This week, we are publishing two Paper 1 exemplars from the May 2023 time zone 2 exam. One of the exemplars is quite strong.  The other model example is a typical or average response.  While we can’t publish the exam paper, you can find a link to The Guardian article here. 

We are also publishing a lesson plan using both exemplars.  The first part of that lesson asks students to have a big, broad discussion about these two new Paper 1s (a debate about which is better).  The 2^nd part of the lesson is a granular sentence level analysis of the responses.  The goal of both lessons is to help students move beyond description and empty statements and into heightened interpretation of the text and analysis of the writer’s choices. 

We’ve been thinking hard about how to support students with their writing.  This is the third time we have published a sentence level worksheet that asks students to compare and contrast sentences from model examples.  The first is from the May 2023 Paper 1 (Cycling) exam.  The second is from the May 2023 Paper 2 (Question 4) exam.  It is our sincere goal that student writing will be elevated after thinking critically about what makes a good sentence.  However, as with anything we publish, please modify, cut, or extend whatever you see fit to meet the needs of your students in your context.   

New Pages – Two Exemplars and a Lesson Plan

Best,

Tim and David