Timing and approach
The paper at a glance
Paper 1, Explorations in creative reading and writing, lasts 1 hour 45 minutes and is worth 80 marks, half of your English Language GCSE.
- one extract from a 20th- or 21st-century novel or short story, with Questions 1 to 4.
- Question 5, a description or a story.
Timing
Roughly a minute per mark, plus reading time:
| Task | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Read the source | – | 15 minutes |
| Question 1 | 4 | 5 minutes |
| Question 2 | 8 | 10 minutes |
| Question 3 | 8 | 10 minutes |
| Question 4 | 20 | 20 minutes |
| Question 5 | 40 | 45 minutes |
That leaves no spare time, so keep an eye on the clock. If you fall behind, move on: Question 5 is worth half the paper.
Key terms
Which lines each question uses
- Question 1: a few named lines near the start.
- Question 2: a named section, usually a bit further in.
- Question 3: the whole source.
- Question 4: a named part of the source, often the second half.
Before you start each question, draw a box around the lines it uses.
Remember
Q1 finds, Q2 analyses language, Q3 analyses structure, Q4 evaluates. Keep each question to its own job.