GCSE Speech: 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 speech. The task itself is taken from a past exam paper. It includes:
Question breakdown
Planning your response
Speech 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 speech | Not explicitly stated, but we can assume it will be aimed at a general audience, probably with an interest in animals | To inform, entertain and give an opinion (positives and negatives) |
For this task, the focus is on communicating your ideas and reflecting on an experience. 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 speech, maintaining a clear argument throughout and including persuasive devices.
Planning your response
You should spend up to 10 minutes writing a brief plan. Here is an example:
Introduction: What my speech is about |
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Paragraph 1: My context |
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Paragraph 2: Positives of having a puppy |
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Paragraph 3: Negatives |
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Conclusion: Summing up |
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Speech model answer
Lockdown 2020. Let me jog your memories. Freedom from school, but imprisoned all the same. Uncertainty, but with a certain routine. Queuing for the shops. Virtual get-togethers. Good weather. But above all, for me at least, it seemed endless. Long, drawn-out days of blissful sunshine, but with no one to enjoy it with. That was, until we had a new addition to our family. Our delicious Golden Retriever puppy, Rosie. [Marking comment]
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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 |
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AO6 Level 5: 13–16 marks |
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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 the correct form, and demonstrates sustained awareness of the audience and purpose throughout, using direct address and phrases such as “ladies and gentlemen”
The response is thoughtfully structured to construct a convincing speech
It uses language and vocabulary suitable for the form, purpose and intended audience, with a personal response to the task
It employs convincing and compelling communication through a range of techniques, such as triplets, direct address and emotive language
The paragraphs are fluently linked with words and phrases such as “however” and “so”
Spelling is accurate, and the response deliberately uses and varies both sentence structure and punctuation for effect and impact
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