Paper 1 Section A: Fiction Extract
Paper 1 Section A: Reading a Fiction Extract
AQA English Language Paper 1 is called Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing. Section A gives you an unseen fiction extract (usually from a novel or short story) and four questions worth 40 marks in total. You have roughly 1 hour for this section.
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Question 1 (4 marks) — List / Identify
What it asks: List four things you learn about a character, place, or event from a specific section of the text.
Approach
1. Read the specified lines carefully — the answer is only in this section
2. Find four separate pieces of information
3. Write them as simple, clear statements
4. You can quote directly or paraphrase — both are accepted
5. Spend no more than 5 minutes on this question
Example
If asked: "List four things you learn about the setting from lines 1–7:"
- The house is surrounded by tall trees.
- It is located at the end of a narrow lane.
- The windows are broken.
- The garden is overgrown with weeds.
Common Mistakes
- Going beyond the specified lines — instant zero for that point
- Writing analysis or explanation — only identification is needed
- Giving fewer than four points — every missing point is a lost mark
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Question 2 (8 marks) — Language Analysis
What it asks: How does the writer use language to describe/present something? Refer to a specific section.
Approach — The "What, How, Why" Method
For each point:
1. What — identify a relevant quote
2. How — name the technique or language feature
3. Why — explain the effect on the reader
Key Techniques to Look For
| Technique | Example | Possible Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Metaphor | "The fog was a blanket" | Creates a vivid image; suggests comfort or suffocation |
| Simile | "She moved like a shadow" | Comparison highlights stealth or vulnerability |
| Personification | "The wind howled" | Makes the setting feel alive or threatening |
| Pathetic fallacy | "Dark clouds gathered" | Reflects mood or foreshadows danger |
| Adjective choices | "Jagged, blackened ruins" | Creates a harsh, damaged impression |
| Verb choices | "She crept along the corridor" | Suggests fear, caution, tension |
| Semantic field | Multiple words related to war | Builds a sustained atmosphere |
| Sibilance | "Silently she slipped sideways" | Creates a smooth, sinister tone |
| Short sentences | "She stopped. Silence." | Creates tension, drama, or shock |
Model Paragraph
"The writer uses the metaphor 'the corridor was a throat, swallowing her whole' to describe the school hallway. The verb 'swallowing' personifies the building as a predator consuming the character, which creates a sense of danger and claustrophobia. The reader feels the character's vulnerability and fear, as though the setting itself is a threat to her safety. This reflects the wider theme of entrapment that runs through the extract."
Marks Breakdown
- Level 1 (1–2): Simple comments, limited examples
- Level 2 (3–4): Some relevant language identified with attempted explanation
- Level 3 (5–6): Clear, explained analysis of language effects with appropriate terminology
- Level 4 (7–8): Detailed, perceptive analysis examining layers of meaning
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Question 3 (8 marks) — Structure Analysis
What it asks: How does the writer structure the text to interest the reader? You must consider the whole text.
Structural Features to Discuss
| Feature | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Opening | How does the text begin? In medias res? Setting description? Dialogue? |
| Shifts in focus | Does the focus move from wide to narrow? Outside to inside? Past to present? |
| Perspective changes | Does the viewpoint shift between characters? |
| Pace | Does the writing speed up (short sentences) or slow down (long description)? |
| Climax | Where is the moment of greatest tension or drama? |
| Ending | Cliffhanger? Resolution? Circular structure? Ambiguity? |
| Foreshadowing | Are there hints about what will happen later? |
| Contrast | Calm vs chaos, beauty vs ugliness, past vs present |
| Repetition | Key words or images that recur for emphasis |
Important Terms
- Narrative perspective — first person, third person limited, omniscient
- Chronological/non-chronological — linear time or flashbacks
- In medias res — starting in the middle of the action
- Circular structure — ending mirrors the beginning
- Zoom in/out — wide establishing shot narrowing to a detail (or vice versa)
How to Structure Your Answer
- Beginning — how the writer opens and hooks the reader
- Middle — how focus, pace, or perspective shifts
- End — how the writer concludes and what effect this has
Spend about 10 minutes on this question.
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Question 4 (20 marks) — Evaluation
What it asks: To what extent do you agree with a given statement about the text? This is an opinion question, but your opinion must be supported with evidence and analysis.
Approach
1. Read the statement carefully — it will usually claim something about how the writer creates a mood, presents a character, or builds tension
2. You can agree, disagree, or partially agree — but most students score best by largely agreeing and finding evidence to support it
3. Write 4–5 developed paragraphs, each with a quote and analysis
4. Use evaluative language: "effectively", "convincingly", "successfully", "to a great extent"
Paragraph Structure
1. State your view in relation to the statement
2. Select a relevant quote
3. Identify the technique or word choice
4. Analyse the effect on the reader
5. Link back to the statement
Evaluative Sentence Starters
- "I strongly agree that the writer effectively..."
- "The writer convincingly portrays... through their use of..."
- "This is particularly evident when..."
- "However, it could also be argued that..."
Marks Breakdown
- Level 1 (1–5): Simple, limited comments
- Level 2 (6–10): Some evaluation with general textual references
- Level 3 (11–15): Clear evaluation with appropriate examples and some analysis
- Level 4 (16–20): Detailed, perceptive evaluation with judicious examples and sophisticated analysis
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Time Management for Section A
| Question | Marks | Suggested Time |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 4 | 5 minutes |
| Q2 | 8 | 10 minutes |
| Q3 | 8 | 10 minutes |
| Q4 | 20 | 20–25 minutes |
| Reading the extract | — | 10 minutes |
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Exam Tips
- Read the extract twice before answering — once for understanding, once to annotate
- Always quote directly from the text (short, embedded quotes are best)
- For Q2 and Q4, name techniques but focus most of your time on explaining the effect
- For Q3, discuss the whole text — beginning, middle, and end — not just one section
- Q4 is worth the most marks — give it the most time and effort
- Never leave a question blank — even a basic response can earn marks