AQA GCSE English Language Paper 1 (8700/1) - 23rd May 2024 [Exam Chat]

However much you can write in 45 minutes - there's not really a set minimum, but quality is always better than quantity (as long as you write like at least a page). I'm sure people have gotten grade 9s with a page and a bit of really good writing. I'm also sure you won't be counting your words as you write, and the examiner certainly won't be either 😅

what's the average amount people write though? I don't want too seem like I'm lacking...

I would say 3/4 good, long paragraphs and taking up at least a page and a half to feel really secure about writing enough, obviously some people can do well in less, but to be certain, I'd aim for a page and a half minimum and some really detailed, long paragraphs with lots of language techniques

hey guys I just wrote this practice story that I can probably adapt to any question (hopefully) can someone give me advice or if an idea of the mark it would achieve if i wrote it in the exam.. be brutal
heres the story:
“I wish I never met you.”
I stare at him, blank eyed, drained from the relentless and loathsome verbal assaults that had become a cruel routine over the last year. His lip curls in a vicious sneer, his jaw clenching in disgust as he looks over me, fragile in the doorway.
But it wasn’t always like this.
I close my eyes, shutting out his cruel words, and I’m back. Back to the start.
The sun dripped hot like candle wax that day, soothing and smarting those beneath its great grasp of the earth. My city glowed with light, reflecting off all surfaces, the heat so strong it dazzled. It was as if some Greek god had been reborn, hurling rays of glorious sunlight at the grateful crowd below. The sky boasted its artist’s skill: cobalt blue depths, azure outlines to the sparse clouds, a halo of golden light around the sun. But what was more beautiful than Helios’s artwork was the stranger.
I had never encountered him before, yet he sat outside my cherished cafe with such a sense of familiarity and ease that it seemed impossible he hadn’t visited countless times before. From afar I allowed myself to be captivated by his luminous doe brown eyes, framed by a lush array of lashes that rivalled the elegance of a fawn. His thick, expressive eyebrows knitted together in concentration as he studied the menu before him: a curated selection of refreshing beverages and delectable dishes.
His charming complexion was adorned with a spray of delicate freckles, forming a mesmerising constellation across his visage. I imagined laying next to him, mapping the placement of each one as I adored him. As he lifted his gaze and our eyes met, he tilted his head in a gesture that was both innocent and inviting, his wide smile revealing a set of pearly teeth charmingly distinguished by a darling gap. His chocolate brown hair, perfectly tousled, crowned his head and accentuated every feature effortlessly.
My heart beat quicker as I crossed the street, his presence almost magnetic, pulling me towards him. Is this really happening? I asked myself. My queries were confirmed as he confidently stood up, offering his hand to shake.
“Hello, my name is Ben! What’s yours?” he asked, his voice smooth and warm. We talked for what seemed like hours, until the sun’s warm rays were replaced by the moon’s euphoric glow. Our conversations flowed effortlessly, from his love for travel to my aspirations and dreams. I was enchanted by him, hanging on desperately to every word he graced me with.
But as the days turned into weeks, and the weeks turned into months, cracks in his once flawless manner began to form. It started almost unnoticeably; a snide comment here, an annoyed snap there - all of which I attributed to a stressful day or a miniature misjudgement. Yet, despite my desperation to maintain my faultless image of him, he began slipping away, his words growing sharper and crueller.
One night as we walked through the park under the starless sky, he finally snapped. “You’re so naïve!” he spat at me, shaking me to my core. “No wonder you’re stuck in this filthy city with your childish dreams and meaningless aspirations. Grow up and realise not everything is sunshine and rainbows.”
I froze, stunned. He had been so perfect for me - supportive, gentle. What had I done to turn him into this monster? All admiration I had for him shattered like glass. How had I missed this side of him? I finally saw how his kindness and love had always had an edge of condescending. I had been blinded by his soft eyes and compelling stance, refusing to see the malicious and malevolent side of him he hid so well.
The verbal assaults became routine, his charming facade crumbling to reveal his true self. He belittled my dreams, mocked my insecurities and restricted my confidence. And yet I stayed. I began walking on eggshells around him, terrified that one day he may reveal a darker, more violent side that wasn’t restrained to just words.
The vibrant and dazzling city I once loved became but a backdrop to our poisonous and loveless relationship. Even the sun became afraid of Ben, hiding behind a cover of pale clouds and fighting his wrath with pummels of rain and wind. The glorious sunlight was gone, the golden streets now grey and lifeless.
Standing in the doorway, staring at his gorgeous face, I finally understand.
“I wish I never met you”
It wasn’t just a wish; it was a realisation. Meeting him allowed me to discover my resilience, providing me with a new perspective in life. I was now able to see past charm and facade, viewing people for what they really are. Seeing him for what he really is. A cold and manipulative shell of a human being, hiding behind his good looks and enticing smile.
Meeting his gaze once more, not with anger, but with a newfound strength and clarity, I whisper “I wish I never met you too.” He stares back, shocked. “But I’m glad I did. Because now, I know this is not what I deserve”. I take pleasure in his understanding that it’s over. I watch as his mouth falls open, his harsh words now powerless.
I turn and walk out the doorway, feeling a bittersweet weight lift off my shoulders. The city embraces me once more, the sun coming out of her shell and meeting me with a warm beam, not as a reminder of my past mistakes but as a symbol of my strength.

