How to Answer Question 5 (Edexcel IGCSE English Language)

Question 5 is a comparison question worth 22 marks. It will be based on both Text One and Text Two featured in the source booklet in your exam. It tests Assessment Objective 3 (AO3), which is your ability to compare and contrast subject matter, themes, language choices, narrative voice and perspective, tone and structure across both texts, supporting your points with close textual references and brief quotations from both texts.

The following guide includes:

• Breaking down the question
• Steps to success
• Exam tips

How to Answer Question 5: Breaking down the question

Breaking down the question

Question 5 has the highest marks of any reading question on Paper 1. It is therefore crucial that you ensure you have sufficient time to answer this question, and read the question carefully,highlighting:

• The key instructions in the question, including the command word “compare”
• The focus of the question (what specifically you are being asked to compare)

For example:

Question 5 breakdown

It is important that you are able to support the points in your answer with close textual references and short quotations from both texts. If you only focus on one text, you will not score high marks.

Steps to success

Following these steps will give you a strategy for answering this question effectively:

1. Read the question and highlight:

2. The key instructions and command word

3. The focus of the question (what specifically you are being asked to compare in the texts)

4. Re-scan both extracts:

5. It is useful to make a plan before writing your answer to this question

6. In your plan, identify key elements of similarity or difference

7. Start your answer by making an overall comparison statement:

8. For example: “Text One and Text Two both describe parental reactions to the writers’ educations. Text One presents a negative experience, whereas Text Two depicts a more positive one.”

9. This demonstrates to the examiner that you have understood the texts and the question

10. Go into detail:

11. Start each paragraph with a key point of similarity or difference

12. Then, use close textual reference and short quotations from both texts as evidence for your point

13. Remember to compare the writer’s methods, in terms of their choices of language and/or structure

14. Sum up:

15. Finish your answer with a “So overall…” statement

You are advised to spend about 40 minutes on this question (including planning time).

Exam tips

This question is the most challenging question in Section A, with the mark scheme divided into 5 levels. To obtain the highest level (Level 5: 19–22 marks), you must:

• Use a varied range of comparisons between the texts

• Include analysis of the writers’ ideas and perspectives, including their use of language and/or structure, across both texts:

  • However, avoid “feature spotting”

• Ensure your quotations are relevant and fully support the points being made

• Refer back to your plan as you write, ticking off the points made

• Make sure that your introductory paragraph includes a precise and focused point of comparison, rather than just repeating the words of the question

• Your supporting quotations should be brief and embedded into your sentences:

  • This means not “introducing” your quotations separately, using statements such as “This is shown by the quote…” or just putting a quote on a separate line

• Instead, the quotation should form part of your sentence:

  • For example: “The writer describes time passing ‘relentlessly’, suggesting she feels…”