The update does not affect the requirements of the questions. It adds more detail for markers to enhance the standardisation process and improve marking quality. This minor mark scheme amendment aligns the mark schemes for our two GCSEs in English Language and is being implemented to enhance comparability.

The amendment affects the following questions: Paper 1, Writing and Paper 2, Writing. The third bullet in the AO6 mark grid has been replaced with a new first bullet (highlighted below) which provides an overall steer for the evaluation of the response. The purpose is to aid examiners or teachers in selecting a level.

We are also issuing further guidance to our examiners on the marking of writing plans.

The update for 2024 is as follows:

Papers 1 and 2 - Section B, Writing

Writing Plans

The following bullet has been added to the ‘General Marking Guidance’ which precedes each mark scheme:

‘Plans (whether in the planning box provided for writing questions, or in the lined response area of the question paper/answer booklet) should not be marked unless no other response to the question has been provided. This applies whether the plan is crossed out or not.’

The purpose of the addition is to make entirely transparent that examiners do not mark plans unless no other response is provided. If a student writes a plan in the response space and no other response, an examiner will look at the plan against the mark scheme to see if anything in the plan can be rewarded. This is a clarification of existing marking practice.

There will be no changes to the question papers for summer 2024. The requirements for all questions will remain the same as in previous exam series and these are identical to the papers you have used to prepare your students.

Yours sincerely

Lee Seiler
Head of Assessment (UK Qualifications)