Preparing for the GCSE Nonfiction Language paper

It is clear from working with GCSE students to prepare for their language exams, that many don’t know how to revise for these. Some struggle to come up with ideas about the issues they have to write about.

Below is a list of potential exam questions below. They are all on the subjects of the environment, education, sport, ethics and culture as these tend to be topics the exam boards focus on, as they think teenagers will have an opinion about them. Even thinking about and discussing each of them with friends or family would be helpful, but I would suggest doing the following for each:

a) Think of 3 arguments to support your idea

b) Think of one counterargument that someone may make to object to your ideas and how you would smash it.

c) Come up with an example for each of the AFORESTPIER (rhetorical) techniques that you could use in this response.

One has been completed as an example:

Question: Write the text of a speech for a debate at your school or college council in which you persuade young people to take more responsibility for protecting the environment.

a) Students could recycle more at home and in school

Students could aim to walk more to reduce carbon emissions instead of being driven

Students could ensure devices in the home are switched off

b) Some may say that these small actions won’t have any global effect; they are wrong as, if everyone did them, the combined effect would be substantial.

c)

*Facts and statistics can be made up

If you want to practise writing the full response, this would be worthwhile. Your teacher should be happy to mark any work you do but, if not, use my marking service.

Practice Questions

1. “Our exam system causes too much stress to young people. It is outdated and needs a huge rethink.” Write a letter to the Minister of Education in which you explain your point of view about making changes to the exam system.
2. “Too many children use poor excuses to avoid partaking in physical exercise at school. Something needs to be done to make PE more appealing to all students.” Write an article for your school magazine in which you argue your point of view about this statement.
3. “Our society has become too concerned with acquiring more and more material possessions and less interested in taking care of each other.” Write a speech to deliver to your school council in which you persuade them to do more to help disadvantaged people in your community.
4. “Teenagers nowadays are more likely to stay in and play computer games than visit a park, museum or historical site. We need to do more to attract young people back to these cultural activities.” Write a letter to your local council giving your thoughts about this statement.
5. “Schools have become so focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) that children are missing out on creative subjects like Music, Art and Drama. Our society will suffer if we allow this to continue.” Write an article for school website in which you express your point of view on this statement.
6. “Competitive sports are much more important than individual sports.” Write a speech for a school debate giving your point of view about this topic.
7. “The number of families relying on food banks is a disgrace in a developed country like Britain. More should be done to make the cost of living more affordable for all families.” Write a letter to your local MP giving your opinion about this statement.
8. “The number of crimes reported in today’s prison system is rising; the whole system needs a radical change so that prisons are safe places for rehabilitation.” Write an article for a local newspaper in which you express your point of view about this statement.
9. “There is too much pressure on children to conform to traditional norms and standards.” Write a speech to be delivered in your school assembly in which you express your point of view on this subject.
10. “Many school are completely banning mobile phones – every school should follow their lead.” Write a letter to the Minster of Education expressing your point of view on this subject.
11. “There are still too many people eating meat on our planet; we will never slow global warming if we don’t do something about this.” Write an article for your school website expressing your point of view on this subject.
12. “There is a direct correlation between the growth of social media use and the growth of mental health problems in teenagers. We need to reduce children’s access to these platforms.” Write a speech for a school debate in which you express your point of view on this subject.
13. “Travel is the only way to learn about the world” Write an article for a travel magazine in which you express your point of view on this subject.
14. “Antisocial behaviour makes some of our streets threatening to many people.” Write a letter your local councillor giving your point of view on this subject.
15. “Many students struggle to get part time work because they don’t have experience.” Write an article for your local newspaper in which you express your point of view on this subject.