GCSE English Language - Unit 4 - Personal or Creative Writing and Reading Literary and Non-fiction Texts - GEN41

Sep 5, 2026

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GCSE English Language November 2022 Unit 4 (GEN41) provides exam instructions, timing guidance, and marking breakdown for a combined writing and reading assessment. Section A requires one task (personal writing speech on a treasured possession or creative story for a young-adult audience). Section B asks for comparative reading of two novel extracts, focusing on how writers create an uncomfortable atmosphere using evidence from both texts.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages18

Reading Time45 min

AccessFree to download

Section A: Personal or Creative Writing

Task 1

Section B: Reading Literary and Non-fiction Texts

Task 2

Tasks 3

General Certificate of Secondary Education November 2022 Centre Number | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | Candidate Number | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | English Language Unit 4 Personal or Creative Writing and Reading Literary and Non-fiction Texts *GEN41* [GEN41] *GEN41* MONDAY 28 NOVEMBER, MORNING TIME 1 hour 45 minutes. INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES Write your Centre Number and Candidate Number in the spaces provided at the top of this page. You must complete the tasks in the spaces provided. Do not write outside the boxed area on each page or on blank pages. Complete in black ink only. Do not write with a gel pen. Complete four tasks: one task in Section A and the three tasks in Section B. If needed, you can ask for Supplementary Answer Sheets. INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES The total mark for this paper is 150. Section A (Writing) One task marked out of 88 marks. Spend 55 minutes on this section. Section B (Reading) Three tasks marked out of 62 marks. Spend 50 minutes on this section. This paper contains an insert for use with Task 2. Pay attention to the suggested timings shown at the beginning of each task; these will enable you to complete all the tasks within the time limit. Figures in brackets printed at the end of each task indicate the marks available. Examiners can only credit what they can read. Keep your work legible. 13513 *16GEN4101* *16GEN4101* | | Section A: Personal or Creative Writing
Task 1: Spend 55 minutes on your response. Mark allocation: 88 marks
Up to 58 marks are available for an organised piece of personal or creative writing that matches form with purpose to engage the specified audience.
Up to 30 marks are available for the use of a range of sentence structures and accuracy in spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Complete only one task.
EITHER | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | (a) Personal writing: Write a speech for your classmates describing a treasured possession, explaining why it is important to you.
OR
(b) Creative writing: Write a story for entry in a creative writing competition. The audience is young adults. The picture below is to be the basis for your writing. You may provide your own title. | | | | | 13513 | | | | *16GEN4102* *16GEN4102* You are advised to spend: • 15 minutes thinking and planning your response • 30 minutes writing the response • 10 minutes checking your response Planning space: 13513 [Turn over *16GEN4103* *16GEN4103* | |
EITHER | | | --- | --- | --- | | (a) Personal writing: Write a speech for your classmates describing a treasured possession, explaining why it is important to you.
| | | | 13513 | | | *16GEN4104* *16GEN4104* | | | | --- | --- | | | | | 13513 | [Turn over

| *16GEN4105* *16GEN4105* | | | | --- | --- | |
[88]
13513 | | *16GEN4106* *16GEN4106* | | OR
(b) Creative writing: Write a story for entry in a creative writing competition.
The audience is young adults.
The picture on page 2 is to be the basis for your writing. You may provide your own title. | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | 13513 | | [Turn over

| | *16GEN4107* *16GEN4107* | | | | --- | --- | | | | | 13513 | | *16GEN4108* *16GEN4108* | | | | --- | --- | |
[88] | | | 13513 | [Turn over

| *16GEN4109* *16GEN4109* | | Section B: Reading Literary and Non-fiction Texts
Three tasks: 50 minutes. Mark allocation: 62 marks
Reading Literary Texts
Task 2: Spend 26 minutes reading both texts (see insert) and responding to this task. Total 32 marks
Texts A and B are extracts from two novels.
Compare and contrast how the writers have created an uncomfortable atmosphere. Present supporting evidence from both texts.
| | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 13513 | | | | *16GEN4110* *16GEN4110*

FAQs

What are the two options for Task 1 in Section A?

Task 1 offers either personal writing: write a speech describing a treasured possession, or creative writing: write a story for a creative writing competition for a young-adult audience.

How should candidates approach Section B Task 2?

Candidates read both provided texts from the insert and respond by comparing and contrasting how the writers create an uncomfortable atmosphere, using supporting evidence from both texts.

What are the time limits for Section A and Section B?

Section A (Writing) is allocated 55 minutes, and Section B (Reading) is allocated 50 minutes.

Sep 5, 2026

Upload by Quinn