Understanding Question 3 of Paper 1

Quick reference overview

What Question 3 looks like

This question focuses on how the writer uses structural features to create a specific effect across the entire source text in Paper 1. Unlike Question 2, which zooms in on language in a specific section, Question 3 requires you to consider the text as a whole and explore how its organisation and progression contribute to an effect like tension, suspense, or interest. Below is an example of the updated format reflecting changes for exams from 2026 onwards.

You now need to think about the whole of the source.

This text is from the beginning of a novel.

How has the writer structured the text to create tension?

You could write about:

• how tension has increased or decreased by the end of the source
• how the writer uses structure to create an effect
• the writer's use of any other structural features, such as changes in mood, tone or perspective.

[8 marks]

Key things to understand about this question

• "The whole of the source" means you must consider the text from start to finish, not just a specific section.
• "Specific effect" means the question will name a particular impact (e.g., tension, suspense, mystery) that you must focus on in your analysis.
• The bullet points guide you to think about how the effect develops over the text and to consider broader structural techniques.

What is being assessed?

Assessment Objective 2 (AO2)

This question tests your ability to:

• Explain how writers use structural features.
• Comment on the effects these choices have on the reader.
• Analyse why writers structure the text in a particular way to achieve a specific impact.

The focus is on how the organisation and progression of the text influence the reader's experience, especially in relation to the specified effect.

The difference between language and structure

For Question 3, avoid discussing language techniques unless they directly relate to a structural point (e.g., a shift in tone achieved through language).

Key structural features to identify and analyse

Structural features are the ways a writer organises and sequences a text to guide the reader's experience. Below is a quick reference guide to common structural features you can look for in the source text.

Structural techniques

When analysing structure, always link the feature to the specific effect named in the question (e.g., how a cliffhanger creates tension).

How to approach Question 3

You should spend approximately 10-12 minutes on this question.

Step-by-step approach

Follow the steps below to structure your response effectively.

Step 1: Read the question and identify the effect (1 minute)

• Note the specific effect you're analysing (e.g., tension, suspense, interest).
• Keep this focus in mind as you consider the text.

Step 2: Skim the whole source text (2 minutes)

• Quickly reread the text to refresh your memory of its progression.
• Think about how the effect develops from start to finish (e.g., does tension build gradually or peak suddenly?).

Step 3: Annotate key structural features (2 minutes)

• Identify 3-4 structural features that contribute to the specified effect.
• Consider openings, endings, shifts, pacing, or cliffhangers.
• Make brief notes on how each feature impacts the reader.

Step 4: Plan your response (1 minute)

• Decide the order of your points (e.g., chronological order through the text or most impactful feature first).
• Ensure each point links directly to the specified effect.

Step 5: Write your analysis (5-6 minutes)

Write 3-4 short paragraphs, each focusing on a different structural feature. Use this structure for each paragraph:

• Point - Name the structural feature and where it occurs in the text.
• Evidence - Refer to the specific moment or section (no need for direct quotes unless relevant).
• Explain - Describe how it contributes to the effect.
• Develop - Explore why this works and its deeper impact on the reader.

Step 6: Quick check (1 minute)

• Ensure all points relate to the whole text and the specified effect.
• Confirm you've focused on structure, not language.

How much to write

Aim for 3-4 concise paragraphs covering different structural features. A strong response might fill around one side of A4, prioritising detailed analysis over length. Focus on quality, not quantity.

The mark scheme levels explained

The mark scheme for Question 3 has four levels, reflecting different qualities of analysis.

Main differences between levels

• Depth of analysis - Exploring how and why structure creates the effect (Level 4) vs basic identification (Level 1).
• Focus on effect - Directly linking to the specified effect (Level 3-4) vs general comments (Level 1-2).
• Precision of references - Specific moments or sections (Level 4) vs vague mentions (Level 1-2).

Worked example

Below is a practice question with an extract, followed by model responses at Level 2 and Level 4, along with examiner commentary.

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Question and extract

This extract is from the beginning of a novel. A young man, Daniel, is exploring a remote forest at dusk.

Daniel had never seen a forest so dense. The trees pressed close, their branches knitting together to block out the last of the daylight. He adjusted his backpack, feeling the weight of his decision to come here alone. Every step crunched on unseen twigs, the sound sharp against the unnatural stillness. Why was it so quiet? No birds, no rustle of small creatures - just his own uneven breathing.

