KS3 English

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KS3 English

• The Reading Paper

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Are you ready for the Test?

• On your desk you should have
• a pen and a spare containing blue or black ink,
• highlighter pens,
• and a pencil.
• You might also have a watch be ready to use it.
  Perhaps take it off and have it on the desk in
  front of you.

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What is in the Reading Paper?

• THREE PASSAGES OF WRITING
• These will all be on the same topic.
• They will be of different types and for different
  purposes.
• They will each be about 350 500 words.

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Time allowed for this paper.

• You will have 15 minutes to read the three
  passages, then one hour to answer 13 15
  questions.
• Each question will have a mark next to it.
  The total marks for this Paper will add up to 32.

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Reading Time

• This is plenty of time to do the following
  three things
• Spend five minutes on each passage.
• FIRSTLY, Skim and Scan. Number each
  paragraph. Highlight difficult words. Highlight
  topic sentences.
• SECONDLY, Sub-vocalise (Say it aloud in
  your head), following the words with your finger
  on the page.
• THIRDLY, check the INTRODUCTION at the top
  of the passage to find out about the text-type.

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Answering the questions (1)

• REMEMBER the questions do NOT become more
  difficult as you go.
• TIME you have plenty of time - about two
  minutes for each mark.

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Answering the questions (2)

• Read the question slowly and highlight the key
  words.
• Always re-read the part of the passage that the
  question refers to.
• Longer questions - jot notes/make plan before
  answering.

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Answering the questions (3)

• Remember PEE.
• POINT EVIDENCE - EXPLANATION
• Think what the question needs. Is it just an
  explanation or does it need evidence?
• Is it asking you to say what the writer is
  telling the reader? Or is it asking you to show
  how the writer is writing?

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Answering the questions (4)

• Longer questions usually provide bullet point
  suggestions. You can use the words of each bullet
  points to start each separate part of your
  answer.
• Check your answer (say it aloud in your head) to
  see that it makes sense.

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Finally

• You may have five or ten minutes at the end.
• Re-read each answer slowly. THEN re-read the
  question. What else could you add?
• Remember keep thinking - one or two marks can
  move you into the next level.

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Pre Test Warm-up

• 1. Follow the passage as it is read to you.
• 2. Answer the questions as they come up on the
  screen.

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Warm-up questions

• 1. According to paragraph 1, what is the number
  of pupils who are said to be taking the KS3
  Reading Test this year? (one mark)

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Answer to Question 1

• a hundred thousand (one mark)

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Question 2

• 2. Other than giving us a figure, explain one
  other thing that the writer does, in paragraph 1,
  to suggest that a large number of pupils are
  taking this Test. (one mark)

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Answer to Question 2

• One of the following
• The writer repeats some words or phrases to
  emphasise the number
• The writer used the phrase the length breadth
  of England
• The writer emphasises the large number of schools
  by using the phrase in every town and in every
  city (one mark)

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Question 3

• Complete the following list by summing up what
  each of the other group of the pupils is said to
  be doing
• Trying to imagine they are not there (Staring
  vacantly).

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Answer to question 3

• Looking worried (furrowed brows), or
  remembering last years test.
• AND
• Looking around or looking at other pupils or
  looking at teachers.
• (one mark for each)

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Question 4

• 4. Write down two of the words used to suggest
  the attitudes of the teachers described towards
  the end of the second paragraph. (two marks)

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Answer to Question 4

• Two of
• striding
• importantly,
• looking anxiously ,
• puzzling
• (one mark for each)

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Question 5

• Which of these three descriptions best fits the
  passage as a whole
• a. Persuasive, angry and descriptive
• b. light-hearted and descriptive
• c. Sad, informative, vague.(one mark)

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Answer to Question 5

• b.
• (one mark)

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Now for the real Test

• Well done.
• Use the 15 minute reading time - 5 minutes
  reading on each passage.
• Highlight the key words in the questions.
• Think what each question wants.
• Do not rush.
• Good luck.