2023 AQA IAS-Level English Language (9670) Practice Paper with Answers

To achieve high marks (Level 5, 21-25 marks), candidates should demonstrate: 1. Comparative Analysis: Clear, systematic comparison of the written, planned travel guide (Text A) and the spoken, spontaneous podcast transcript (Text B). Candidates should analyze how the different modes affect language choices. 2. Lexis and Semantics: In Text A, look for highly descriptive, elevated noun phrases ('unparalleled descent', 'multi-hued strata') and metaphorical religious imagery ('nature’s most magnificent cathedrals') to romanticize the landscape. Contrast this with Text B's highly informal, colloquial lexis ('legs were literally like jelly', 'felt like a prune', 'rough'), which demystifies the experience and focuses on personal physical reality. 3. Grammar and Syntax: Text A uses complex sentence structures, passive voice ('hikers are cautioned'), and fronted adverbials ('As you trace...') to construct a cohesive, authoritative narrative. Text B relies on typical spoken grammar: coordination over subordination ('and then', 'and I was'), active voice, tag questions ('wasn't it?'), and ellipsis. 4. Pragmatics and Context: Text A's purpose is to inform and inspire a broad tourist audience with detached, objective expertise. Text B's purpose is to share a subjective, interactive dialogue between friends to entertain and warn listeners of a hiking podcast. The speakers use shared references, backchanneling ('absolutely'), and conversational overlaps to co-construct the narrative.

AO1 (10 marks): Apply systematic linguistic frameworks and terminology. Level 5 (9-10 marks) features highly accurate, sophisticated terminology and elegant structure. Level 3 (5-6 marks) shows consistent, accurate terminology. AO2 (10 marks): Demonstrate critical understanding of language concepts. Level 5 (9-10 marks) shows deep understanding of how language varies by mode (written vs. spoken) and context. Level 3 (5-6 marks) shows sound understanding of general variation. AO3 (5 marks): Analyze and evaluate influence of contextual factors. Level 5 (5 marks) offers insightful analysis of how purpose, audience, and genre shape language choices. Level 3 (3 marks) links language to basic context.

### Model Response:

**LOL or Local? Why We Don't Have to Choose Between Textspeak and Our Roots**

Walk down any school corridor and you will hear a rich tapestry of local slang, regional accents, and vibrant spoken expressions. But open your phone, and a different story emerges. From London to Lagos, Sydney to San Francisco, our screens are dominated by the same uniform digital dialect: 'tbh', 'no cap', and an endless stream of skull emojis. This global 'Textspeak' connects us instantly across borders, but does it come at a cost to our unique regional identities?

Some critics argue that social media is flattening our language, bleaching out the colorful regional dialects that tell us who we are and where we come from. When we rely entirely on standardized internet acronyms, we risk losing the local phrases that carry our history and culture. Furthermore, there is a fear that this rapid-fire, highly informal style of writing is creeping into our essays, damaging our ability to express complex thoughts in formal situations.

However, this view underestimates our linguistic intelligence. Using global textspeak doesn't mean we have to abandon our local roots. In fact, most of us are expert 'code-switchers'. We use quick, visual slang to foster solidarity with a global online community, yet we can easily switch back to our local dialect when chatting with family or friends at home. Far from damaging our communication, digital slang adds another creative layer to our linguistic toolkit. It is fast, expressive, and globally inclusive.

The trick is knowing when and where to deploy these different styles. We don't need to banish textspeak, but we must master the art of linguistic boundary-setting.

Here are three simple tips to keep your writing sharp:
1. **Treat language like fashion:** You wouldn't wear beachwear to a formal interview. Similarly, keep emojis and abbreviations for the group chat, and save your sophisticated vocabulary for the exam hall.
2. **Keep local speech alive:** Don't be afraid to use regional idioms in your creative writing or daily speech. Our unique voices are what stop the world from becoming linguistically boring.
3. **Read widely:** The best way to maintain a strong grip on formal English is to read books, articles, and essays. This naturally reinforces the grammar and structure needed for academic success.

Ultimately, global textspeak is not an enemy to be feared, but a tool to be managed. By valuing our local heritage while embracing global connections, we can become truly bilingual in the modern world.

