How to Tackle Question A in Paper 1

by

✨ Examiner’s Guide: Mastering Question A (Paper 1)

Want to boost your marks in Question A (Comprehension)? Here’s exactly what examiners are looking for — broken down into clear, student-friendly steps 👇

🎯 What Examiners Want

At the core, we are looking for:

  • 🧠 Clarity of thought
  • 📖 Engagement with the text
  • 🛠️ Use of technical vocabulary

Each part of Question A is a separate task — treat them that way!

📌 Question (i): The Comprehension (15 Marks)

🎯 Your Goal:

Show you understand the text — without copying it.

✅ How to Nail It:

  • Stick to 3 points (no more, no less)
  • Always write in your own words
  • Support each point with a short quote
  • Blend quotes smoothly into your sentences

🚫 Avoid This:

Bono says the world is on fire. “The world is on fire.”

✅ Do This Instead:

Bono highlights the urgency of climate change, warning that the “world is on fire” and needs immediate action.

📏 Length Guide:

  • Aim for about ¾ of a page to a page
  • Be concise but detailed

✍️ Question (ii): The Personal Response (15 Marks)

🎯 Your Goal:

Show your opinion + awareness of the world

💡 Key Tips:

  • 🧭 Take a clear stance
  • 🧱 Build your answer around 2 strong reasons
  • 🌍 Show awareness of real-world issues
  • 📝 Plan for 2 minutes before writing

⚠️ Common Mistake:

  • Rambling without structure ❌

📏 Length Guide:

  • Aim for about ¾ of a page to a page
  • Give a strong opinion

🔍 Question (iii): Analysis of Style (20 Marks)

🎯 Your Goal: To demonstrate technical knowledge of the “Five Genres of Language.”

This is the most “academic” part of Question A. You are looking at how the piece was written, not just what it says.

🎨 The Five Genres of Language

You should recognise and discuss:

  1. 📊 Information
    → Facts, stats, clarity
  2. ⚖️ Argument
    → Logic, reasoning, counterpoints
  3. ❤️ Persuasion
    → Emotional appeal, rhetorical questions, “we” language
  4. 📖 Narrative
    → Story, characters, setting
  5. 🌅 Aesthetic
    → Imagery, metaphors, beautiful language

🧠 How to Structure Your Answer:

  • Use the “4-Point Rule” → 4 developed points for top marks
  • Use key literary terms:
    • ✨ Anaphora
    • 🌧️ Pathetic fallacy
    • 🎯 Rhetorical questions
    • 🎨 Imagery

❌ Weak:

The writer uses good words.

✅ Strong:

The writer uses vivid imagery and metaphor to create an evocative and emotional tone.

🧾 Know the Text Type:

  • 🎤 Speech → persuasive techniques
  • 📓 Memoir → reflective tone, personal voice
  • 📰 Article → informative and argumentative

📏 Length Guide:

  • Aim for about  a page
  • Be able to state what literary technique is being used and the effect is has on the reader/audience

🏁 Final Examiner Tips

⏱️ Pacing:
Don’t spend too long here-aim for 35 minutes

🧱 Structure:
Use paragraphs — avoid giant blocks of text

📚 Vocabulary Boost:
Impress with words like:

  • Nuanced
  • Compelling
  • Evocative
  • Pragmatic

💬 Final Thought

Mastering Question A is about being:

  • Clear 🧠
  • Structured 🧱
  • Insightful 🔍