Using a range of vocabulary

    OCR
    GCSE

    Proficiency in vocabulary usage is a dual-faceted requirement, necessitating both the perceptive analysis of a writer's lexical choices (AO2) and the conscious deployment of sophisticated terminology in original writing (AO5/AO6). Candidates must demonstrate the ability to deconstruct semantic fields, connotations, and register to evaluate how language shapes meaning in unseen texts. Simultaneously, high-tariff writing responses demand the selection of ambitious, precise vocabulary to establish tone, construct atmosphere, and manipulate the reader's response with intentionality.

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    Objectives
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    Exam Tips
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    Pitfalls
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    Key Terms
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    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Award marks in Writing (AO6) for the conscious deployment of ambitious vocabulary that enhances the intended tone (e.g., 'melancholic' rather than 'sad').
    • Credit Reading responses (AO2) that analyse the specific connotations of a writer's lexical choices, rather than merely identifying the word class.
    • Reward Writing responses (AO5) that sustain a consistent register appropriate to the specified audience and form, avoiding jarring colloquialisms unless deliberate.
    • Differentiate Level 5/6 responses by the precision of vocabulary; words must be used correctly in context, not just inserted for complexity.

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Award marks in Writing (AO6) for the conscious deployment of ambitious vocabulary that enhances the intended tone (e.g., 'melancholic' rather than 'sad').
    • Credit Reading responses (AO2) that analyse the specific connotations of a writer's lexical choices, rather than merely identifying the word class.
    • Reward Writing responses (AO5) that sustain a consistent register appropriate to the specified audience and form, avoiding jarring colloquialisms unless deliberate.
    • Differentiate Level 5/6 responses by the precision of vocabulary; words must be used correctly in context, not just inserted for complexity.

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡Memorise three sophisticated synonyms for common emotions (fear, joy, anger) to elevate narrative writing instantly.
    • 💡In Reading (AO2), zoom in on single words within a quotation to explore alternative interpretations or double meanings.
    • 💡During the 5-minute proofreading window, actively scan for repeated words and substitute them to demonstrate range.
    • 💡Use vocabulary to create 'show, don't tell' imagery; describe the 'corrosive rust' rather than just saying the gate was 'old'.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Suffering from 'Thesaurus Syndrome': replacing simple words with complex synonyms that are contextually incorrect (e.g., using 'loquacious' to describe a quiet room).
    • Repeating basic adjectives (e.g., 'good', 'bad', 'scary') throughout a narrative, limiting the AO6 mark to Level 2 or 3.
    • In Reading analysis, stating that a word 'makes the reader want to read on' without explaining the specific semantic impact of that word.
    • Failing to adapt vocabulary to the form; using formal academic language in a task requiring a lively magazine article voice.

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

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