GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE — Actual June 2025 PAST PAPER: Exploring Effects and
Impact All Assessment Questions & Mark Scheme [OCR J351/02]
Exam Resource Summary
The GCSE (9–1) English Language June 2025 Exploring Effects and Impact Paper (OCR J351/02)
merges the full official examination paper with its detailed mark scheme to provide a
comprehensive and practical revision resource. This paper assesses students’ ability to analyse how
writers use language, structure, and stylistic techniques to create effects and impact on readers
across a variety of texts. Candidates are expected to evaluate meaning, comment on writer intent,
and support interpretations with textual evidence. By presenting each question alongside its
marking criteria, the resource clarifies examiner expectations, highlights the analytical and
evaluative skills required for high-band responses, and guides learners in producing precise, well-
structured answers. This integrated format strengthens critical reading and analytical skills, supports
focused revision, and prepares students thoroughly for the 2026 OCR GCSE English Language
Exploring Effects and Impact examination.
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
, 2
Section A
Reading meaning and effects
You should spend about 1 hour on this section.
Question 1 is about Text 1, The Calcutta Chromosome by Amitav Ghosh.
1 Look at lines 1–4.
(a) Give three phrases from these lines that show Phulboni’s actions when he is on the rail track.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
3 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[3]
(b) Explain why the rail is shaking.
..........................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................. [1]
© OCR 2025
, 3
Question 2 is about Text 1, The Calcutta Chromosome by Amitav Ghosh.
2 Look at lines 5–13.
How does Amitav Ghosh use language and structure to show Phulboni working out what is
happening?
You should use relevant subject terminology to support your answer. [6]
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
© OCR 2025 Turn over
, 4
Question 3 is about Text 2, The Whirlpool Rapids by Margaret Atwood.
3 Look at lines 14–30.
Explore how Margaret Atwood uses language and structure to describe what happened to Emma.
Support your ideas by using relevant subject terminology. [12]
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
© OCR 2025
Impact All Assessment Questions & Mark Scheme [OCR J351/02]
Exam Resource Summary
The GCSE (9–1) English Language June 2025 Exploring Effects and Impact Paper (OCR J351/02)
merges the full official examination paper with its detailed mark scheme to provide a
comprehensive and practical revision resource. This paper assesses students’ ability to analyse how
writers use language, structure, and stylistic techniques to create effects and impact on readers
across a variety of texts. Candidates are expected to evaluate meaning, comment on writer intent,
and support interpretations with textual evidence. By presenting each question alongside its
marking criteria, the resource clarifies examiner expectations, highlights the analytical and
evaluative skills required for high-band responses, and guides learners in producing precise, well-
structured answers. This integrated format strengthens critical reading and analytical skills, supports
focused revision, and prepares students thoroughly for the 2026 OCR GCSE English Language
Exploring Effects and Impact examination.
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
, 2
Section A
Reading meaning and effects
You should spend about 1 hour on this section.
Question 1 is about Text 1, The Calcutta Chromosome by Amitav Ghosh.
1 Look at lines 1–4.
(a) Give three phrases from these lines that show Phulboni’s actions when he is on the rail track.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
3 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[3]
(b) Explain why the rail is shaking.
..........................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................. [1]
© OCR 2025
, 3
Question 2 is about Text 1, The Calcutta Chromosome by Amitav Ghosh.
2 Look at lines 5–13.
How does Amitav Ghosh use language and structure to show Phulboni working out what is
happening?
You should use relevant subject terminology to support your answer. [6]
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
© OCR 2025 Turn over
, 4
Question 3 is about Text 2, The Whirlpool Rapids by Margaret Atwood.
3 Look at lines 14–30.
Explore how Margaret Atwood uses language and structure to describe what happened to Emma.
Support your ideas by using relevant subject terminology. [12]
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
© OCR 2025