Halfway along the path, the air grew colder. He stopped, noticing a faint carving on a tree trunk - an arrow, scratched deep, pointing deeper into the woods. His stomach tightened. Someone had been here, or something. He glanced back, but the path behind was already swallowed by shadow. There was no choice but to press on.

By the time he reached a clearing, his torch was flickering. The space was empty except for a single stone in the centre, unnaturally smooth, almost polished. It didn't belong here. As he stepped closer, a low hum started - not from the stone, but from the trees themselves, vibrating through the ground. His torch died. Darkness rushed in, and with it, the suffocating sense that he was no longer alone.

You now need to think about the whole of the source.

This text is from the beginning of a novel.

How has the writer structured the text to create tension?

You could write about:

• how tension has increased or decreased by the end of the source
• how the writer uses structure to create an effect
• the writer's use of any other structural features, such as changes in mood, tone or perspective.

[8 marks]

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Level 2 response (3-4 marks)

The writer structures the text to create tension by starting with Daniel being alone in a dark forest. This makes the reader feel worried for him because forests can be dangerous and he doesn't have anyone to help him. The opening sets a creepy mood which adds to the tension a bit.

There is also a shift when he sees the carving on the tree. This makes things more tense because it shows someone else has been there, and it's a bit scary not knowing who or what made it. This happens in the middle of the extract and keeps the reader interested.

At the end, the tension increases with the torch going out. This is a cliffhanger because it leaves Daniel in the dark, and we don't know what will happen next. It makes the reader feel nervous for him because he can't see anything and might be in danger.

Why this is Level 2

• Shows some understanding of structural features (opening, shift, cliffhanger).
• Attempts to comment on tension, but explanations are general ("makes the reader feel worried").
• Points lack detailed development or precise analysis of how structure builds tension.
• Focuses somewhat on events rather than structural choices.
• References to the text are present but not specific enough to show deeper insight.

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Level 4 response (7-8 marks)

The writer crafts tension through a carefully structured progression from unease to outright dread across the text. The opening plunges the reader directly into an oppressive setting with Daniel isolated in a dense forest where "trees pressed close". This immediate immersion into a confined, lightless space establishes a claustrophobic tone, creating an early sense of vulnerability. The reader is positioned alongside Daniel, sharing his uncertainty in this hostile environment, which sets a foundation of tension from the outset.

A pivotal structural shift occurs midway as the discovery of the carved arrow introduces an external threat. Positioned at a literal and narrative crossroads, this moment marks a transition from internal doubt to concrete evidence of another presence. The deliberate placement of this revelation after the initial stillness amplifies tension, as it shatters the illusion of solitude and suggests something (or someone) is guiding or luring Daniel deeper. This shift forces the reader to reassess the safety of the space, heightening anticipation of danger.

Pacing plays a crucial role in intensifying tension as the text progresses. Early paragraphs linger on sensory details like the "crunch" of twigs and "unnatural stillness", slowing the narrative to mirror Daniel's cautious movement and build suspense through delayed action. In contrast, the final paragraph accelerates with rapid, compounding events (the torch flickering, the hum starting, and darkness rushing in). This sudden shift to a faster pace mirrors a loss of control, overwhelming the reader with the same panic Daniel experiences as tension peaks.

The text concludes with a powerful cliffhanger, structured to leave the reader in a state of unresolved dread. The final line, with "darkness rushed in" and the sense that Daniel is "no longer alone", cuts off just as the threat becomes tangible. This abrupt ending, paired with the earlier foreshadowing of an unknown presence via the carving, ensures tension is at its highest by the close. The reader is left desperate for resolution, mirroring Daniel's entrapment in uncertainty and amplifying the emotional impact of the structure.

Why this is Level 4

• Demonstrates perceptive and detailed understanding of structural features (opening, shift, pacing, cliffhanger).
• Analyses how and why these features create tension with precision.
• Points are well-supported with specific references to moments in the text.
• Explores deeper impacts on the reader, linking structural choices to emotional responses ("overwhelming the reader with the same panic").
• Maintains consistent focus on the specified effect of tension throughout.
• Shows sophisticated insight into the writer's intent and the cumulative effect of structural progression.

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Comparison: What separates the levels?