Here is a mock practice paper for AQA GCSE English Language Paper 1, with answer guidance and marking schemes to help you prepare your students:
Section A: Reading Comprehension (30 marks)
Part 1: Reading Short Texts (15 marks)
Read the following three short texts carefully. For each text, answer the questions that follow.
Text 1: A Magazine Article
The Benefits of Meditation
Are you feeling stressed or overwhelmed? Do you struggle to sleep or find it hard to concentrate? Meditation could be just what you need. Meditation is a simple technique that involves focusing your mind and ignoring distractions. Regular meditation can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve your mood and even boost your immune system.
Question 1
What does the article suggest meditation can help with?
A) Only improving your mood
B) Only reducing stress and anxiety
C) Many of the issues mentioned, including stress and anxiety
D) None of the issues mentioned
Answer: C) Many of the issues mentioned, including stress and anxiety
Question 2
What does the article describe meditation as?
A) A complicated technique
B) A simple technique
C) A physical discipline
D) A mental workout
Answer: B) A simple technique
Text 2: A Product Review
The New Smartphone
The new smartphone from XYZ Corporation is a must-have gadget for anyone who loves technology. With its sleek design and advanced features, this phone is sure to impress. The camera is particularly impressive, with high-quality images and video recording capabilities. The battery life is also excellent, lasting for several days on a single charge.
Question 3
What does the reviewer particularly praise about the phone?
A) Its design
B) Its camera and video recording capabilities
C) Its battery life
D) Its advanced features overall
Answer: B) Its camera and video recording capabilities
Text 3: A Report on a Historical Event
The First Landing on the Moon
On July 20, 1969, NASA's Apollo 11 mission made history by landing the first humans on the moon. The mission, led by astronaut Neil Armstrong, took four days to reach the moon after launching from Cape Canaveral in Florida. Armstrong and his colleague Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin spent 21 hours on the moon's surface before returning to Earth.
Question 4
How long did the Apollo 11 mission take to reach the moon?
A) One day
B) Two days
C) Four days
D) Seven days
Answer: C) Four days
Part 2: Reading Long Text (15 marks)
Read the following passage carefully. For each question, answer the question that follows.
Text: A Speech by Martin Luther King Jr.
I Have a Dream
"…I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I have a dream that my husband and I will be able to get a job… that we will be able to earn a good wage… that we will be able to live in a decent home… and that we will be able to join together, you and me, and John, and Bobby, and Diana, and Dick, and Jane, and in that great, glorious moment…"
"…Let freedom ring. When we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing… in the words of the old Negro spiritual: 'Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, Free at last!'"
Question 5
What is Martin Luther King Jr. dreaming of for his children?
A) A world where they will be judged by their skin color
B) A world where they will be judged by the content of their character
C) A world where they will be rich and famous
D) A world where they will be powerful and influential
Answer: B) A world where they will be judged by the content of their character
Question 6
What does Martin Luther King Jr. mean by "Let freedom ring"?
A) Let freedom be limited to certain groups
B) Let freedom be a concept achievable only by certain individuals
C) Let freedom be a reality that is achieved by all people
D) Let freedom be a myth that no longer exists
Answer: C) Let freedom be a reality that is achieved by all people
Section B: Writing (30 marks)
Part 1: Short Question (10 marks)
Answer the following question in about 30 words.
Question 7
Write a few sentences to describe a situation where you have felt overwhelmed or stressed. How did you cope with these feelings?
Answer: (Example answer) "Recently, I felt overwhelmed by a heavy school workload. I coped by prioritizing tasks, taking regular breaks, and talking to my friends and family for support."
