This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC

Guidelines for Exam

Comprehension
The Exam Comprehension has 2 parts:
1. Text A: written extract
2. Text B: Visual text. It includes a picture, a photograph or a
drawing. It will also include some words linked to the picture.

These two texts will test your ability to:

• Make sense of what you read and respond to it.
• Understand the literal meaning, and the deeper figurative meaning
of the text.
• Understand the writer’s intention of purpose in writing the text.
• Appreciate the text and reach conclusions by forming your own
opinions about the text.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the text in terms of its purpose.

Text A: Written text

from “Mind the Gap” Language in Context (GDE)

LME GRADE 10 ENGLISH HL SBHS 2020

Step 1 – Skim and scan the text and questions
Look over the text quickly (skim) to get an idea of what the text is about.
Take note of things such as:
• How many paragraphs there are in the extract;
• The title of the extract, which may also offer a clue to the content of the
passage and the writer’s intention;
• The headings and sub-headings;
• Who wrote the text and where it came from, if this information is given;
• Key words and names;
• Topic sentences;
• Unfamiliar, unusual or difficult words;
vocab
Skim: To read through
• The introductory paragraph – it often creates the atmosphere and the text and the
provides the setting for what is to follow; and questions to quickly to
• The final paragraph – it usually summarises the extract. get an idea of
what they are about.
Then, quickly look at (scan) the questions. This will give you an idea
of what kind of information to look for when you read the text again.
Notice things such as:
• Names of people or places; and
• The question words and instructions.
vocab
Spend about 5 minutes on Step 1 (for text A). Scan: To look quickly
through a text for
specific
A text can also be called an extract or a passage in the exam.
information, for
example,
names of people or
Step 2 - Read the text carefully places.
When you read the extract, take time to read it closely so that you
understand what you are reading. Once you have read the text, think about
the ‘W-H’ question words: who, what, where, when, why, how.
• WHO are the characters (in a fiction text) or the people written about (in
a non-fiction text)?
• WHAT is the main idea in the extract?
• WHERE do the events in the extract take place?
• WHEN do the events in the extract take place?
• WHY has this text been written?
• HOW does the writer express himself or herself? What type of language
has the writer used?
As you read, consider both the literal and figurative meaning of words,
phrases and sentences. For example, ‘the story touched my soul’ does not
literally mean that a story touched your soul, but figuratively that it had an
emotional effect on you.
vocab
Step 3 - Answer the questions Key words and
topic
Read the questions. As you read through them, jot down any answers sentences show
that immediately come into your mind in the ‘rough work section’ of your the main ideas in
the paragraph.
from “Mind the Gap” Language in Context (GDE)

LME GRADE 10 ENGLISH HL SBHS 2020

answer book.
Take a minute to think about what each question asks you to do.
Here are some tips for answering comprehension questions:
• The mark allocation indicates the number of points required. For
example, if the question is for 2 marks, you need to make two points.
• Look for the key words or topic sentence in each paragraph – it often
suggests what each paragraph is about. (Sometimes a paragraph does
not have a topic sentence.)
• Do not copy directly from the text, unless you are asked to quote. Try to
answer the questions in your own words, using full sentences.
• If you are asked to give a synonym or antonym of a word, use the same
part of speech and tense as the original word. For example, replace a
noun with a noun (joy – happiness); and a verb with a verb (look – stare;
looked – stared).
• Avoid starting sentences with conjunctions such as “but” or “because”.
• Do not confuse TRUE/FALSE questions with YES/NO questions. Do not
write T/F for TRUE/FALSE. Always back up a TRUE/FALSE or YES/NO
answer with a reason unless the question specifically says that all you
need to do is give the one-word answer.
• When asked to quote a phrase, remember that a phrase
refers to a group of words without a verb, for example, ‘in
the morning’. If asked to quote consecutive words stick to
vocab
Consecutive words:
the required number of words. Words that follow one after
the other, with no other
words between them.

Text B: Visual text

The second part of the comprehension question is Text B. Text B is a visual text – it
has a picture and some text, followed by some questions.

Steps to writing the visual comprehension question in the exam

When you read a visual text, follow these steps:

Step 1 - Look at the picture

Look at ALL the details in the picture. For example:
• What is the content of the picture? If there are people
in the picture, what are they
doing? Where are they?
• The facial expressions of the people in the picture;
• The body language of the people in the picture;
• The gestures the people are using in the picture;
• The use of light and darkness in the picture;
This Photo by Unknown Author is • The positioning of each part of the picture – what is in
licensed under CC BY-SA-NC the front, background or
centre of the picture?; and
• Think about the mood created by the picture.
from “Mind the Gap” Language in Context (GDE)

LME GRADE 10 ENGLISH HL SBHS 2020

Step 2 - Read the words and link them to the picture
Read the words in the heading of the picture and the words below the picture.
• Look at the picture again.
• Think about how the words support what you see in
the picture.

Step 3 - Answer the questions

Read the questions for Text B and answer them.

What is expected from you in the exam?

In the exam, the comprehension question is worth 30 marks out of 70 marks for
Paper 1. You must answer both parts of the comprehension question – Text A and
Text B.
Text A is an extract of between 600 and 700 words. You will need to read
the extract carefully and then answer the questions based on the extract.
Text A is worth 24 marks.
Text B is a visual text. It includes a picture, for example, a photograph or a
drawing. It will also include some words related to the picture.
Text B is worth 6 marks. The final question usually requires that you compare or
refer to both Texts A and B.
The exam is two hours long and you should spend about 50 minutes on
the comprehension question.

HOMEWORK TASK:
Refer to LANGUAGE/COMPREHENSION/THE
COMPREHENSION QUESTION WORKSHEET 1 AND
WORKSHEET 2 for examination practise.
Memoranda to beprovided.

from “Mind the Gap” Language in Context (GDE)

LME GRADE 10 ENGLISH HL SBHS 2020