garden is a safe and welcoming home for wildlife throughout the year. [Marking comment] |
Why would this get full marks?
The top level of the mark scheme for this question rewards the following:
AO5 Level 5: 20–24 marks |
|
|---|
AO6 Level 5: 13–16 marks |
|
|---|
This answer would receive full marks because it meets all of the criteria for a Level 5 response:
This is a coherent and sustained response which manipulates complex information and ideas in a sophisticated way
It is written in a form appropriate for a guide, and is well structured using sub-headings to present information
It uses language and vocabulary suitable for the form, purpose and intended audience, employing a light-hearted yet informative tone
It employs convincing and compelling communication through a range of techniques, such as triplets, direct address and alliteration
Spelling is accurate, and the response deliberately uses and varies both sentence structure and punctuation for effect and impact
Last updated:
You've read 0 of your 5 free revision notes this week
Sign up now. It’s free!
Did this page help you?
