Moving On Up …how to move
up the levels
What to do to get a L5
or higher
Assessment Focus
In English there are a range of different
skills that you need to show in your
reading and writing
To help you target what to do there are
writing and reading assessment foci
(AF)
Try to think: Am I using the AF’s to help
me improve? What do I need to do to
get a Level 5?
Moving On Up …how to move up the
levels
Writing AF5: Vary the length,
structure and
Vary sentences
subject of
for clarity,
sentences to add
emphasis or
purpose
clarity to your
and effect.
writing
= L5 skill
Moving On Up …how to move up the
levels
Writing AF5: Vary the length,
structure and
Vary sentences
subject of
for clarity,
sentences to add
purpose
emphasis or
and effect.
clarity to your
writing
Moving On Up …how to move up the
levels
Writing AF5 –
vary sentences
for clarity,
purpose
and effect.
Use a wider range of
connectives to
clarify relationship
between ideas,
e.g. although, on the
other hand,
meanwhile
Writing AF5 – vary sentences for clarity,
purpose and effect.
Always use sentence structure to build up
detail and layers of meaning.
Check your writing
Writing AF5 – Vary sentences for clarity,
purpose and effect
Vary the length, structure and
subject of sentences to add
emphasis or clarity to your
writing = L5 skill
Writing AF5 – Vary sentences for clarity,
purpose and effect
Always use sentence structure to
build up detail and layers of
meaning
= L5 skill
Writing AF5 – Vary sentences for clarity,
purpose and effect
Use a wide range of
connectives to make ideas clear
e.g. although, on the other hand,
meanwhile = L5 skill
Writing AF6 – Write with technical accuracy
of syntax and punctuation
Make sure you use a full range
of punctuation accurately to
mark out sentences, including
speech punctuation
Writing AF6 – Write with technical accuracy
of syntax and punctuation
To gain a L5 check that word
order and punctuation in
sentences are accurate
Writing AF3 – organise and present whole texts
effectively
To gain a L5 make sure your
ideas are is structured clearly,
with sentences organised into
paragraphs
Writing AF 3 – organise and present whole texts
effectively
To gain a L5 make sure your
ideas are organised and well
developed
e.g. closings refer back to openings
Writing AF3 – organise and present whole texts
effectively
To gain a L5 ensure that the text has
clear links and that there are
connections between paragraphs
Writing AF4 – construct paragraphs and use cohesion
within and between paragraphs.
For a Level 5 make sure that your
paragraphs are clearly structured and
that there are chronological or logical
links between paragraphs
e.g. make your writing flow.
Writing AF 4 – construct paragraphs and use cohesion
within and between paragraphs.
A level 5 writer needs to make
sure that they use a range of
devices to make sure their text
and the ideas are clear
e.g. connectives, links between
the beginning and end
Writing AF 1 – write imaginative, interesting
and thoughtful texts.
You have relevant ideas and
your material is developed
with imaginative detail if you
are a L5
Writing AF 1 – write imaginative, interesting
and thoughtful texts.
A level 5 writer will always try
to develop their ideas and their
material will be appropriately
shaped for the type of text that
they are writing
e.g. thinking about PALL before
writing
Writing AF1 – write imaginative, interesting
and thoughtful texts.
To gain a Level 5 make sure that
you establish a clear viewpoint
in your writing
e.g. develop a character in your
writing or develop a strong
voice
Writing AF2 – produce texts which are appropriate
to task, reader and purpose
A level 5 writer will make sure
that the main purpose of
writing is clear and
consistently maintained in
their work
Writing AF 2 – produce texts which are appropriate
to task, reader and purpose
To achieve a L5 you should
always write in the correct
form of the text
e.g. newspaper, diary, reports
Writing AF 2 – produce texts which are appropriate
to task, reader and purpose
You should always try to write
in an appropriate style and
keep the reader’s interest
throughout a text to gain a L5
e.g. think about how the text should
be written and the layout
HOW TO MOVE UP THE LEVELS
Writing AF 7 – select appropriate and effective
vocabulary.
To achieve a L5 you should
choose vocabulary carefully
for effect
e.g. experiment with word
choices
HOW TO MOVE UP THE LEVELS
Writing AF 7 – select appropriate and effective
vocabulary.
To gain a L5 you should use a
reasonably wide vocabulary
e.g. get into the habit of using a
thesaurus
HOW TO MOVE UP THE LEVELS
Writing AF 8 – use correct spelling.
To gain a L5 you should be
using the correct spelling of
common grammatical words
consistently
e.g. check the spelling of key
words you are using
Writing AF 8– Use correct spelling
A level 5 writer should be
checking their spelling and
looking for key errors.
e.g. Learn the correct spelling of
words you frequently get
wrong
Reading AF 2 -understand, describe, select or retrieve
information from texts and use quotation and reference to text.
A L5 writer should always make
comments which are supported by
relevant textual reference or
quotation
Reading AF 2 -understand, describe, select or retrieve
information, or ideas from texts and use quotation and reference
to text.
You need to show that across a range of
texts you can identify the most
relevant points clearly
e.g. picking out key ideas or finding
important information
Reading AF 3 – deduce, infer or interpret
information, events or ideas from texts
You need to make comments that
develop your explanations and explore
inferred meanings
e.g. you look carefully for ideas in the
text that are not obvious on the first
reading
Reading AF 3 – deduce, infer or interpret
information, events or ideas from texts
Your comments should be based on
textual evidence to get a L5
e.g. you back up ideas with careful
choice of quotations
Reading AF 4– identify and comment on the structure
and organisation of texts
You should comment on the choices
author’s have made to craft a text to get
a L5
e.g. you explain what the author has
done and what the effect is
Reading AF 4– identify and comment on the structure
and organisation of texts
You can spot different devices that help
organise the text and you can explain
how they work
e.g. “each section starts
with a question to draw the reader in”
Reading AF5 explain and comment on writers' use of
language.
To gain a L5 you should try to spot the
way the writers uses language and
explain why
e.g. “when it gets to the robbery they speak in
short sentences and quickly which makes it
more tense
Reading AF 5 explain and comment on writers' use of
language.
A L5 writer will try to comment on the
effect of writer’s language choices
e.g. “ ‘inked up’ is a good way of describing
how the blackberries go a bluey black
colour as they ripen”
Reading AF6 – identify and comment on writers' purposes
and viewpoints, and the overall effect of the text
A L5 writer will try identify the main
purpose of a text
e.g. The writer tries to persuade the
reader to agree that you should donate
to the charity.
Reading AF 6 – identify and comment on writers' purposes
and viewpoints, and the overall effect of the text
To get a L5 you should identify the
author’s viewpoint and explain the
point of view
e.g. In the last verse, the poet looks back on his
family and the memories he has. they are
Reading AF 6 – identify and comment on writers' purposes
and viewpoints, and the overall effect of the text
To get a L5 you should be aware of
effects on the reader and explanation
how they were achieved
e.g. “You’d be persuaded to sign up because
25p a week doesn’t seem that much to
help someone see”