English Exam, Foundation Tier: Question 5

This question will always ask you to inform, explain or describe and will look something like this:

Write a short article, for your college magazine or blog, describing what you love or hate about winter.

Remember to: ␣ 

• write an article
• use language to describe.

Try to write approximately one page.

It's worth 16 marks and for 12 or more marks, your writing needs to be clear, developed and it must suit the text type, audience and purpose of the question.

Use this writing checklist to help you remember what to include in your writing:

Try a few question five tasks:

Your local newspaper is to feature the topic ‘‘Being Outdoors.’’ Write a short article for the paper which describes your experience of the outdoors and explains the benefits the outdoors can have for you.

Write an entry for your online blog which describes a time when you felt uncertain or unsure about a situation you were in and explain how you overcame it.

Write an entry for your blog describing your favourite time of year and explaining why you like it.

A website called The Best and the Worst is asking for contributions. Write an article for it which describes the best meal you ever had and the worst. Explain the reasons for your choices.

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English Exam, Foundation Tier: Question 6

This question will always ask you to argue or persuade and will look something like this:

A competition has been launched to find a team of brave young people to complete an expedition to the North Pole. Write a letter to the organisers persuading them that you should be on the team.

Remember to: ␣

• write a letter
• use language to persuade. 

Try to write approximately two pages.

It's worth 24 marks so you MUST have a go at this question, no matter how hard you think it is. To get 18 or more marks, your writing needs to be clear, developed and it must suit the text type, audience and purpose of the question.

Use this writing checklist to help you remember what to include in your writing:

Try a few question six tasks:

Argue for or against the views expressed in this quotation. Your piece will appear on the entertainment pages of a website.

‘‘Talent shows like The X Factor provide cheap television, gossip and nothing of any value. There are better programmes than these.’’

There is evidence that many young people are not eating, exercising or spending their leisure time properly and that this is damaging their health and life chances.

Write an article for Living Today magazine which persuades young people to improve their diet and lifestyle.

‘‘There’’s no point making the effort and taking the risk of travelling the world, disturbing people and animals as you go, when you can see it all on TV or the Internet.’’

Write a magazine article which persuades young people either to travel or stay at home.

It has been said that: ‘‘People who save lives or help improve the lives of others are the true role models of today.’’

Write an article for a newspaper in which you argue your view about what makes a good role model.

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English Exam, Foundation Tier: Question 4

This question is always asking you to compare the presentation of two texts and will look something like this:

Now look again at Source _ and Source _. Compare the way that they each use presentational features for effect.

Remember to:

• write about the way the sources are presented
• explain the effect of the presentational features
• compare the way they look.

It's worth 12 marks and for 8 or more marks, you need to give clear, specific effects of presentation features and compare specific presentational features. 

Use this writing frame to help you but remember, it's really important to write more than one comparison sandwich paragraph:

Try a few question four tasks by comparing the presentation features of these pairs of texts:

Compare sources 1 and 2, both taken from the Sport Relief website:

Source 1

Source 2

Compare sources 2 and 3, both about Bear Grylls:

Source 2

Source 3

Compare source 1 and 2, both adverts for food:

Source 1

Source 2

Or find two texts you are interested in here:

The Day

Don't forget to bring in your revision so I can grade it!

English Exam, Foundation Tier: Question 1

The question in split into two parts.

1a is always asking you to list four things and will look something like this:

List four things you learn about...

It's worth 4 marks and for full marks you need to write down four things liked to the question in your own words.

1b is always asking you to summarise part of what you have read and explain what you can work out and will look something like this:

What do you understand about ...?

Remember to:

• Show your understanding by explaining in your own words
• support your ideas with the text.

It's worth 4 marks and for full marks, you need to write clearpoints, linked to the question, support the point with a quote and then clearly explain what the quote suggests.

Use this writing frame to help you answer the question:

Try a few question one tasks with these questions and texts:

1a: List four things you learn about stingrays from the article

1b: What do you understand about Steve Irwin's death?

Steve Irwin's final words

1a: List four things you learn about the effects anorexia had on Katie's body.

1b: What do you understand about the reasons Katie became anorexic?

Anorexia Nervosa - Katie's Story

1a: List four things you learn about the new BMX track.

1b: What do you understand about the benefits of building this the new BMX track?

Stockport BMX Track

Or find a text you are interested in here:

1a: List four things you have found out from reading the article.

1b: What do you understand from reading this article?

The Day

Bring in your revision so I can grade it!

 

English Exam, Foundation Tier: Question 2

The question is always asking you to summarise part of what you have read and explain what you can work out and will look something like this:

What do you understand about ...?
Remember to:

• Show your understanding by explaining in your own words
• support your ideas with the text.

It's worth 8 marks and for 6 or more marks, you need to write clear points, linked to the question, support the point with a quote and then clearly explain what the quote suggests.

Use this writing frame to help you answer the question:

Try a few question two tasks with these questions and texts:

What do you understand about Bear Grylls' thoughts and feelings as he describes one of his many near death experiences? Mud, Sweat and Tears extract

What do you understand about Rebecca Adlington's insecurities? I will always wish I was a pretty girl

What do you understand about the experience a viewer will have if they watch 'Live from Space'? Live From Space

Or find a text you are interested in here:

What do you understand from reading this article? The Day

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English Exam, Foundation Tier: Question 3

The question is always asking you to analyse language and will say something like this:

How does the writer use language features? 

Remember to:

• Give some examples of language features
• Explain the effects

It's worth 12 marks and for 8 or more marks, you need to give clear, specific effects of language.

Use this writing frame to help you answer the question:

Try a few question three tasks with these texts:

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

Will.i.am: The Voice Needs to Make Winners of the Winners

A Childhood of Wild Freedom

My Guilty Pleasure: Tangled

Or find a text you are interested in here:

The Day

Bring in your revision so I can grade it!