1. English GCSE Final tips
1 day to go!

2. All about writing
• Your guide to getting the best grade on the
writing paper
• Two non-fiction tasks – the first task is shorter
and worth 16 marks; the second is longer and
is worth 24 marks
• Spend an hour on this section – 25 minutes on
Q5 and 35 minutes on Q6

3. When you first open the paper
• Find a spot that you can scribble down a list of
all the techniques in DAFOREST and PERRIER –
You will be finding these terms in Question 4
but actually using them yourself on the
writing section.

4. Writing tasks – Find the GAP of each
• Before you start writing, jot down the GAP of each
• GENRE – What is it you are being asked to write? Next to
this, write down anything you know about writing for that
genre.
• Formality meter:
Formal --- Letter --- Newspaper article --- Magazine article --Blog/Website article
Eg. G: Magazine article (informal, chatty, sometimes uses
subheadings to split up sections, mention phrases like “regular
readers/subscribers” etc.)
G: Blog article – very informal, links to websites, has a easy to
understand title at the top, mention phrases like “Regular blog
readers will know…”

5. Writing tasks – Find the GAP of each
• AUDIENCE – Who is it for? You will likely be told
this in the question
• Eg. Write a magazine article about the
advantages of using public transport “for young
people”
• How can you show the examiner that you’ve
thought this through? Refer to things that young
people will know, reference things they will get
eg. “It’s not like you can rely on your parents and
pocket money forever”

6. Writing tasks – Find the GAP of each
• PURPOSE – What is the point? What does the
task ask you to do?
• It’s always a verb:
• DESCRIBE
• EXPLAIN
• INFORM
• ARGUE
• PERSUADE

7. 5
6
• Write the text for a leaflet to persuade young people in your area
to take part in an event for charity. The leaflet should be about:
The sponsored event of your choice
• Which charity the event is for
• Why young people should support the charity
• Remember to:
Write a leaflet
• Use language and techniques to help you persuade

8. Find the GAP in the following
questions
1. Write a letter to your school magazine which
argues for or against homework being set at Key
Stage 4.
2. Write a review for a teen website about a film or
TV programme you have seen recently
3. Write a report for your local newspaper which
offers advice on how to provide more facilities
for teenagers
4. Write an article for a teen magazine persuading
young people to stop smoking.

9. Structuring your writing
• Handy hints:
• Start each paragraph with a topic sentence. Topic
sentences introduce your paragraph. They let the
reader know what to expect.
• Link your paragraphs using connectives
• Time order: At first, Then, Later
• Logical order: Therefore, Consequently, As a result
• Contrast: On the other hand, In contrast
• Simple ordering: Firstly, Secondly, Finally
• Developing: Because of this, Also, Moreover, In
addition

10. How to use
language to get
higher marks

11. Writing an effective opener
• For non-fiction:
• Try starting with your anecdote: This is Brian.
Every day is a struggle for him because he suffers
from…
• Start with a quotation (can be made up)
• 63% of 16 year olds don’t take enough exercise
• A rhetorical question
• Schools to close? Teachers to resign? This is not
some vision of the future – it is happening now…

12. Effective endings
• Ending is the last chance to convince the examiner you
are worthy of more marks!
• Summarise but don’t repeat your main points
• Try and use anecdotes, humour or statistics to
conclude.
• If you take anything from this speech, I want you to
remember that school uniform is unnecessary, it is
ugly and most parents can ill afford it. Why does this
school persist in making us students suffer in this
way? 97% of students and 87% of parents think that
students in Year 10 and 11 should be given the choice
to decide what they wear. Do the right thing. You
know it makes sense.

13. Question 6 practice
• Write the text for a leaflet to persuade young
people in your area to take part in an event for
charity. The leaflet should be about:
• The sponsored event of your choice
• Which charity the event is for
• Why young people should support the charity
• Remember to:
Write a leaflet
• Use language and techniques to help you
persuade