I am doing this pre-write description method for Question 5 but I just wanted to ask if anyone else is doing this or has done this in the past and if it is worth doing?

I think it's a good idea and reduces planning time for Q5, but it does need to be versatile, as the question could ask about anything. I would say, yes, do the pre-write, but also bear in mind other things you could say if the image happened to be something too different, so don't be too dependent on it or you'll be thrown off if the picture isn't what you expected. But yeah, the pre-write can be useful, so I'd still do it

This is good, I'm not that great at marking but one thing that really stuck out to me was that 90% of the sentences started with "I" or "He" or "The" or "A", I understand that it's a narrative, but maybe to make it more interesting, switch the word order round, or start the sentence in a different way so that it's more interesting. I like the idea of the sun and its symbolism.
Another thing that might be a bit nit-picky but I feel like you've used some cliches, like the "pearly" teeth and the "magnetic" pull, not tbh they're fine, like you obviously would get marks for it, but I wonder if you could have done something more original and unique. It's just something to think about, although what you've done is really good

do you guys think it would be okay (or maybe even impressive to the examiner) if i wrote my story from two switching perspectives? i like doing that because it lets me talk about more than one person feelings so theres more to write about yk

Got a 9 in English Lang and English Lit last year. Happy to help and give tips. In particular, I can give advice for lang q5 because I got 40/40 and Lit where multiple of my essays scored full marks. I am also selling some of my exam scripts for cheap. Feel free to hmu🙂

i just have a question for question 5, generally how much would you write because, some people write pages and pages, and i'm not sure on average how much it should be

thank you so much! I really need to work on my sentence starters, do you have any good methods for that? otherwise all other advice is very appreciated thank you

HELP please!!! Question 5 - if you say had a picture and it says 'write a description of a hot air balloon flight as suggested by this picture' or 'write s description of a fishing village as suggested by this picture' would you be allowed to take yourself somewhere else in your mind as you are either on the flight or looking at the village? Does the whole description literally have to be about the balloon flight or the fishing village???? HELP!!!

I've said this before, but the picture asks you to write a description "suggested by" the picture, of course you're allowed to move
You could start in the fishing village or hot air balloon but go on to describe somewhere else, but make sure it's cohesive. For example, don't start at the fishing village then describe a shop in town, maybe follow a person as they make their way there, describing them, or follow a bird (this one can be really useful) in order to change scenery to something you'd prefer to write about

Got a 9 in English Lang and English Lit last year. Happy to help and give tips. In particular, I can give advice for lang q5 because I got 40/40 and Lit where multiple of my essays scored full marks. I am also selling some of my exam scripts for cheap. Feel free to hmu🙂