CCEA Written Language Pack 2025

Written Controlled Assessment task based on the Bernard Maclaverty’s short story ‘The Exercise’. I have also included the Controlled Assessment question as a starter or baseline that can be edited for your own use.

This has successfully been used in a range of settings and there are many aspects of the writer’s craft to explore. In terms of characterisation, there are lots of opportunities to fulfill the CCEA rubric and writer’s methods such as figurative language, dialogue, themes and structure. I would recommend this task for a range of abilities as it is relatable in terms of setting and there are many avenues to explore from a speaking and listening perspective - particularly around the themes of childhood, children’s rights and schooling in general.

The themes are: Childhood and/or Youth

I have edited the beginning by removing the initial opening section.

This is perfect for a focused study for small groups or a range of abilities.

• Included in the pack:
• a copy of the story
• scripted dialogue for drama activity
• an edited copy of the story with vocab prompts (mixed ability)
• a vocab and comprehension intro page and narrative perspective notes
• key vocab included: antagonist; characterisation; sympathetic; tyrant; sadistic
• a vocab worksheet asking for definitions and characterisation spider diagram
• a fill in the blanks character study for Waldo (MA)
• gathering evidence and using key vocab task
• character comparative venn sheet - Kevin vs Waldo vocab and discussion
• a character study sheet for Kevin and follow up timeline task
• character study sheet with image
• comprehension and support questions