Paper 1: Communicating Information and Ideas

What Types of Text Will You Encounter?

Section A presents you with two unseen non-fiction or literary non-fiction texts. These could include:

• Newspaper and magazine articles (broadsheet and tabloid)
• Travel writing, diaries, and journals
• Autobiography and biography extracts
• Letters (personal and formal)
• Speeches and essays
• Reviews and blogs
• Reportage and investigative journalism
• Literary non-fiction from the 19th, 20th, or 21st century

At least one text will be from the 19th century or the literary heritage, so practising with older, more complex texts is essential.

Understanding the Question Types

The reading section typically contains questions that test the following skills:

Effective Reading Strategies

1. Read the questions first — this helps you know what to look for when you read the texts.
2. Annotate as you read — underline key words, circle techniques, and note your initial reactions in the margin.
3. Consider the context — when was the text written? Who was the intended audience? What was the writer’s purpose?
4. Track the writer’s argument — especially in non-fiction, identify the main argument and how the writer builds and supports it.
5. Note shifts in tone or focus — these structural choices are important for analysis questions.

Model Analysis Paragraph

Here is an example of a strong analytical paragraph responding to a language analysis question about a travel writing extract:

Notice how this paragraph: identifies a technique; quotes precisely; explains the effect of individual words; explores multiple interpretations; and links back to the writer’s broader purpose.

What Are You Asked to Write?

In Section B, you will complete two writing tasks. These are writing for real purposes tasks where you write for a specific purpose, audience, and form. You might be asked to write:

• A letter (formal or informal)
• An article for a newspaper or magazine
• A speech or talk
• A review
• A leaflet or guide
• A blog post or online article
• A report

One task is typically shorter (worth fewer marks) and the other is a longer, extended response.

Purpose, Audience, and Form (PAF)

Before you begin writing, identify the PAF from the question:

Form Conventions You Must Know

Key Persuasive and Rhetorical Techniques

For tasks that require you to argue or persuade, deploy these techniques strategically:

Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar (Technical Accuracy)

Accurate SPaG is assessed as part of the technical accuracy skill. To reach the top band:

• Vary your sentence structures — use simple, compound, and complex sentences. Start some sentences with adverbials, subordinate clauses, or participial phrases.
• Use ambitious vocabulary — avoid generic words like “good”, “bad”, or “nice”. Choose precise, vivid alternatives.
• Punctuate accurately — use full stops, commas, apostrophes, colons, semicolons, and dashes correctly. A well-placed semicolon shows confidence.
• Paragraph effectively — each paragraph should have a clear focus. Use discourse markers to link paragraphs (“Furthermore”, “In addition”, “Conversely”).
• Proofread — leave 3–5 minutes at the end to check for errors. Correct mistakes neatly with a single line through the error.

Recommended Timing

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Feature-spotting without analysis — naming a technique without explaining its effect will not earn high marks. Always explain the “so what?”.
• Retelling the text — paraphrasing what the writer says rather than analysing how and why they say it.
• Ignoring the form conventions — if the question asks for a letter, your response must look like a letter with appropriate openings, closings, and register.
• Writing one-sided arguments — top-band answers acknowledge counter-arguments before rebutting them.
• Poor time management — spending too long on Section A and rushing Section B, or vice versa.
• Weak openings and endings — your first and last paragraphs leave the strongest impression on the marker.