The maximum mark for this task is 25. The marks are distributed across three Assessment Objectives (AOs) aligned with Oxford AQA International AS Level English Language standards:

### **AO2: Writing for Audience, Purpose, and Form (15 Marks)**
* **Band 5 (13-15 marks):** Sophisticated control of the article format (engaging headline, introductory hook, clear paragraphing, cohesive conclusion). The tone is perfectly judged for a student audience—persuasive, lively, and mature. Arguments are highly convincing and well-structured.
* **Band 4 (10-12 marks):** Clear understanding of the article format. Tone is appropriate for peers, and the writing is persuasive. Structure is logical with smooth transitions between points.
* **Band 3 (7-9 marks):** Some features of an article are present (e.g., a headline or direct address). Tone is generally appropriate but may lapse into being too academic or overly informal. Arguments are straightforward.
* **Band 2 (4-6 marks):** Limited awareness of audience or format. May read like a standard essay rather than an article. Arguments are repetitive or simplistic.
* **Band 1 (1-3 marks):** Minimal focus on the task. Writing is unstructured, and the purpose or audience is unclear.

### **AO1: Synthesis and Use of Source Ideas (5 Marks)**
* **5 marks:** Exceptional synthesis of the tension between global standardized digital communication and regional/formal language. Integrates these concepts seamlessly to build a personal argument.
* **3-4 marks:** Good synthesis of the core debate. Shows a clear understanding of the conflict between internet slang and regional/academic language.
* **1-2 marks:** Basic or superficial mention of the core concepts. Uses terms like 'textspeak' but fails to explore the wider implications of the debate.

### **AO5: Technical Accuracy and Expression (5 Marks)**
* **5 marks:** Virtually flawless spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Expressive, varied, and sophisticated vocabulary.
* **3-4 marks:** Secure spelling and grammar with occasional minor slips. Vocabulary is appropriate and varied.
* **1-2 marks:** Frequent errors in SPaG that occasionally impede communication. Limited range of vocabulary.

An effective response will analyze the language of the transcript by focusing on how roles and relationships are negotiated. / / 1. Institutional vs. Expert Power: / Alex, as the director, has institutional power. They initiate the topic ('okay (.) so we need to get...'), direct questions to specific individuals ('Chloe have you had a chance...'), and make final decisions ('I'll have a word with the treasurer'). However, Chloe possesses 'expert power' based on technical knowledge of the stage. She directly challenges Alex's plan ('to be honest... we can't do the backlighting'). / / 2. Interruption and Dominance: / Chloe interrupts Alex ('[it's just too]') when Alex tries to defend the original plan. This overlap shows Chloe asserting her spatial expertise over Alex's directorial vision. Chloe uses declarative, high-certainty statements ('the physical space isn't there') to establish her authority on the matter. / / 3. Mitigating Conflict and Politeness: / Chloe uses hedges ('to be honest') to soften her disagreement. Alex uses positive politeness and validation ('thank you for highlighting that') to maintain a collaborative team environment and prevent the conflict from becoming personal. / / 4. Participant Roles (Ben): / Ben, as an actor, occupies a lower position in the meeting's hierarchy. He enters the conversation apologetically ('uh sorry (.) can I just ask?'), using tentative language and rising intonation (questioning). Alex quickly assumes a protective, authoritative role to reassure him ('no no (.) we won't let that happen', 'Ben don't worry'). / / 5. Turn-Taking and Discourse Markers: / Alex uses agenda-setting discourse markers ('okay (.) so') to manage the structure of the meeting. The transition from conflict to resolution is marked by Alex's acceptance ('right (.) okay') and action-oriented plan.

AO1 (10 marks): Apply appropriate linguistic methods to analyze spoken language. / - Level 4-5 (7-10 marks): Outstanding/Excellent analysis of spoken features (overlaps, pauses, epistemic/deontic modality, turn-taking, discourse markers, face-saving). Cohesive and precise terminology. / - Level 2-3 (4-6 marks): Sound/Good analysis of spoken features. Some accurate terminology but may be descriptive in parts. / - Level 1 (1-3 marks): Minimal/Basic identification of conversation features with little systematic analysis. / / AO2 (15 marks): Demonstrate critical understanding of how language choices shape and are shaped by social contexts and groups. / - Level 4-5 (10-15 marks): Sophisticated evaluation of power dynamics (institutional vs. expert power), face management, and social roles within a collaborative setting. Application of relevant theories (e.g., Fairclough on power, Brown and Levinson on politeness, Koester on workplace discourse). / - Level 2-3 (5-9 marks): Competent discussion of roles and relationships. Understands who has authority and how they express it, but with less theoretical integration. / - Level 1 (1-4 marks): Limited awareness of social context; basic summaries of what the participants are saying without exploring social roles.

