Edexcel Paper 2 Text 2: Breaking Codes

I’m presenting my research at the NATE Conference, Saturday 24^th June 2017, 09.15 Research slot.

This analysis of Text 2 from the sample assessment material (SAM) for the Edexcel English language GCSE specification builds on my analysis of the SAM for Edexcel Paper 2 Text 1, AQA Source A and Source B.

Tier Two words

73 Tier Two words
armed	assume	babble	background	basis
break	breaking	brief	cheer	combinations
complex	concealing	confidence	confirmed	converted
convinced	crumpled	currency	describes	dictionaries
discovered	during	elementary	embarking	enemy
enough	extract	frequency	hardly	increasingly
individual	information	ink	innocent	intelligence
interest	invisible	judgement	lack	letters
marginally	message	millions	pairs	patience
permutation	phrase	plain	proceeded	repetition
responsible	resting	secure	self-esteem	set
showed	slightest	slogging	solved	stake
stammer	step	substitution	success	suitable
supervisor	task	tedious	text	tricky
unbreakable	uncover	uphill

 

There were 229 Tier Two words overall in the two Edexcel texts compared to 136 in the two AQA extracts.

There is very little overlap of Tier Two words across the four texts so far: only one word (‘increasingly’) appears in three (out of four) extracts; eleven appear in two of the extracts (assignment, attention, conceal[ing], crumpled, information, intelligence, interview, received, text, typical, whether).

Low frequency words (in the corpus)

The contexts for the least frequently occurring words in the British National Corpus (BNC) for this extract follow a similar pattern to the AQA texts.  There are 23 words that had less than 1000 frequency, very similar numbers to the two AQA extracts (25 and 22 words), but fewer than the other Edexcel text (46).  Fiction and academic texts were, again, the most frequent sources for these unusual words (8/23 and 7/23 respectively).

Contexts

Over the four extracts analysed so far academic texts feature as an important context for Tier Two words.  They are very dominant in this text (24/73 – of which 14 are nouns).  Fiction was next in line (15/73 – of which 7 are adjectives).  The important question here is just how much access students have to academic writing at secondary school.  I’m assuming text books would be the most likely source – the question is how much reading from text books secondary school students actually do.

Other useful knowledge

The Tier Three words are linguistic (consonants, indicators, linguist), related to coding (code(s), enciphered – which is in the glossary, Playfair) and to do with World War 2 (government-in-exile, Dutch, German, Netherlands).  Knowledge of places has come up as useful before: Lisbon, Czech, Africa, the Middle East in the first Edexcel text and the distance between Yorkshire and Islington in the second AQA text.

Onwards …

Next stop the WJEC/Educas SAMS.  It will be interesting to see if these texts fit into the average number of Tier 2 words appearing (around 70), if academic texts remain an important context and if knowledge of places is useful again …

 

