Review Model Answer (Edexcel IGCSE English Language A)

Genre (format)

Audience

Purpose

What am I writing?

Who am I writing for?

Why am I writing?

AO5

23-27 marks

• Communication is perceptive, mature and sophisticated

• The response is sharply focused on the purpose of the task and the expectations/requirements of the intended reader

• There is sophisticated use of form, tone and register

AO6

16-18 marks

• The response manipulates complex ideas, using a range of structural and grammatical features to support overall coherence and cohesion

• The response uses extensive vocabulary strategically, with only occasional spelling errors which do not detract from overall meaning

• The response is punctuated with accuracy to aid emphasis and meaning, using a range of sentence structures accurately and selectively to achieve particular effects

The Moonwalkers by Tom Hanks [Marking comment]

At a glance: 5 stars [Marking comment]

“The moon has always been our constant companion, right?” The unmistakable voice of Tom Hanks at the start of The Moonwalkers experience at London’s Lightroom fills the space and reassures the audience that they are in safe hands. [Marking comment] He continues to reel us in by reminding us that only 12 people in the history of humankind have ever walked on the moon, and we settle in for a 50-minute production that immerses the audience into an all-encompassing and magnificent experience.

It is difficult to properly define what The Moonwalkers actually is. It is part film, part show, part immersive experience. It is housed in a large, single space, with images, films and animations projected in front of, at the side of and behind us, as well as on the floor. As we file in with anticipation, everyone immediately gravitates towards the tiered bench seating, sitting nervously, unsure of what to expect. A staff member invites us to walk around more than once, reiterating that the experience is better if we move. Maybe it’s our typical British reserve, but everyone is reluctant, preferring to sit. A countdown is projected onto the screen and the show begins. We are treated to Hanks’ personal fascination with space travel, as he famously played astronaut Jim Lovell in the film Apollo 13. [Marking comment]

Hanks co-wrote The Moonwalkers and the show looks both backwards at the first moon landing, and forwards to the future of moon exploration with the Artemis programme. The sheer size of the images being projected, along with impressive surround sound, make the experience truly mesmerising, and the narrative combines huge impact pieces with more personal sound-bites from the astronauts themselves. One highlight for me was the footage of the tense few seconds before Apollo 11 actually touched down on the moon’s surface, along with Neil Armstrong’s famous first step on alien soil. Having been born long after the first moon landing, the experience was so all-encompassing it genuinely felt as though I was watching it live, for the first time. [Marking comment]

As well as being spectacular, the experience also showcased lighter moments, such as astronauts having fun in the moon’s reduced gravity, bouncing around like children on a space-hopper. [Marking comment]The braver audience members stood and moved around as suggested, as did I, and it was true - it really did enhance the experience. However, given that the number of people standing and moving were in the minority, this part of the experience could have been further encouraged via the narration, maybe with Hanks himself directing the audience. Given he was involved in how the experience was staged at the venue, this could have been the chance to really connect with the audience and make them feel as though they were thoroughly involved. [Marking comment]

Ultimately, however, the experience left me with a sense of wonder and beauty, and an understanding of humankind’s desire to explore beyond our planet. It was a thrilling experience that involved high-quality visual and audio innovations, which more than justified the ticket price. It was interesting to note that there were several children in the audience, who were just as mesmerised as the adults; the show’s relatively short length no doubt contributed to keeping their attention. I did feel, however, that the venue itself did not quite match the magic of the experience itself, especially as it so obviously appeals to all ages. The coffee shop in which the audience was invited to wait was hardly family-friendly, and before the show we stood for a while in a queue formation in the rather small and very expensive merchandise shop. I felt this was missing a trick, as was the lack of any visual build-up as we were led through an industrial corridor to the room itself. That being said, however, it was a fantastic production and overall there was very little not to marvel at; it really was an out-of-this-world experience. [Marking comment]