Unseen fiction reading - Selecting and retrieving explicit i...

Learning Outcomes

After studying this article, you will be able to confidently select and retrieve explicit information from unseen fiction texts in the AQA GCSE English Language 8700 exam (AO1). You will identify, paraphrase, and accurately support your answers with relevant textual evidence under timed exam conditions. Your responses will show a precise focus on the demands of typical paper 1, question 1 tasks.

AQA GCSE English Language 8700 Syllabus

For AQA GCSE English Language 8700, you need to:

• Identify and interpret explicit information and ideas in unseen fiction extracts (AO1)
• Select relevant textual evidence without making unsupported inferences (AO1)
• Paraphrase, summarise, or quote precisely to demonstrate understanding

These skills are required for Paper 1, Question 1, and underpin strong reading across the qualification.

Test Your Knowledge

Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, remember to look more closely at that area during your revision.

1. What does 'explicit information' mean in the context of reading unseen fiction?
2. How do you ensure that your answer to a 4-mark 'list' question on paper 1 is fully explicit and supported by the text?
3. What is the difference between quoting directly and paraphrasing? When might you choose each approach?
4. Why is it important to use only the part of the extract indicated by the question?

Introduction

Selecting and retrieving explicit information is the first step in responding to unseen fiction (AO1). This skill is tested directly in Paper 1, Question 1, where you are required to find and list details from a short section of the text. Top marks depend on your ability to pick out only what the text states, using either direct quotes or accurate paraphrase, and to avoid unsupported inferences or generalisations.

Key Term: explicit information
Information that is clearly stated and directly given in the text; not hidden, suggested, or implied.

Selecting Explicit Information in Unseen Fiction

You may be asked to "list four things" from a certain section, or to "identify two facts" about a specific place, character, or setting. These questions are always worth 4 marks, with 1 mark given for each correct, supported detail.

• Read the lines indicated in the question before beginning your answer—marks are only available for information from that part.
• Choose details that are clearly present in the text as written, not what you think or infer.
• You can quote short phrases or write each point in your own words.

Key Term: paraphrase
To restate information from the text in your own words, while keeping the original meaning.

Key Term: evidence
The part of the text you use to support a point in your answer. This could be a short quotation or a paraphrase.

Worked Example 1.1

Extract (lines 6–11):

The hallway was lined with tall oak shelves packed with books. A single umbrella leaned sadly in the corner. Dust lingered in the chilly air. The coat hooks were empty except for a faded blue scarf that seemed forgotten.

Question: List four things from this part of the text about the inside of the house.

Answer:

1. There are tall oak shelves filled with books.
2. There is an umbrella in the corner.
3. Dust is in the air.
4. There is a faded blue scarf hanging on a coat hook.

All points refer directly to details found in the lines given and express explicit information only.

Direct Quotation vs. Paraphrasing

You do not need to use full sentences or analysis for these questions. Listing the exact word or phrase from the extract is acceptable, as is writing it in your own words. The most important thing is accuracy: do not add interpretation or ideas from outside the specified lines.

• Direct quote example: "tall oak shelves packed with books"
• Paraphrased example: Bookcases are full of books.
• Both would gain the mark if the detail is explicit in the extract.

Exam Warning

Do not include details from outside the specified lines; you will not be awarded marks for points not found in the required section. Avoid inferences, guesses, or background information.

Tips for Maximising Marks on Explicit Retrieval

To gain full marks:

• Only select information that is present, clear, and stated directly.
• Write each point separately; avoid combining details or interpreting meaning unless the question asks you to.
• Double-check the line numbers or section referenced by the exam question.

Key Term: list question
A question type that asks you to find and record several facts or pieces of information directly from a text.

Worked Example 1.2

Extract (lines 12–16):

Maya glanced nervously at the window. Rain tapped against the glass. The clock on the mantelpiece ticked loudly in the silence. Her mug of tea, untouched, had gone cold.

Question: List four things from this part of the text about what Maya sees or experiences.

Answer:

1. She sees rain tapping on the window.
2. She hears the clock ticking.
3. There is a mug of tea that has gone cold.
4. The room is silent.

Each point is factual, taken from the lines, and requires no additional knowledge or inference.

Revision Tip

Use bullet points or numbers. For 4-mark 'list' questions, this helps keep your answers clear and prevents repeating or merging points.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Do not:

• Add details based on guesses or inference (these are AO1 implicit, not explicit).
• Use information from before or after the specified section.
• Write overly long answers—conciseness and accuracy matter most.
• Repeat the same point in different words.

Summary

For Paper 1, Question 1, identify and record only what is plainly stated in the lines provided. Use accurate quoting or clear paraphrasing to answer with four separate points. Always double-check which part of the text the question covers and avoid interpretation.

Key Point Checklist

This article has covered the following key knowledge points:

• How to find explicit information from an unseen fiction text for AO1.
• The difference between explicit and inferred information.
• How to use direct quotation or paraphrase as evidence.
• Exam technique for answering Paper 1, Question 1 accurately and efficiently.

Key Terms and Concepts

• explicit information
• paraphrase
• evidence
• list question