Tier 2 Words – Alphabetical Order

Tier 2 Word	Type of word – in context	British National Corpus Frequency	Largest context
armed	Verb	4526	Non-academic
assume	Verb	4004	Academic
babble	Noun	103	Fiction
background	Noun	5997	Academic
basis	Noun	14228	Academic
break	Verb	8976	Newspaper
breaking	Verb	3131	Newspaper
brief	Adjective	5416	Fiction
cheer	Noun	724	Fiction
combinations	Noun	940	Academic
complex	Adjective	9294	Academic
concealing	Verb	230	Fiction
confidence	Noun	6766	Newspaper
confirmed	Verb	4758	Newspaper
converted	Verb	2258	Newspaper/non-academic
convinced	Verb	3128	Newspaper
crumpled	Verb	379	Fiction
currency	Noun	3329	Non-academic
describes	Verb	2599	Academic
dictionaries	Noun	394	Academic
discovered	Verb	6124	newspaper
during	preposition	42784	Non-academic
elementary	Adjective	699	Non-academic
embarking	Verb	302	Misc
enemy	Noun	3127	Non-academic
enough	Adjective	30765	Fiction
extract	Noun	1421	Academic
frequency	Noun	2775	Academic
hardly	Adverb	8323	Fiction
increasingly	Adverb	6494	Academic
individual	Adjective	18797	Academic
information	Noun	37833	Misc
ink	Noun	786	Magazine
innocent	Adjectives	2440	Fiction
Intelligence	Proper noun	3344	Non-academic
interest	Verb	26772	Misc
invisible	Adjective	1188	Fiction
judgement	Noun	2421	Academic
lack	Noun	9751	Academic
letters	Noun	7606	Magazine
marginally	Adverb	431	Academic
message	Noun	6557	Misc/newspaper
millions	Noun	2578	Newspaper
pairs	Noun	2075	Academic
patience	Noun	1144	Fiction
permutation	Noun	29	Academic
phrase	Noun	2995	Academic
plain	Adjective	4002	Magazine
proceeded	Verb	1020	Non-academic
repetition	Noun	882	Academic
responsible	Adjective	9177	Non-academic/academic
resting	Verb	1166	Fiction
Secure	Adjective	4501	Non-academic/academic
self-esteem	Noun	432	Non-academic/academic
set	Verb	43431	Magazine, newspaper, misc
showed	Verb	10294	Academic
slightest	Adjective	844	Fiction
slogging	Verb	30	Magazine/newspaper
solved	Verb	1125	Academic
stake	Noun	2072	Newspaper
stammer	Verb	67	Fiction
step	Noun	8412	Magazine/fiction
substitution	Adjective	677	Academic
success	Noun	13067	Newspaper/misc
suitable	Adjective	5953	Misc/magazine
supervisor	Noun	707	Misc
task	Noun	8917	Academic
tedious	Adjective	499	Fiction/magazine
text	Noun	6865	Academic
tricky	Adjective	627	Magazine
unbreakable	Adjective	57	Fiction
uncover	Verb	240	Academic
uphill	adjective	351	Magazine

 

Tier 2 Words – in order of BNC frequency

Tier 2 Word	Type of word – in context	British National Corpus Frequency	Largest context
set	Verb	43431	Magazine, newspaper, misc
during	preposition	42784	Non-academic
information	Noun	37833	Misc
enough	Adjective	30765	Fiction
interest	Verb	26772	Misc
individual	Adjective	18797	Academic
basis	Noun	14228	Academic
success	Noun	13067	Newspaper/misc
showed	Verb	10294	Academic
lack	Noun	9751	Academic
complex	Adjective	9294	Academic
responsible	Adjective	9177	Non-academic/academic
break	Verb	8976	newspaper
task	Noun	8917	Academic
step	Noun	8412	Magazine/fiction
hardly	Adverb	8323	Fiction
letters	Noun	7606	Magazine
text	Noun	6865	Academic
confidence	Noun	6766	Newspaper
message	Noun	6557	Misc/newspaper
increasingly	Adverb	6494	Academic
discovered	Verb	6124	newspaper
background	Noun	5997	Academic
suitable	Adjective	5953	Misc/magazine
brief	Adjective	5416	Fiction
confirmed	Verb	4758	Newspaper
armed	Verb	4526	Non-academic
Secure	Adjective	4501	Non-academic/academic
assume	Verb	4004	Academic
plain	Adjective	4002	Magazine
Intelligence	Proper noun	3344	Non-academic
currency	Noun	3329	Non-academic
breaking	Verb	3131	Newspaper
convinced	Verb	3128	Newspaper
enemy	Noun	3127	Non-academic
phrase	Noun	2995	Academic
frequency	Noun	2775	Academic
describes	Verb	2599	Academic
millions	Noun	2578	Newspaper
innocent	Adjectives	2440	Fiction
judgement	Noun	2421	Academic
converted	Verb	2258	Newspaper/non-academic
pairs	Noun	2075	Academic
stake	Noun	2072	Newspaper
extract	Noun	1421	Academic
invisible	Adjective	1188	Fiction
resting	Verb	1166	Fiction
patience	Noun	1144	Fiction
solved	Verb	1125	Academic
proceeded	Verb	1020	Non-academic
combinations	Noun	940	Academic
repetition	Noun	882	Academic
slightest	Adjective	844	Fiction
ink	Noun	786	Magazine
cheer	Noun	724	Fiction
supervisor	Noun	707	Misc
elementary	Adjective	699	Non-academic
substitution	Adjective	677	Academic
tricky	Adjective	627	Magazine
tedious	Adjective	499	Fiction/magazine
self-esteem	Noun	432	Non-academic/academic
marginally	Adverb	431	Academic
dictionaries	Noun	394	Academic
crumpled	Verb	379	Fiction
uphill	adjective	351	Magazine
embarking	Verb	302	Misc
uncover	Verb	240	Academic
concealing	Verb	230	Fiction
babble	Noun	103	Fiction
stammer	Verb	67	Fiction
unbreakable	Adjective	57	Fiction
slogging	Verb	30	Magazine/newspaper
permutation	Noun	29	Academic

