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AQA GCSE English Language – 2025 – Verified Techniques & Literary Devices Guide for Analysis & Writing

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This expertly verified guide provides a comprehensive glossary of literary and language techniques tailored to the AQA GCSE English Language exam for 2025. It is designed to help students accurately identify, analyse, and apply a wide range of devices essential for success in both the reading (Paper 1, Questions 2–4) and writing (Question 5) sections of the exam. The document covers over 40 techniques, from fundamental terms like metaphor, simile, personification, and hyperbole, to more nuanced concepts such as pathetic fallacy, satire, dramatic verbs, idioms, and connotation. Each technique is clearly defined with exam-appropriate explanations, effects, and usage tips, ensuring students understand not just what a technique is—but how and why to use it or analyse it for maximum marks under Assessment Objectives AO2 and AO5. The guide also highlights terms essential for creating strong narrative or descriptive writing, such as emotive language, sensory imagery, direct address, inclusive pronouns, humour, rhetorical questions, repetition, and more. In addition, it includes grammatical terminology such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and figurative devices to support cohesive writing structure. This resource is ideal for: GCSE English Language students preparing for the AQA Paper 1 exam Secondary school candidates aiming for Grade 7–9 performance Private candidates and home-educated learners International school students following a British curriculum Teachers and tutors seeking a verified and exam-aligned terminology reference Students preparing for English courses at institutions including the University of Cambridge, Oxford International College, and others using AQA specifications Keywords: language techniques, literary devices, AQA English, GCSE revision, figurative language, AO2, AO5, writing tools, metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, idiom, satire, direct address, emotive language, rhetorical questions, rule of three, grammar terms, creative writing, exam glossary, 2025 English paper

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Institution
AQA GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Course
AQA GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

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AQA GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
TECHNIQUES 2025 EXPERT VERIFIED |
ACE THE TEST



Personification - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔A type of imagery in which non-human

objects, animals or ideas are given human characteristics.


Imperative (verb) - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔Command word


Anthroporphism - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔Applying human characteristics to an

animal (the opposite is objectification).


Technical language/jargon - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔This is subject-specific lexis,

used to demonstrate a high level of intelligence or knowledge. May be used

to intentionally overwhelm reader or impress well-educated audience.


Metaphor - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔A comparison made without using 'like' or 'as'.

, Inclusive Pronouns - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔These, such as 'you' and 'we', link the

reader and audience together. They create feelings of warmth and empathy

and subtly coerce the reader into feeling they agree with the author's

viewpoint or are at risk from the dangers the author points out.


Simile - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔A comparison using 'like' or 'as' to create a vivid

image.


Analogy - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔This is similar to a simile - something is compared

to something else IN ORDER to prove a point about the first thing. E.g. 'Not

implementing electoral reform would be like handcuffing people and

confiscating their ballots before they entered the polling station


Onomatopoeia - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔The sounds of words to express or

underline their meaning, sensory imagery. It adds realism and may help

create better imagery in a situation hence making events more credible.


Anecdote - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔This is a past story or even an 'urban legend'

that someone uses to demonstrate an occurrence; it can also be used to

create an emotive reaction. For example describing a tragic story about a

family in a house fire is far more emotive than an objective statistic than the

numbers per year dying in fires.

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Institution
AQA GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Course
AQA GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

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