AO (assessment objective)
One of the specific skills GCSE English exams officially test and award marks for, such as analysing language or comparing texts.
Year 9 · Grasp English
Year 9 vocabulary glossary
Every key English word for year 9, with a clear, simple definition — grouped by topic so it's easy to browse or search.
Filter by topic
GCSE Reading Preparation
2 key words
unseen text
A text a student has not studied or seen before the exam, which they must read and respond to on the spot.
Technical Accuracy
3 key words
ambitious vocabulary
A wide, precise and varied range of vocabulary used deliberately to strengthen a piece of writing.
paragraphing
Organising writing into clearly separated paragraphs, each usually built around one main idea.
cohesion
Writing in which ideas connect clearly and logically from one sentence and paragraph to the next.
GCSE Literature Preparation
3 key words
set text
A specific novel, play or poetry collection that students study in depth for their exam.
form
The type or category a piece of writing belongs to, such as a novel, a sonnet or a play.
anthology
A published collection of poems (or other texts) studied together, often around a shared theme.