Notes:

• 23 words under 1000 frequency: 9/23 nouns; 7/23 adjectives; 6/23 verbs; 1 adverb
• 7/23 Academic (4 nouns); 8/23 Fiction (3 verbs, 3 adjectives, 2 nouns); 4/23 Magazine; 2/23 Misc; 2/23 non-academic
• Edexcel Text 1: 46 words under 1000 frequency
• AQA Text 1: 25 words under 1000 frequency
• AQA Text 2: 22 words under 1000 frequency

Tier 2 words – in order of largest context

Tier 2 Word	Type of word – in context	British National Corpus Frequency	Largest context
Complex	Adjective	9294	Academic
Individual	Adjective	18797	Academic
Substitution	Adjective	677	Academic
Increasingly	Adverb	6494	Academic
Marginally	Adverb	431	Academic
Background	Noun	5997	Academic
Basis	Noun	14228	Academic
Combinations	Noun	940	Academic
Dictionaries	Noun	394	Academic
Extract	Noun	1421	Academic
Frequency	Noun	2775	Academic
Judgement	Noun	2421	Academic
Lack	Noun	9751	Academic
Pairs	Noun	2075	Academic
Permutation	Noun	29	Academic
Phrase	Noun	2995	Academic
Repetition	Noun	882	Academic
Task	Noun	8917	Academic
Text	Noun	6865	Academic
Assume	Verb	4004	Academic
Describes	Verb	2599	Academic
Showed	Verb	10294	Academic
Solved	Verb	1125	Academic
Uncover	Verb	240	Academic
Brief	Adjective	5416	Fiction
Enough	Adjective	30765	Fiction
Invisible	Adjective	1188	Fiction
Slightest	Adjective	844	Fiction
Unbreakable	Adjective	57	Fiction
Innocent	Adjective	2440	Fiction
Hardly	Adverb	8323	Fiction
Babble	Noun	103	Fiction
Cheer	Noun	724	Fiction
Patience	Noun	1144	Fiction
Concealing	Verb	230	Fiction
Crumpled	Verb	379	Fiction
Resting	Verb	1166	Fiction
Stammer	Verb	67	Fiction
Tedious	Adjective	499	Fiction/magazine
plain	Adjective	4002	Magazine
tricky	Adjective	627	Magazine
uphill	adjective	351	Magazine
ink	Noun	786	Magazine
letters	Noun	7606	Magazine
set	Verb	43431	Magazine, newspaper, misc
step	Noun	8412	Magazine/fiction
slogging	Verb	30	Magazine/newspaper
information	Noun	37833	Misc
supervisor	Noun	707	Misc
embarking	Verb	302	Misc
interest	Verb	26772	Misc
suitable	Adjective	5953	Misc/magazine
message	Noun	6557	Misc/newspaper
confidence	Noun	6766	Newspaper
millions	Noun	2578	Newspaper
stake	Noun	2072	Newspaper
break	Verb	8976	Newspaper
breaking	Verb	3131	Newspaper
confirmed	Verb	4758	Newspaper
convinced	Verb	3128	Newspaper
discovered	Verb	6124	Newspaper
success	Noun	13067	Newspaper/misc
converted	Verb	2258	Newspaper/non-academic
elementary	Adjective	699	Non-academic
currency	Noun	3329	Non-academic
enemy	Noun	3127	Non-academic
during	preposition	42784	Non-academic
Intelligence	Proper noun	3344	Non-academic
armed	Verb	4526	Non-academic
proceeded	Verb	1020	Non-academic
responsible	Adjective	9177	Non-academic/academic
Secure	Adjective	4501	Non-academic/academic
self-esteem	Noun	432	Non-academic/academic

