Selecting and Synthesising Evidence

OCR

GCSE

Candidates must demonstrate the capacity to retrieve and interpret explicit and implicit data from distinct non-fiction sources. The assessment demands the aggregation of thematic links and the precise selection of textual evidence to address a specific focus. Mastery involves synthesizing these findings into a cohesive, fluent summary that interprets nuances rather than merely listing quotations. This skill discriminates between candidates who mechanically match keywords and those who understand the cumulative weight of evidence across texts.

Objectives

Exam Tips

Pitfalls

Key Terms

Mark Points

What You Need to Demonstrate

Key skills and knowledge for this topic

Award marks for the selection of a wide range of relevant details from both Text A and Text B that directly address the question focus.
Credit responses that demonstrate a secure understanding of implicit meanings and nuances, not just surface-level retrieval.
Look for evidence of 'reshaping' material: candidates must articulate ideas in their own words rather than relying on extensive lifting or quotation.
Ensure the response remains strictly focused on content (AO1); do not credit language analysis (AO2) or comparison of writers' perspectives (AO3) in this specific question.

Marking Points

Key points examiners look for in your answers

Award marks for the selection of a wide range of relevant details from both Text A and Text B that directly address the question focus.
Credit responses that demonstrate a secure understanding of implicit meanings and nuances, not just surface-level retrieval.
Look for evidence of 'reshaping' material: candidates must articulate ideas in their own words rather than relying on extensive lifting or quotation.
Ensure the response remains strictly focused on content (AO1); do not credit language analysis (AO2) or comparison of writers' perspectives (AO3) in this specific question.

Examiner Tips

Expert advice for maximising your marks

💡Allocate strictly 15-20 minutes for this 15-mark question to ensure sufficient time for the higher-weighted comparison and writing tasks.
💡Adopt a 'Concept-Evidence-Evidence' structure: identify a shared theme or point, then support it with details from Text A and Text B within the same paragraph.
💡Read the question stem carefully to identify the specific focus (e.g., 'the challenges faced'); ignore information that does not strictly adhere to this focus.
💡Use connective phrases like 'Similarly,' 'In addition,' or 'Furthermore' to weave details together fluently, but avoid comparative analysis phrases like 'The writer uses...'.

Common Mistakes

Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

Confusing synthesis with comparison; discussing similarities/differences in writers' methods rather than combining factual information.
Wasting time analyzing language features (e.g., metaphors, sentence structure), which receives zero credit in Question 2.
Failing to use both texts, which automatically caps the mark at the top of Level 2 (maximum 6 marks).
Quoting excessively long sections of text without interpreting or synthesizing the information into a coherent summary.

Key Terminology

Essential terms to know

Reading skill: retrieval of explicit and implicit information (AO1)

Reading skill: synthesis and summary of evidence from multiple sources

Reading skill: interpretation of nuance and subtext

Writing skill: cohesive integration of textual references

Likely Command Words

How questions on this topic are typically asked

Synthesise

Use details from both texts

Compare

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