Is Subject Terminology the Most Important Part of an Answer

Today we are answering one of the biggest student worries: “Do I have to cram loads of subject terminology into my essay, or I will fail?”

Short answer: No. Long answer: Terminology helps, but analysis is king. Let me explain.

The Truth About Terminology

Examiners want to see that you can analyse how writers create meaning. Subject terminology is just one tool to help you do that.

• If you analyse a technique well but forget its label, you can still score highly.

• If you name a technique but do not analyse it, you will not score well.

In other words: analysis first, terminology second.

Why Students Get Confused

Mark schemes can be misleading. They throw around phrases like “use of subject terminology” so often that students panic and think the whole grade depends on ticking off terms.

But if you look carefully at examiner reports, they say the opposite:

• They hate feature spotting (naming without analysing).

• They love insightful analysis, even if you call a metaphor “a comparison” instead of the exact technical term.

What Actually Gets You Marks

• Choosing the right techniques (not every feature in the passage - only the ones relevant to the question)

• Explaining effects (how does it shape meaning, mood, or theme?)

• Linking to the question (always circle back - “this shows…” or “this suggests…”)

Why Subject Terminology Does Still Matter

Subject terminology often does get its own bullet point in the mark scheme, so - although quality of analysis is more important - we cannot pretend that subject terminology does not matter.

If you identify a metaphor and accurately analyse its effect, then you are well on your way to a good quality 'clear and accurate' use of subject terminology which is often what is needed for grades 6, 7 and sometimes 8 at GCSE.

If you are aiming for a grade 9, then you are going to need a more 'sophisticated' use of subject terminology. Sophisticated use of subject terminology comes back to how you use it to analyse. You could:

• Analyse a pattern of techniques being used (many short sentences; semantic field; lots of metaphorical language)
• Analyse how different techniques combine to create an effect
• Explore the ambiguity of effect that a technique creates (the metaphor could be suggesting... but could also mean...)