English Language - Higher Level
English Language - Higher Level To achieve a grade C in English, candidates require 55% which is 44 marks out of a total of 80. The exam is two hours long and has two sections; Section A: Understanding non-fiction texts and Section B: Producing non-fiction texts. Section A tests your Reading skills. Section B tests your Writing skills. You have to answer all the questions on the exam paper. Section A: Understanding non-fiction texts You will be given three media/non-fiction texts to read. You will be asked four questions. There will be one question on each of the three texts, and the fourth question will ask you to compare language in two of the texts. You will have an hour to complete this section, and must answer all the questions. The texts you will be given will be media and non-fiction texts. This means any type of text which has been written for a non-literary purpose: leaflets, articles, reports, biography and travel writing are all examples of this type of text. Each text will have a clear form, purpose and audience. There might also be a connection between the texts: possibly a thematic similarity such as 'healthy eating’ or ’transport’. However, there will be clear differences between the texts in terms of the form, audience and purpose, allowing you to make comparisons between them. Assessment Objectives In Section A of the exam, you need to show that you can: Demonstrate an understanding of the texts’ purpose and audience. Explaining the content, audience and the purpose of the text: what a writer says and is suggesting. Select evidence from the texts to use in your answers. Picking appropriate quotations to use to support the points you make. Make comparisons between texts. Explaining the ways in which text is similar to, or different from, another text. You need to refer to examples when you compare. Evaluate how effective the text is. Explain how well you think the text does its job – how well it appeals to the audience it is intended for, and the purpose it is intended for. Understand the techniques that writers use. Writing about language and the way that the words and the presentational features have been used.
Understand the ways in which the texts are organised and presented on the page. Writing about the position and appearance of pictures and text elements on the page and how they relate. Section B: Producing non-fiction texts You will be asked to complete two non-fiction writing tasks. The first task is shorter and is worth 16 marks; the second task is Ionger and is worth 24 marks. You will have an hour to complete this section, and must answer both questions. You should aim to spend around 25 minutes on the shorter writing task and 35 minutes on the longer writing task. This should include 5 minutes to check your work once you have completed each task. The first writing task will ask you to produce a relatively short non-fiction text, for example, a letter or e-mail. lt is likely to be a functional task, such as writing to inform or explain. The second writing task will ask you to produce a longer non-fiction text in which you have a chance to develop your ideas in more detail, for example, an article for a magazine or newspaper. This might involve writing to argue or persuade. You will be given a clear form, purpose and audience for each task. Usually the audience of the text will be mentioned in the task, for example, ’Write an e-mail to a friend to let them know about...’ lf an audience is not given, you will be writing for the examiner. The tasks you are asked to write may have a connection with the theme of the texts you read in Section A, and it may sometimes be possible to use some of the ideas from these texts in your own writing. Assessment Objectives In Section B of the exam, you need to show that you can Communicate clearly, effectively and imaginatively. Writing so that the reader understands what you are saying and is interested in it. Demonstrate a clear idea of the purpose and audience. Being able to write in a particular form (eg. a letter or a newspaper article) and for a particular audience (eg. For older people). Organise your writing. Using sentences and paragraphs, and giving your writing structure. Use a range of interesting words and sentences structures. Using varied vocabulary, techniques such as repetition and contrast, and different types of sentence for different effects. Punctuate and spell accurately. Using a range of punctuation such as question marks and semi-colons as well as full stops and commas. Showing that you can spell correctly.
Understand the ways in which the texts are organised and presented on the page. Writing about the position and appearance of pictures and text elements on the page and how they relate. Section B: Producing non-fiction texts You will be asked to complete two non-fiction writing tasks. The first task is shorter and is worth 16 marks; the second task is Ionger and is worth 24 marks. You will have an hour to complete this section, and must answer both questions. You should aim to spend around 25 minutes on the shorter writing task and 35 minutes on the longer writing task. This should include 5 minutes to check your work once you have completed each task. The first writing task will ask you to produce a relatively short non-fiction text, for example, a letter or e-mail. lt is likely to be a functional task, such as writing to inform or explain. The second writing task will ask you to produce a longer non-fiction text in which you have a chance to develop your ideas in more detail, for example, an article for a magazine or newspaper. This might involve writing to argue or persuade. You will be given a clear form, purpose and audience for each task. Usually the audience of the text will be mentioned in the task, for example, ’Write an e-mail to a friend to let them know about...’ lf an audience is not given, you will be writing for the examiner. The tasks you are asked to write may have a connection with the theme of the texts you read in Section A, and it may sometimes be possible to use some of the ideas from these texts in your own writing. Assessment Objectives In Section B of the exam, you need to show that you can Communicate clearly, effectively and imaginatively. Writing so that the reader understands what you are saying and is interested in it. Demonstrate a clear idea of the purpose and audience. Being able to write in a particular form (eg. a letter or a newspaper article) and for a particular audience (eg. For older people). Organise your writing. Using sentences and paragraphs, and giving your writing structure. Use a range of interesting words and sentences structures. Using varied vocabulary, techniques such as repetition and contrast, and different types of sentence for different effects. Punctuate and spell accurately. Using a range of punctuation such as question marks and semi-colons as well as full stops and commas. Showing that you can spell correctly.
