Assessment Objectives
AQA GCSE English Literature (8702) — understanding what examiners are looking for is the fastest route to higher marks.
AO2 — Language, Form & Structure
45% of total GCSE · Up to 18 marks per question
What does this mean?
AO2 is the big one — worth 18 out of 30 marks. You need to analyse individual words (language), how the text is put together (structure), and the type of text/genre conventions (form). Use proper terminology: metaphor, dramatic irony, foreshadowing, etc. — but always explain the EFFECT, don't just name the technique.
💡 What the examiner is looking for
This is the highest-weighted AO. The examiner wants you to zoom into specific words, techniques, structural choices and literary devices, explaining HOW they create meaning and effect on the reader.
Top Tips
1.Zoom into individual words — what connotations do they carry?
e.g. The verb "kill" in Beatrice's demand "Kill Claudio" is a violent, monosyllabic imperative that shatters the romantic tone of the scene.
2.Cover all three: language (word-level), structure (how the text is organised), and form (genre/type)
3.Always explain the EFFECT on the reader or audience — 'This creates a sense of…', 'This suggests to the reader that…'
4.Use subject terminology naturally — don't crowbar it in. Name the technique, then immediately explain what it does
5.Look for patterns: repetition, contrasts, shifts in tone, cyclical structures
6.Consider the semantic field — groups of related words that build up a particular impression
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ×Naming a technique ('this is a metaphor') without explaining its effect
- ×Only analysing language and ignoring form and structure
- ×Using subject terminology incorrectly
- ×Analysing at sentence level only — missing whole-text structural patterns
- ×Describing what a quote says rather than how it works
Mark Allocation by Paper
| Question | AO1 | AO2 | AO3 | AO4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shakespeare Paper 1 Section A | 6 | 18 | 6 | 4 | 34 |
19th Century Novel Paper 1 Section B | 6 | 18 | 6 | — | 30 |
Modern Text Paper 2 Section A | 6 | 18 | 6 | 4 | 34 |
Poetry Anthology Paper 2 Section B | 6 | 18 | 6 | — | 30 |
Unseen Poetry Paper 2 Section C | 6 | 18 | — | — | 32 |
AO4 (SPaG) marks are only awarded on the Paper 2 Section A Modern Text question.
Sentence Starters — Quick Reference
AO1
- Personal response:It could be argued that…
- Evaluative:Perhaps [writer] intends to…
- Alternative reading:An alternative interpretation is that…
- Thesis:[Writer] presents [character/theme] as…
- Critical style:Significantly, [writer] chooses to…
- Summary point:Ultimately, [writer] uses [character/theme] to…
AO2
- Word-level:The [noun/verb/adjective] '…' connotes…
- Technique:[Writer]'s use of [technique] suggests…
- Effect:This creates a sense of… for the [reader/audience]
- Structure:Structurally, [writer] positions this [at the start/climax/end] to…
- Form:The [genre/form] conventions are subverted here because…
- Semantic field:The semantic field of [topic] — '…', '…', '…' — reinforces…
AO3
- Historical:In the [period], [context fact], which is reflected in…
- Social:This reflects the [period] expectation that…
- Audience:A contemporary audience would have understood this as…
- Writer purpose:Perhaps [writer] intended to challenge the [period] view that…
- Modern contrast:While a modern reader might see this as…, an [period] audience would…
- Cultural:[Writer] uses [character/event] to critique the [period] culture of…