AO1 — Synthesise across two sources
OCR Component 01 always opens with a "true / false" or short-answer task that asks you to find and lift information from one source, followed by a synthesis question that asks you to combine information from both. AO1 is worth roughly 15% of your overall GCSE — easy marks if you stay disciplined.
What AO1 actually tests
OCR examiners describe AO1 as two skills welded together:
- Locate explicit information (clearly stated facts and details).
- Interpret implicit information (what is suggested but not directly said) and synthesise evidence across two texts.
You do not need to analyse language for AO1. Save that for AO2.
The shape of the synthesis question
Typical wording: "Use details from BOTH Source A and Source B. Write a summary of the differences between [topic]." (about 8 marks)
Examiners want a side-by-side, point-by-point summary with a clear pivot word ("whereas", "however", "in contrast") between each pair of points. They do not want:
- a long retelling of Source A and then Source B
- a focus on language techniques (that's AO2)
- vague generalisations without quotation
A reliable structure (PEEL-light)
P — Make the point of difference (or similarity). E — Quote a short phrase from Source A. E — Quote a short phrase from Source B. L — Briefly state the inference (what the comparison shows).
You should aim for three to four of these mini-paragraphs in 8–10 minutes.
✦Worked example
Question: "Summarise the differences between travel in 1875 and 2025."
Source A (19th-c travel diary): "the carriage clattered along the rutted lane, our backs aching by the third hour." Source B (21st-c travel blog): "we glided through the countryside in a Wi-Fi-equipped train, sipping flat whites and answering emails."
Difference 1 — comfort. Source A describes a journey that is physically painful: the writer notes "our backs aching by the third hour", suggesting cramped, jolting carriages. In contrast, Source B describes the train as a place where passengers "glided" and could sip "flat whites" — implying a smooth, leisurely experience.
Difference 2 — productivity. In Source A travel is a passive ordeal; in Source B, passengers are "answering emails", showing that modern travel doubles as a working environment.
That's two clean comparisons in about 80 words. Repeat once or twice more for full marks.
Common AO1 mistakes (examiner traps)
- Writing about one source before the other. Always interleave.
- Over-quoting. Examiners reward short, embedded quotations of 1–4 words.
- Drifting into language analysis. "The verb 'clattered' onomatopoeically suggests…" is AO2, not AO1, and earns no marks here.
- Listing similarities when asked for differences (or vice versa).
- Missing the inference. A bare quote-pair without your interpretation tops out at half marks.
➜Try this— Quick check
Re-read your synthesis answer and tick each box:
- Each paragraph compares both sources in the same sentence?
- Quotations are short (1–4 words) and embedded in your sentences?
- You have at least three points of difference?
- No commentary on technique?
If yes to all four, you are in the top band.
AI-generated · claude-opus-4-7 · v3-ocr-english-language