Notes: 24 Academic (14 nouns); 15 Fiction (7 adjectives); 10 newspaper; 10 non-academic; 8 magazine; 6 miscellaneous

Tier 2 Words – in order or type of word

Tier 2 Word	Type of word – in context	British National Corpus Frequency	Largest context
brief	Adjective	5416	Fiction
complex	Adjective	9294	Academic
elementary	Adjective	699	Non-academic
enough	Adjective	30765	Fiction
individual	Adjective	18797	Academic
invisible	Adjective	1188	Fiction
plain	Adjective	4002	Magazine
responsible	Adjective	9177	Non-academic/academic
Secure	Adjective	4501	Non-academic/academic
slightest	Adjective	844	Fiction
substitution	Adjective	677	Academic
suitable	Adjective	5953	Misc/magazine
tedious	Adjective	499	Fiction/magazine
tricky	Adjective	627	Magazine
unbreakable	Adjective	57	Fiction
uphill	adjective	351	Magazine
innocent	Adjectives	2440	Fiction
hardly	Adverb	8323	Fiction
increasingly	Adverb	6494	Academic
marginally	Adverb	431	Academic
babble	Noun	103	Fiction
background	Noun	5997	Academic
basis	Noun	14228	Academic
cheer	Noun	724	Fiction
combinations	Noun	940	Academic
confidence	Noun	6766	Newspaper
currency	Noun	3329	Non-academic
dictionaries	Noun	394	Academic
enemy	Noun	3127	Non-academic
extract	Noun	1421	Academic
frequency	Noun	2775	Academic
information	Noun	37833	Misc
Ink	Noun	786	Magazine
judgement	Noun	2421	Academic
Lack	Noun	9751	Academic
Letters	Noun	7606	Magazine
message	Noun	6557	Misc/newspaper
millions	Noun	2578	Newspaper
Pairs	Noun	2075	Academic
patience	Noun	1144	Fiction
permutation	Noun	29	Academic
phrase	Noun	2995	Academic
repetition	Noun	882	Academic
self-esteem	Noun	432	Non-academic/academic
Stake	Noun	2072	Newspaper
Step	Noun	8412	Magazine/fiction
success	Noun	13067	Newspaper/misc
supervisor	Noun	707	Misc
Task	Noun	8917	Academic
Text	Noun	6865	Academic
During	preposition	42784	Non-academic
Intelligence	Proper noun	3344	Non-academic
Armed	Verb	4526	Non-academic
assume	Verb	4004	Academic
Break	Verb	8976	newspaper
breaking	Verb	3131	Newspaper
concealing	Verb	230	Fiction
confirmed	Verb	4758	Newspaper
converted	Verb	2258	Newspaper/non-academic
convinced	Verb	3128	Newspaper
crumpled	Verb	379	Fiction
describes	Verb	2599	Academic
discovered	Verb	6124	newspaper
embarking	Verb	302	Misc
interest	Verb	26772	Misc
proceeded	Verb	1020	Non-academic
Resting	Verb	1166	Fiction
Set	Verb	43431	Magazine, newspaper, misc
showed	Verb	10294	Academic
slogging	Verb	30	Magazine/newspaper
Solved	Verb	1125	Academic
stammer	Verb	67	Fiction
uncover	Verb	240	Academic

Notes: 30 nouns; 21 Verbs; 17 adjectives; 3 adverbs

Tier Three Words

code	3
codes	3
consonants	3
enciphered	3
government-in-exile	3
guilders	3
indicators	3
linguist	3
Playfair	3
Dutch	3
German	3
Netherlands	3

 

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