ENGLISH-LANGUAGE-AND-LITERATURE-EMC-H074 · Cambridge OCR AS Level
ENGLISH-LANGUAGE-AND-LITERATURE-EMC-H074/21
Exploring contexts
English Language and Literature EMC · June 2022 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: OCR
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.5 / 5
120
180 min
Contextual Language Analysis & Comparison
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
120
Duration
180 min
Session difficulty
3.5 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The 2022 OCR AS Level English Language series (H070/01 and H070/02) presents a balanced yet intellectually demanding suite of assessments, rating a solid 3.5 out of 5 in difficulty.
While the layout and task formats remain predictable, the chosen texts demand high-level conceptual agility.
In Exploring Language (H070/01), analyzing a digital promotional email alongside a comparison of live news broadcasts and broadsheet commentary required students to balance formal terminology with contextual pragmatics.
Meanwhile, Exploring Contexts (H070/02) tested candidates' ability to modulate their register for a non-specialist audience in the topical writing section, alongside a deep conceptual exploration of either Power or Gender.
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 Analysis
Weight: 10100%Conceptual Understanding
Weight: 880%Contextual Evaluation
Weight: 660%Comparative Methods
Weight: 440%Creative/
Weight: 220%Persuasi
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
Level A
Approx. 73% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 64% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 55% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 47% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 39% of maximum mark
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.
Match the expected response style for “Explore” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Consider” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Write” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Examine” questions.
Name or point to the specific feature asked for — avoid extra explanation.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.7
Min per mark: 1.5
Min per mark: 1.4
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Comparing and Contrasting Texts
36 marks this session
Language in Context (Power / Gender choice)
36 marks this session
Language Features in Context
24 marks this session
Topical Language Writing
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 (H070/01 Section B)
Exploring Language in Context: Power or Gender (H070/02 Section B)
Comparing and Contrasting Texts (H070/01 Sec B)
Language in Context: Power / Gender (H070/02 Sec B)
Comparing and Contrasting Texts
Language in Context (Power / Gender choice)
Understanding Language Features in Context (H070/01 Section A)
Writing about a Topical Language Issue (H070/02 Section A)
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
H070/01 Exploring language: H070/02 Exploring contexts:
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 in Context (Power / Gender choice)
36 marks this session
Practise in RevuiLanguage Features in Context
24 marks this session
Practise in RevuiTopical Language Writing
24 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The 2022 OCR AS Level English Language series (H070/01 and H070/02) presents a balanced yet intellectually demanding suite of assessments, rating a solid 3.5 out of 5 in difficulty.
- 2Message
While the layout and task formats remain predictable, the chosen texts demand high-level conceptual agility.
- 3Message
In Exploring Language (H070/01), analyzing a digital promotional email alongside a comparison of live news broadcasts and broadsheet commentary required students to balance formal terminology with contextual pragmatics.
- 4Message
Meanwhile, Exploring Contexts (H070/02) tested candidates' ability to modulate their register for a non-specialist audience in the topical writing section, alongside a deep conceptual exploration of either Power or Gender.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2022 2022
English Language and Literature EMC
The 2022 OCR AS Level English Language series (H070/01 and H070/02) presents a balanced yet intellectually demanding suite of assessments, rating a solid 3.5 out of 5 in difficulty. While the layout and task formats remain predictable, the chosen texts demand high-level conceptua
The 2022 OCR AS Level English Language series (H070/01 and H070/02) presents a balanced yet intellectually demanding suite of assessments, rating a solid 3.5 out of 5 in difficulty.
While the layout and task formats remain predictable, the chosen texts demand high-level conceptual agility.
In Exploring Language (H070/01), analyzing a digital promotional email alongside a comparison of live news broadcasts and broadsheet commentary required students to balance formal terminology with contextual pragmatics.
- Total marks
- 120
- Duration
- 180 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.5 / 5
Session analysis
The 2022 OCR AS Level English Language series (H070/01 and H070/02) presents a balanced yet intellectually demanding suite of assessments, rating a solid 3.5 out of 5 in difficulty. While the layout and task formats remain predictable, the chosen texts demand high-level conceptual agility. In Exploring Language (H070/01), analyzing a digital promotional email alongside a comparison of live news broadcasts and broadsheet commentary required students to balance formal terminology with contextual pragmatics. Meanwhile, Exploring Contexts (H070/02) tested candidates' ability to modulate their register for a non-specialist audience in the topical writing section, alongside a deep conceptual exploration of either Power or Gender.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
H070/01 Exploring language: H070/02 Exploring contexts:
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.
75% 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.
Comparative Essay
36·1·30%
Contextual Exploration Essay
36·1·30%
Textual Analysis Essay
24·1·20%
Persuasive Writing Task
24·1·20%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
H070/01 Section A:
0.69 m/minH070/02 Section A:
0.60 m/minH070/02 Section B:
0.72 m/minTotal marks
84
Total time
125 min
Avg pace
0.67
Cumulative marks ladder
The line is your running mark total question by question; dashed lines are the estimated grade cut-offs. See which question the line crosses your target grade at, so you know how far you must answer cleanly and which questions decide a band.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Language and Technology / Computer-Mediated Communication
85%85%
Language and Power in Institutional Settings
80%80%
Language and Age / Youth Slang
75%75%
Paper Difficulty Verdict
The 2022 OCR AS Level English Language series (H070/01 and H070/02) presents a balanced yet intellectually demanding suite of assessments, rating a solid 3.5 out of 5 in difficulty. While the layout and task formats remain predictable, the chosen texts demand high-level conceptual agility. In Exploring Language (H070/01), analyzing a digital promotional email alongside a comparison of live news broadcasts and broadsheet commentary required students to balance formal terminology with contextual pragmatics. Meanwhile, Exploring Contexts (H070/02) tested candidates' ability to modulate their register for a non-specialist audience in the topical writing section, alongside a deep conceptual exploration of either Power or Gender.
Examiner notes & key calculations
- Misapplying Spoken Language Theories: Examiners noted that students frequently misapplied conversational theories to pre-scripted, autocue-read news broadcasts. Students must distinguish between spontaneous speech and planned spoken delivery.
- Feature Spotting: Identifying grammatical structures or lexical fields without linking them to contextual reception or the writer's underlying ideological purpose limits candidates to lower bands.
- Simplistic Sociolinguistic Models: In Gender and Power questions, treating gender representation as a binary deficit/dominance dynamic without considering modern contextual frameworks (such as diversity or performativity) or the multi-modal nature of digital texts (like online articles) was a major pitfall.
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 1h 30min
- Total marks
- 60
- Weighting
- 50%
- Question types
- Creative/Persuasive Writing task, Thematic Contextual Essay
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.