English Unit One Exam:
Foundation Tier
L.O.: To understand the requirements
of the foundation tier exam.
General Tips
• Keep track of your time – no one
will warn you when a certain
time has elapsed.
• Spend more time on questions
worth more marks.
• If a question asks about
language, write about language.
You will get no marks for writing
about presentation, and vice
versa!
• Plan your extended written
answers. This allows you to write
with a confident structure, and
will help you order your ideas.
Point, Evidence, Explain
This means make a point, show some evidence (use a quote)
then explain its effect!
For example:
In article one, the writer uses a rhetorical question. The text says:
‘Why don’t you make the change?’. This has two effects. Firstly, it
encourages the reader to think, because they answer the question in
their head. Secondly, it is a challenge to the reader so it persuades
them to see the writers’ point of view, and then hopefully make the
change.
To be on the safe side, try and quote for each point you make. You’ll
see that the mark scheme asks for this. It shows understanding and
detailed engagement with the text.
Section A: Reading and Understanding
Non-fiction texts
Question
Marks
Suggested Time (minutes)
1
4
5
2
4
5
3
8
10
4
12
20
5
12
20
Total
40
60
n.b. The exam is 2hr15 long. This means you
have fifteen minutes to read the three sources,
and then an hour to complete each section.
There are five questions:
1. Identify four facts in source one.
2. What do we learn from source one?
3. Follow an argument; what information is
given in source two?
4. How does the writer use language in source
three to (describe/inform/advise etc.)
5. Compare two sources. How is presentation
used and what are the effects?
Question 1 and 2…
• They are now Q1a and Qb.
Each is worth 4 marks.
• Q1a asks you to find four
facts and write them down.
• Q1b is tougher, it asks you
what you learn from the
article. You should try to fully
PEE two or three points.
These two
questions are worth
8 marks. With a bit
of careful planning,
this will give you an
excellent start!
Question 3
What does the article
tell us about (name)?
This could be ‘How does
(name) feel about
(thing)’, ‘What is
(name)’s opinion on…’
etc.
This question asks
you to follow an
argument and
identify the main
things the writer is
saying.
Question 4
How does the writer
use language to
achieve its purpose?
This question asks you to
identify language features
(how the article is written).
Do not talk about
presentational features (how
the article looks)!
Question 5
Compare two sources.
How are presentational
devices used for effect?
This question asks you talk
about how the texts look.
Do not talk about
language! You also need to
talk in detail about two
sources. Remember to
identify similarities and
differences, and comment
on their effects!
Section B: Producing Non-fiction texts
Question
Marks
Suggested Time (minutes)
6
16
20
7
24
40
Total
40
60