Performance band descriptions for English Standard

The typical performance in this band:

Band 6

• demonstrates extensive knowledge, insightful understanding and sophisticated evaluation of the ways meanings are shaped and changed by context, medium of production and the influences that produce different responses to texts
• displays highly developed skills in describing and analysing a broad range of language forms, features and structures of texts and explaining the ways these shape meaning and influence responses in a variety of texts and contexts
• presents a critical, refined personal response showing highly developed skills in interpretation, analysis, synthesis and evaluation of texts and textual detail
• composes imaginatively, interpretively, critically and reflectively with sustained precision, flair, originality and sophistication for a variety of audiences, purposes and contexts in order to explore and communicate ideas, information and values

Band 5

• demonstrates detailed knowledge, perceptive understanding and effective evaluation of the ways meanings are shaped and changed by context, medium of production and the influences that produce different responses to texts
• displays well-developed skills in describing and analysing a broad range of language forms, features and structures of texts and explaining the ways these shape meaning and influence responses in a variety of texts and contexts
• presents a critical personal response showing well-developed skills in interpretation, analysis, synthesis and evaluation of texts and textual detail
• composes imaginatively, interpretively, critically and reflectively with flair, originality and control for a variety of audiences, purposes and contexts in order to explore and communicate ideas, information and values

Band 4

• demonstrates sound knowledge and understanding of the way meanings are shaped and changed by context, medium of production and the influences that produce different responses to texts
• describes and analyses a range of language forms, features and structures of texts and explains the ways these shape meaning and influence responses in a variety of texts and contexts
• presents a sound critical personal response showing developed skills in interpretation and analysis of texts
• composes imaginatively, interpretively, critically and reflectively with confidence and control for a variety of audiences, purposes and contexts in order to explore and communicate ideas, information and values

Band 3

• demonstrates generalised knowledge and understanding of the ways meanings are shaped and changed by context, medium of production and the influences that produce different responses to texts
• describes a limited range of language forms, features and structures of texts and conveys an awareness of the ways these shape meaning and influence responses in a variety of texts and contexts
• presents a response showing some evidence of interpretation and analysis of texts
• composes imaginatively, interpretively, critically and reflectively with variable control in using language appropriate to audience, purpose and context in order to explore and communicate ideas, information and values

Band 2

• demonstrates elementary knowledge and understanding of the ways meanings are shaped and changed
• recognises and comments on basic language forms, features and structures of texts
• presents an undeveloped response showing recognition of the main ideas in texts
• composes with some awareness of audience, purpose and context in order to explore and communicate ideas and information

Band 1