readingpaper

__**Reading Paper (32 marks)**__

The Reading Paper is worth **32 marks** and you have **1 hour and 15 minutes** to complete it. It will contain 3 texts - these can be a mixture of fiction and non-fiction.

There is a booklet that has particular theme that you should be able to work out (all of the texts are linked by this theme) and you should spend **__15 minutes reading__** through all of the texts and trying to work out:


 * Content** - what is each text about?


 * Language** - what sort of language does each text use? Is it persuasive, descriptive etc? Is it formal or informal? How do you know? Can you find any of the features of these forms of writing? Has the writer usd any words/phrases for a particular effect? What is the effect?


 * Audience** - who is it written for? How do you know? Is it the subject of the writing? The language used? Is it the way it is laid out?


 * Purpose** - why was it written? What is whoever wrote it trying to do? Is it to persuade someone about something or argue a particular point of view? Is it giving advice? Is it describing something or informing someone about something? Is it explaining something to someone? Is it a story that is entertaining? What is the overall effect on the audience? Does it persuade them? etc...


 * Presentation** - how is the text laid out? Does it have paragraphs or subheadings? Does it have different fonts or use underlining? Why might it use any of these? What is the effect on these on the audience?


 * Tone** - what is the mood of the text? Is it light-hearted or amusing? Is it serious? Does it try to bring out an emotion in someone? How do you know?


 * You should then spend 20 minutes on each section of questions on each of the three texts. This means you should spend about 1 hour answering ALL of the questions.

There are shorter questions that are worth 1-2 marks and longer questions worth 5 marks. You should aim to divide your time so you spend 10 minutes on the shorter questions about each text and 10 minutes on the 5 mark longer questions. YOU SHOULD ANSWER EVERY QUESTION!

Reading is assessed in a number of ways and the different questions in the exam will test different skills. The document below explains what skills are tested and what you need to do to respond to questions that test a certain skill. These skills are called Assessment Focuses (AFs).

Download the document below to learn more about the skills tested (AFs)



The Year 8 Optional Tests revealed that pupils have weaknesses in the following skills:

- AF3 (be able to deduce/infer/interpret information and ideas from the text) - AF5 (explain and comment on the writer's use of language)

Download the documents below to help develop your skills in these areas. If you ask the questions on each worksheet, it will develop your understanding of how to succeed in these skill areas:

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