📖 The One Word That Tells the Examiner You Are Evaluating
📖 The One Word That Tells the Examiner You Are Evaluating
Q4 on AQA English Language Paper 1 is an evaluation question. It asks you to judge whether the writer has achieved something. Most students answer it as a language analysis question and cap themselves at Level 3.
The difference is one word. “The writer uses a metaphor here.” is analysis. “The writer successfully uses a metaphor here.” is evaluation. That single adverb tells the examiner you are making a judgement about craft — not just identifying what is there. It is the Q4 signal, and without it, your answer stays in analysis mode regardless of how sharp the rest of it is.
English Language glossary
- What are evaluation verbs and why are they required for Q4?
- <strong>Evaluation verbs</strong> are adverbs and verb phrases that signal a judgement about how well a writer achieved something: <em>successfully, skilfully, convincingly, effectively, powerfully, subtly, vividly, economically</em>.<br><br><strong>Why Q4 requires them:</strong> Q4 asks you to evaluate the writer’s craft — to judge <em>how effectively</em> language was used, not just describe what it does. Analysis names technique and effect. Evaluation judges whether and why the technique worked. Without evaluation verbs, an answer stays in analysis mode and caps at Level 3.<br><br><em>The rule:</em> every evaluation verb should be followed by a reason. “Successfully” without an explanation of why is an assertion, not an evaluation.
Evaluation verbs are adverbs and verb phrases that signal you are judging the effectiveness of the writer’s craft rather than describing it. The core vocabulary is: successfully, skilfully, convincingly, effectively, powerfully, compellingly, subtly, vividly, deliberately, economically.
Now try it yourself
Quiz · Question 1 of 12
Which of the following sentences evaluates rather than just analyses?
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