You read an extract of about 650 words from a 19th-century novel or story you have not seen before, and answer four questions on it. Then you write one imaginative piece of your own on a theme linked to the extract.
Give two things from a short section of the extract, which the question either names by line number or prints for you. The paper lets you answer in your own words or with quotations.
What earns marks
One mark for each correct point, up to two.
Two different points: the second must not repeat the first in other words.
Your own words and short quotations both count.
What to avoid
Using details from outside the section you are given.
Writing a paragraph: two short, clear answers are all that is needed.
Tip: Put one answer on each numbered line and keep each one short.
Explain how the writer uses language and structure in a short section of the extract to show something the question names, such as what a character feels or experiences. Recent papers print the section with the question.
What earns marks
Comments on language, such as word choices, imagery and sentence forms, and on structure, such as how the section opens, where the focus shifts and how it ends.
Short quotations from the section, each followed by what it shows the reader.
Subject terms used accurately where they help, for example metaphor, repetition or a short sentence used for emphasis.
What each level looks like
Top level first.
Level
Marks
What an answer at this level does
Level 3
5-6
Analyses closely how both the language and the structure work on the reader, with carefully picked quotations that sharpen every point.
Level 2
3-4
Explains how both the language and the structure create effects, with well-matched quotations.
Level 1
1-2
Makes a few comments on the writing, with suitable quotations, but the explanations stay brief. An answer on language only, or structure only, cannot go above this level.
What to avoid
Leaving out structure: an answer on language alone stays in Level 1.
Naming techniques without saying what they do to the reader.
Writing about lines outside the section you are given.
Tip: Write three short paragraphs, two on language and one on structure, each with a quotation and its effect.
The question names an effect the writer is trying to create, such as tension or sympathy for a character, and asks how successfully it is achieved. Give your own judgement and support it with detailed references. Recent papers have asked about the whole extract, so check the question for any line numbers.
What earns marks
A clear verdict on how successful the writing is, kept up from the first paragraph to the last.
Points about events, characters, setting and ideas, each explained as part of how the effect is created.
Detailed, well-chosen references from across the part of the text the question covers.
Techniques mentioned when they support your judgement: above Level 1, the mark scheme credits them only when they do.
What each level looks like
Top level first.
Level
Marks
What an answer at this level does
Level 5
13-15
Evaluates the extract as a whole with a consistent, thoughtful judgement, and every reference is chosen to make the argument convincing.
Level 4
10-12
Analyses the extract and builds a well-argued judgement, with detailed quotations backing up every point.
Level 3
7-9
Explains how the writing creates the effect and gives a reasoned view of how well it works, with suitable quotations.
Level 2
4-6
Comments on what happens and offers simple opinions, backed by quotations that fit but are not explored.
Level 1
1-3
Mostly describes what happens. Opinions are given without reasons, and there are few quotations.
What to avoid
Retelling the story instead of judging how well it works.
Listing techniques with no view on how successful they are.
Running short of time: this question carries 15 of the 24 reading marks.
Tip: Use the wording of the question in your topic sentences, for example by starting a paragraph with "The writer is successful in creating tension when", so that every paragraph makes a judgement.
One piece of imaginative writing, from a choice of two tasks linked by theme to the extract.
Question 5 or 6 (answer one)
Imaginative writing
40 marksAO5 · 24AO6 · 16About 45 min
What it asks
Choose one of the two tasks and write an imaginative piece, real or invented, such as a story, a description or a monologue. One task comes with two pictures you can use for ideas: you may use one of them, or neither.
What earns marks
AO5 (24 marks): a clear purpose and a voice that suits the task and your reader, with a planned shape: an opening that draws the reader in, development, and a deliberate ending.
AO5: paragraphs and links that carry the reader through, and choices such as detail, dialogue or a shift in time made for effect.
AO6 (16 marks): varied, precise vocabulary and a range of sentence structures chosen for effect. Spelling and punctuation should be accurate, including commas, apostrophes and the punctuation of speech.
The two objectives are marked separately, each on its own five levels, and the marks are added together.
What each level looks like
Top level first.
AO5
Level
Marks
What an answer at this level does
Level 5
20-24
The writing steers the reader's response in subtle ways, the voice is confident throughout, and complex ideas are arranged so the whole piece holds together.
Level 4
15-19
The piece is shaped deliberately to affect the reader, the tone and style are well judged, and the structure stays under control from start to finish.
Level 3
10-14
Ideas and techniques are picked to suit the task, the tone fits, and each idea builds on the last, in paragraphs that make the writing easy to follow.
Level 2
5-9
Knows what the piece is for and who will read it, in a simple, steady tone. Ideas follow in order, in paragraphs, with some linking.
Level 1
1-4
Some ideas come across, but the piece has little sense of who it is for or what it is trying to do, and it is loosely organised.
AO6
Level
Marks
What an answer at this level does
Level 5
14-16
Ambitious vocabulary used with purpose, errors so rare they never get in the way, and precise punctuation, with a full range of sentence types each chosen for its effect.
Level 4
11-13
Words are chosen with care from a wide range, with only the odd spelling slip. Punctuation is placed to make meaning clear, and sentences are built with a purpose in mind.
Level 3
8-10
A good choice of words, with tricky spellings mostly right and a mix of punctuation used correctly. Sentences are shaped to help the purpose.
Level 2
5-7
Everyday words are spelt correctly, punctuation is mostly right, and sentences vary, including ones joined with words such as because or although.
Level 1
1-4
Simple, everyday words with frequent spelling mistakes. Punctuation is shaky, and sentences are short or keep repeating the same pattern.
What to avoid
Starting without a plan and losing control of the plot.
Too many events: one moment or short episode, developed in detail, gives you more to work with.
Answering both tasks: you only need one.
Leaving no time to check your accuracy: AO6 is worth 16 marks.
Tip: Spend about five minutes on a plan with a clear shape (opening, build-up, turning point, ending) and save the last five for checking.
The front cover of the paper advises about 1 hour on Section A and about 45 minutes on Section B.
Our suggestion for Section A, based on the marks: about 10 minutes reading the extract, then about 2 minutes on Question 1, 4 on Question 2, 12 on Question 3 and 32 on Question 4.
Our suggestion for Section B: about 5 minutes planning, 35 writing and 5 checking.
Before you hand in
Questions 1 and 2: each answer comes from the lines named, and the two points in Question 2 are different.
Question 3: you have written about structure as well as language.
Question 4: each paragraph says how well the writing works, not just what happens.
Section B: you have marked which question you chose, and answered only that one.
Proofread: full stops between sentences (not commas), apostrophes, and words you often misspell.
About this guide
This guide explains the mark scheme in plain English, in our own words. It is not the board's mark scheme, and it is not a prediction of any mark. The questions, marks and levels were checked against Pearson Edexcel GCSE English Language (1EN0) Paper 1 mark scheme, Summer 2025 (1EN0_01_2506_MS), checked with the specification, Issue 6 (August 2024), and the Summer 2024 question paper on 24 October 2026.