English Language GCSE is flipping hard

[woesofme]

Just been through a past paper with DD and I could barely answer any of it. She’s doing Edexcel board. DD is trying to reassure me that she’ll be fine but I’m really worried now. Don’t know what I’m asking really but wondering if anyone has any advice on answering questions 3 and 4.

Accolade press guides are exactly what you're looking for. Pricey but we got DD every single one she needs and they've been god sent.

OP, can you post some examples of Qus 3 and 4?

I bet if you push her, your DD will have some hand outs from her teacher somewhere saying exactly what is required for each individual question on both papers.

Mr Bruff (you tube) is your friend :)

You found it hard - you have not been taught for it.
Your daughter has reassured you - she has been taught for it.
Why does it matter that you could hardly answer any of it?

Agree with @Testina it's not really important whether you could do it or not, is it? I would have struggled with my kids' physics exams.

Does your dd know what to do? I know AQA better than edexcel but I imagine there is a similar requirement to discuss certain aspects and use specific terminology for the various questions. Your dd will have been taught how to answer the questions. You can always look at the mark scheme online.

Hi!
I get what you're saying. Maybe try learning from the mark schemes and then the examiner's reports. Every year, the questions are similar and they "check" the same skills

Is there a particular reason why you're going through past papers with her? Not being snippy, but she's doing GCSEs. All other things being equal, I doubt sitting with a parent who is saying "this is difficult, I can't do this" is going to be helpful.

PPS are correct. The kids have been prepared for the exam. The parents presumably did different exams.
My daughter did completely different maths from me. I wouldn't have had a clue.

Maybe unsurprisingly, the student will already know to do this, and will have been doing it at school for the last few months hopefully. They'll know which questions/type of questions come up regularly and how to answer them.

Another vote for Mr Bruff. He got my DS1 from a 6ish on a good day to an 8 for his final grade. I watched the videos with him and forced encouraged him to work through all the exercises. It was a pretty painful couple of hours, but once you have ‘cracked the code’ of what each question is asking for, it becomes formulaic.