Paper 2, Question 2 (Summarise and Compare)...

The question that seems to confuse students alongside Question 4 as there are similarities between them...The main difference to focus on is Question 2 is explicit meaning (SUBJECT ONLY) and Question 4 is implicit meaning (writer's perspectives).

This question is worth 8 marks and approximately 10 minutes of your time (depending on your extra time requirements).

A summary is taking key explicit points from a longer piece of writing so that they key meanings are still communicated. You can take points from anywhere in Source A and Source B that answer the specific question that you have been given in the exam. Remember, it's an English Language exam. It doesn't matter what subject comes up in the exam. It's an unseen exam and cannot be planned for. The skills are always exactly the same whether you like the subject or not: reading for meaning, understanding the story overall, the narrator's opinions and the writer's use of language and structural features.

Paper 2 is always about 2 sources, on 1 subject, from different time periods. We know this going in to the exam room. Learn how to read to identify the subject, the writer's opinions and how they express themselves through words and structures.

Read the question and select 3 key explicit (or implicit - my point isn't to limit a student, but to make it clear for those struggling to see the differences between Questions 2 and 4) points and compare using P.E.E. paragraphs.

Point - 1 clear and relevant point from Source A

Evidence - lots of short quotes

Explain - WHY - the subject overall, the narrator's opinion in your own words (which is the effect on the reader)

Make sure that you focus on interpretation and show differences between the 2 sources in your own words, backed up with quotes from the texts.

Don't paraphrase or just repeat the source without interpreting the information as well - the examiner has read the texts and you haven't told them anything they don't already know. Interpret the texts. Tell the examiner what YOU think in your OWN words. Go beyond the text by showing the examiner you can read, analyse and summarise with your own opinion as you compare 2 sources in a short period of time. Exhaust the why. You must be clear and relevant once to achieve Level 3. Anything vague or not fully explored may be Level 2 - some understanding. Don't move on until you're ready to do so because you can't say anything more on the point you have made. Don't rush, it won't help you. Take your time and be confident in what you have to say because you've revised.