The writing portfolio (internal)
Internal 6 credits Crafted writing Purpose & audience Drafting Text types ConventionsAS 91475, 6 credits — the largest internal in Level 3 English. At least TWO pieces, chosen from a range of drafts and taken to publication standard. The grade turns on purpose and audience, not on how ambitious the writing is.
1 Reading the notation
The ladder shared by all three creating standards.| Grade | The wording | What it actually asks |
|---|---|---|
| Achieved | Fluent and coherent; develops, sustains, structures ideas | Ideas linked throughout; conventions accurate to at most minor errors |
| Merit | …and is CONVINCING: discerning understanding of purpose and audience | Every choice is defensible as serving this purpose for this audience |
| Excellence | …and COMMANDS ATTENTION: sophisticated understanding, insightful selection and integration, to create A STRIKING WHOLE | The parts work together so the piece could not be rearranged without loss |
“Selection AND INTEGRATION of ideas, language features, and structure” is the phrase in all three. Integration is the word that separates Excellence: not good ideas plus good technique, but technique that could only belong to these ideas.
2 Choosing the two (or more) pieces
At least two, from a range of drafts, taken to publication standard.What "a selection" requires
- At least TWO pieces, ideally of DIFFERENT text types.
- Each chosen from a range of drafts — the drafting itself is evidence.
- Taken to publication standard — proofread, not just complete.
3 Developing ideas
Named moves the standard rewards — check each paragraph against them.The standard's own list of moves
- Narrative, imagery, explanation.
- Analysis, exploration, critique.
- Details, examples.
- A range of dimensions or viewpoints.
4 Drafting toward publication standard
Structural change, not proofreading, is what drafting evidence must show.Before you submit, check each piece
- Can you name the purpose and the audience in one sentence each?
- Does the opening make a promise the ending keeps?
- Is every language feature doing work for THIS subject, or is it decoration?
- Would cutting the weakest paragraph improve the piece? Then cut it.
- Have you proofread for conventions — the stated threshold is "at most minor errors"?
Practice
Recall it first, then use it — testing yourself builds the memory, where rereading the notes above only feels easier.
Recall and application shuffled together — you have to work out what each item wants before you can answer it, which is the part the exam actually tests. Both kinds feed the same spacing schedule, so anything you miss comes back sooner.
Say the answer out loud before flipping — that attempt is where the learning happens, even when you get it wrong.
Exam-style only. Instant feedback, shuffled each attempt, best score saved on this device.