OCR Component 02 — Exploring effects and impact
Component 02: Exploring Effects and Impact is the second of OCR's two assessed components. Where Component 01 focuses on non-fiction reading and transactional writing, Component 02 focuses on literary fiction and literary non-fiction reading combined with original creative writing.
Paper at a glance
| Section | Focus | AOs tested | Marks | Suggested time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section A — Reading | Two literary extracts: one fiction, one literary non-fiction | AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4 | 40 | 50 min |
| Section B — Writing | One creative writing task (descriptive or narrative) | AO5, AO6 | 40 | 45 min |
| Total | 80 | 1 hr 45 min |
Component 02 is worth 50% of the overall GCSE.
Section A — the reading questions
Component 02 uses four questions across the two extracts. The key difference from Component 01 is the addition of AO4 (evaluation) — students are explicitly asked to judge effectiveness, not just analyse.
| Typical question | Skill tested | AO | Typical marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Identify and interpret information from BOTH extracts | AO1 | 4–6 |
| Q2 | Analyse language and structure in one extract | AO2 | 12 |
| Q3 | Evaluate how effectively the writer achieves a stated effect | AO4 | 12 |
| Q4 | Compare writers' perspectives and methods | AO3 | 12 |
Note: OCR can vary the order and exact weighting. Always check the paper you are sitting.
Section B — the creative writing question
Section B gives you ONE creative task. You typically choose from:
- A descriptive piece (often stimulated by a photograph or image)
- A narrative piece (often with a title or opening line provided)
The mark split matches Component 01 writing:
- AO5 (purpose, audience, form, ideas, structure): 24 marks
- AO6 (SPaG, vocabulary, sentence forms): 16 marks
The critical difference between Component 01 and Component 02 writing
| Component 01 — transactional | Component 02 — creative |
|---|---|
| Purpose, audience, form are given in the question | You choose the narrative voice, structure and form |
| Persuasive / rhetorical devices reward AO5 | Imaginative vision, "show don't tell", sensory language reward AO5 |
| Real-world forms (article, letter, speech) | Literary forms (story, description, vignette) |
| Argument must be coherent | Plot need not be resolved — effect is the goal |
Timing strategy for Component 02
| Phase | Time |
|---|---|
| Read both extracts, annotate | 10 min |
| Q1 (retrieve + interpret) | 5 min |
| Q2 (language + structure) | 15 min |
| Q3 (evaluation) | 15 min |
| Q4 (comparison) | 15 min |
| Total Section A | 60 min |
| Plan creative writing piece | 5 min |
| Write piece | 33 min |
| Proofread and edit | 7 min |
| Total Section B | 45 min |
What AO4 looks for (unique to Component 02)
AO4 is not present in Component 01. It requires you to:
- State a verdict on the effectiveness of a technique or effect.
- Support with precise evidence.
- Explain WHY the technique is effective (or where it falls short).
- Acknowledge a counter-reading or limitation.
The typical prompt: "A student says [claim about the text]. To what extent do you agree?"
What examiners say about Component 02 failures
- No AO4 in the evaluation question. Students write AO2 (analysis) when AO4 (evaluation with verdict) is asked.
- Generic creative writing. A story with no original voice, full of clichés ("she sighed deeply"), caps at band 2.
- Not using the creative stimulus. If an image is provided, it must inform your piece — ignoring it is a form error.
- Spending the same time on all questions. Q3 (12 marks) and Q4 (12 marks) need 15 minutes each — not 8.
Quick reminder grid
| Question | Source | AO |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | BOTH extracts | AO1 |
| Q2 | One extract (usually specified) | AO2 |
| Q3 | One extract (usually specified) | AO4 |
| Q4 | BOTH extracts | AO3 |
| Section B | You write | AO5 + AO6 |
AI-generated · claude-opus-4-7 · v3-ocr-english-language