ENGLISH-LANGUAGE-AND-LITERATURE-EMC-H474 · Cambridge OCR A Level
ENGLISH-LANGUAGE-AND-LITERATURE-EMC-H474/21
Paper 2
English Language and Literature EMC · June 2023 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: OCR
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.4 / 5
160
300 min
Comparative and Historical Linguistic Analysis
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
160
Duration
300 min
Session difficulty
3.4 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
In H470/01 Section A, high-scoring candidates did not merely spot features; they mapped lexical patterns (like dynamic verbs of movement or low-frequency Latinate words) directly to the text’s covert persuasive purposes.
In contrast, weaker answers fell into the trap of simple listing without discussing contextual effects.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
No data available in official reports
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Linguistic Terminology
Weight: 10100%Theoretical Applied
Weight: 880%Contextual Evaluation
Weight: 660%Comparative
Weight: 440%Skill
Weight: 330%Creative
Weight: 220%Modulati
Weight: 110%
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
No data available in official reports
Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
No data available in official reports
Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
No data available in official reports
Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
No data available in official reports
Grade & admission context
How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards
Report type
Examiner report — national grade boundaries and question-level commentary
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
No data available in official reports
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
Break into parts and explain how each contributes to the whole question focus.
Name or point to the specific feature asked for — avoid extra explanation.
Match the expected response style for “Write” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Examine” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Investigate” questions.
Present multiple perspectives with evidence; balance breadth and depth.
Match the expected response style for “Explore” questions.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
No data available in official reports
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Comparing and Contrasting Texts
36 marks this session
Language Change
36 marks this session
Writing about a Topical Language Issue
24 marks this session
Language in the Media
24 marks this session
MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
Mark intensity
Comparing and Contrasting Texts
Language Change
Writing about a Topical Language Issue
Language in the Media
Child Language Acquisition
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
H470/01 Exploring language: H470/02 Dimensions of linguistic variation:
Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
No data available in official reports
Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
Comparing and Contrasting Texts
36 marks this session
Practise in RevuiLanguage Change
36 marks this session
Practise in RevuiWriting about a Topical Language Issue
24 marks this session
Practise in RevuiLanguage in the Media
24 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
In H470/01 Section A, high-scoring candidates did not merely spot features; they mapped lexical patterns (like dynamic verbs of movement or low-frequency Latinate words) directly to the text’s covert persuasive purposes.
- 2Message
In contrast, weaker answers fell into the trap of simple listing without discussing contextual effects.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2023 2023
English Language and Literature EMC
In H470/01 Section A, high-scoring candidates did not merely spot features; they mapped lexical patterns (like dynamic verbs of movement or low-frequency Latinate words) directly to the text’s covert persuasive purposes. In contrast, weaker answers fell into the trap of simple li
In H470/01 Section A, high-scoring candidates did not merely spot features; they mapped lexical patterns (like dynamic verbs of movement or low-frequency Latinate words) directly to the text’s covert persuasive purposes.
In contrast, weaker answers fell into the trap of simple listing without discussing contextual effects.
- Total marks
- 160
- Duration
- 300 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.4 / 5
Session analysis
In H470/01 Section A, high-scoring candidates did not merely spot features; they mapped lexical patterns (like dynamic verbs of movement or low-frequency Latinate words) directly to the text’s covert persuasive purposes. In contrast, weaker answers fell into the trap of simple listing without discussing contextual effects.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
H470/01 Exploring language: H470/02 Dimensions of linguistic variation:
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
76% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Structured Essay
(Linguistic Data Analysis)
80·3·50%
Comparative Essay
36·1·23%
Creative/Discursive Writing
24·1·15%
Short Answer
(Text Analysis)
20·2·13%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Language Change: 18th Century vs 21st Century
85%85%
Topical Issue: Language and Gender Bias/Stereotypes
80%80%
Child Language Acquisition: Multi-participant interaction
75%75%
Examiner notes & key calculations
- The 'Accent vs. Dialect' Confusion: In the topical writing task on Received Pronunciation, many candidates mistakenly discussed regional grammar and vocabulary (dialect) instead of focusing strictly on pronunciation features (accent).
- Chronological Narrative in CLA: For the Child Language Acquisition task, lower-band responses merely narrated the transcript from start to finish. Top-tier scripts organized their analyses by linguistic levels: phonology, grammar, and pragmatics/meaning.
- Feature Spotting in Language Change: In diachronic analysis, listing archaic orthography (e.g., 'shew', 'thro\'') without linking it to the wider historical context of standardization and the growth of commercialized medicine was a common limiting factor.
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.