To structure a high-level response, students should address both sides of the prompt with relevant linguistic theories and examples:

### 1. Arguments supporting the view that occupational language is functional and cooperative:
* **John Swales (1990) - Discourse Communities:** Swales defines a discourse community as having a broadly agreed set of common public goals, mechanisms of intercommunication, and its own specific lexis. In this view, jargon is not meant to exclude, but is a necessary shorthand that allows members to communicate complex ideas rapidly and precisely (e.g., medical shorthand like 'SOB' for shortness of breath, or legal terms like 'tort').
* **Almut Koester (2004) - Workplace Phatic Talk:** Language in the workplace is not just transactional; it is also relational. Workplace slang and idiom establish interpersonal solidarity, making collaborative work more effective.
* **Howard Giles - Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT):** Convergence within a professional group fosters rapport and group identity. When professionals use shared jargon, they are accommodating to each other to enhance team cohesion.

### 2. Arguments supporting the view that occupational language is exclusionary and power-driven:
* **Drew and Heritage (1993) - Institutional Talk:** They identify asymmetrical power relationships in institutional settings (e.g., doctor-patient, lawyer-client interactions). The professional holds the linguistic 'capital' and uses specialized lexis (jargon) that the layperson does not understand, maintaining control and authority over the exchange.
* **Giles' CAT (Divergence):** Professionals may use specialized language to deliberately diverge from a layperson's register. This serves to emphasize professional distance, build prestige, or shield a profession from scrutiny (often referred to as 'legalese' or 'bureaucratese').
* **Plain English Campaign:** This movement highlights how jargon is frequently used to obfuscate truth and confuse the public, arguing that clear, accessible communication should replace unnecessary occupational complexity.

### Conclusion:
Rather than being a simple tool for exclusion, occupational language is highly context-dependent. Its primary linguistic driver is functional efficiency within the 'in-group' (the discourse community), but when used in 'out-group' interactions, it often transforms—either intentionally or unintentionally—into a barrier that excludes and disempowers outsiders.

This essay is assessed out of 25 marks, split across two Assessment Objectives:

### AO1: Apply linguistic analysis systematically to clarify how language is used and how it varies (10 marks)
* **Level 5 (9-10 marks):** Systematic, highly perceptive analysis of occupational language. Uses precise, sophisticated linguistic terminology (e.g., jargon, argot, legalese, phatic talk, asymmetrical power relationships). Exemplary control of expression and essay structure.
* **Level 4 (7-8 marks):** Clear, methodical analysis of linguistic features associated with different occupations. Accurate use of terminology with a well-structured argument.
* **Level 3 (5-6 marks):** Consistent analysis of occupational texts/examples, but terminology may be inconsistent or descriptive rather than analytical.
* **Level 2 (3-4 marks):** Generalized discussion of occupational language with few specific linguistic features identified. Structure may be loose.
* **Level 1 (1-2 marks):** Minimal linguistic analysis; heavily reliant on anecdotal evidence or generalized assertions.

### AO2: Demonstrate critical understanding of concepts and issues in linguistics (15 marks)
* **Level 5 (13-15 marks):** Exceptional critical evaluation of the prompt's premise. Synthesizes a wide range of relevant sociolinguistic theories (e.g., Swales' Discourse Communities, Drew & Heritage, Giles' CAT) and evaluates the tension between inclusion/efficiency and exclusion/power with sophistication.
* **Level 4 (10-12 marks):** Strong, critical understanding of sociolinguistic issues surrounding occupational language. Good integration of relevant theorists/studies to support a balanced discursive argument.
* **Level 3 (7-9 marks):** Clear understanding of linguistic concepts (such as jargon and power). Includes reference to some theories/studies, though the discussion may feel more list-like than fully integrated.
* **Level 2 (4-6 marks):** Basic awareness of occupational language concepts, but lacks theoretical depth or presents a highly one-sided argument without critical evaluation.
* **Level 1 (1-3 marks):** Minimal understanding of linguistic concepts. Relying on simple, everyday definitions of 'slang' or 'jargon' without academic context.