OxfordAQA IGCSE English Language: Source-Based Reading and Directed Writing (9270)

This guide covers Paper 2 Source-based Reading and Directed Writing, for OxfordAQA International GCSE English Language (9270), Version 4.2, for exams May/June 2018 onwards. Paper 2 is worth 40% of the overall qualification and is the mainstream exam alternative to the non-exam assessment (NEA) project route.

Where this fits in 9270

Paper 1 (Literary Non-fiction and Composition) is compulsory for every candidate; students then take EITHER Paper 2 (the exam route covered here) OR an independent-research NEA project as an alternative. Where Paper 1’s reading material is literary non-fiction (autobiography, memoir, travel writing), Paper 2 deliberately shifts to modern-world themes and issues, and its writing task is directed rather than a free choice of form.

Syllabus coverage

OXFORDAQA INTERNATIONAL GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE (9270) — PAPER 2 SOURCE-BASED READING AND DIRECTED WRITING

• 3.2.1 Section A: Reading — texts relating to modern-world themes and issues; texts may be brief or solely visual, and may be fiction or non-fiction
• 3.2.2 Section B: Writing — a directed writing task focused on writing for a specified audience and purpose, which may be both multiple and diverse
• Assessment objectives — AO1 Reading (R1–R4: reading and understanding texts for purpose; collating and synthesising detail across sources; developing interpretations of writers’ ideas; explaining and evaluating how writers use linguistic, grammatical, structural and presentational features) and AO2 Writing (W1–W4: communicating clearly, effectively and imaginatively for task and purpose; using a range of sentence structures; organising ideas into cohesive, coherent text; technical accuracy in grammar, punctuation and spelling)
• Weighting — Paper 2/NEA carries 20% AO1 and 20% AO2 of the overall qualification (against Paper 1’s 30% AO1 and 30% AO2), for an overall 50/50 AO1/AO2 split across the full qualification; AO3 (Speaking and Listening) is a separately reported endorsement that does not count toward Paper 2 or the overall grade

How to approach it

Because Paper 2’s reading texts are explicitly “modern-world themes and issues” rather than the literary non-fiction of Paper 1, build a reading habit around current-affairs and issue-based writing — opinion pieces, reports on social or environmental topics, campaign material — rather than only literary prose. Some Paper 2 texts may be “solely visual,” which is a real possibility worth practising for: reading an infographic, chart or advertisement for explicit and implicit meaning is a different skill from reading continuous prose.

The Section B writing task is “directed” specifically because it names an audience and purpose the response must serve — unlike Paper 1’s choice of descriptive, imaginative or argumentative composition. Before drafting, identify exactly who the writing is for and what it needs to achieve, and check the finished response against both, since AO2 rewards adapting form and register to that specific audience and purpose rather than producing generic, well-written prose.

Because AO1 on this paper is tested through Section A alongside AO2 in Section B, revise reading and writing together rather than treating them as separate papers — for example, identifying how a source text achieves its effect on its audience (Section A) is close preparation for adapting your own writing to a specified audience (Section B).

Because Section A’s texts may relate to unfamiliar current-affairs topics, do not let unfamiliarity with the subject matter itself become a barrier – the assessment objectives test how well a candidate reads and analyses the given text, not prior knowledge of the issue it describes. Everything needed to answer well is present in the source material provided.

Common mistakes

Bringing Paper 1’s literary-analysis habits to a modern-issue source text without adjusting for its more direct, purposeful style. Writing at length without checking the response actually serves the specified audience and purpose. Treating a visual or brief source as less significant than a longer prose text, when it may carry just as much assessable meaning. Neglecting technical accuracy (W4) under time pressure, when it is assessed with equal weight to content and organisation.

Worked example: matching writing to audience and purpose

A directed writing task asks candidates to write an article for a school magazine persuading younger students to take up a new hobby.

Audience:  younger students at the same school -- informal but not
           childish register, direct address ("you"), relatable
           examples
Purpose:   persuade -- rhetorical questions, a clear line of argument,
           benefits foregrounded, a call to action
Form:      magazine article -- a engaging headline/opening, short
           paragraphs, sub-headings or a strong final paragraph, a
           voice that sounds like it is speaking to peers rather than
           lecturing them

A response that is well written in general terms but ignores one of these three elements – for example, a beautifully argued piece that reads like a formal essay rather than a magazine article – loses marks against AO2’s requirement to adapt form and register to task and purpose, however accurate the grammar is.

Quick revision checklist

• Read a range of modern-issue, current-affairs style texts, including visual/graphic sources, not just literary prose.
• Before drafting Section B, write down the audience and purpose in one sentence each, and check the finished response against both.
• Revise AO1 (reading) and AO2 (writing) together, since Paper 2 tests both in a single, thematically linked paper.
• Do not neglect technical accuracy (W4) under time pressure – it carries equal weight within AO2.

This mirrors how Paper 1’s reading section works, but with a deliberately different register of source material to test breadth of reading skill across genres.

Related resources

• Source-based Reading and Directed Writing revision notes
• Source-based Reading and Directed Writing practice questions

Official syllabus

OxfordAQA International GCSE English Language (9270) specification, Version 4.2 — oxfordaqaexams.org.uk/9270.