GCSE English Language revision · Writing

Paper 2 Question 5: viewpoint writing

The idea

Question 5 asks you to argue a view in a set form, such as a letter, article or speech. It is worth 40 marks. A clear stance, a logical structure and persuasive methods matter most.

Decide your stance and three main reasons.
Open with a hook and state your view; give each reason its own paragraph.
Address a counter-argument, then end with a strong call to action.

Watch out Sitting on the fence, with no clear view, weakens the whole answer.

See it worked

Worked example

Statement: "Homework should be banned." Write a thesis sentence for an article that disagrees.

Take a clear stance: disagree.
Hint at your reasons.
"Banning homework would rob students of the practice, independence and routine that exams demand."

Answer "Banning homework would rob students of the practice, independence and routine that exams demand."

Your turn

Question 11 mark

Which term means an argument against your position?

Question 21 mark

Which ending is the strongest call to action?

Question 32 marks

Write one sentence that rebuts this counter-argument: "Some say a four-day school week would harm learning."

Write your answer, then see a model answer

Acknowledge the view briefly.
Turn it with evidence or reasoning.

Answer Example: "Yet schools that have tried it report better attendance and sharper focus, because rested students learn more in four days than exhausted ones do in five."

In past papers

8 official questions in 8 papers since 2020. The latest:

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