Paper 1 – Reading
Written paper, 2 hours, 50 marks
Candidates answer all the questions in two compulsory sections. Candidates write their answers in the space provided on the question paper.
The texts are printed in the question paper insert.
Dictionaries must not be used.
Section A Comprehension and Use of Language (25 marks)
- Question 1 Comprehension task
- Candidates respond to a series of sub-questions based on Text A, a narrative text. These are short answers testing understanding of both explicit and implicit meanings.
- Text A is approximately 900 words long and is from either the twentieth or the twenty-first century.
- This question tests the following reading assessment objectives (16 marks):
- R1 demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings
- R2 demonstrate understanding of implicit meanings and attitude.
Question 2 Use of Language task
- Candidates respond to a series of sub-questions based on Text A. These are short answers worth a total of nine marks relating to the author’s use of language and the effect this has.
- This question tests the following reading assessment objective (9 marks):
- R4 demonstrate understanding of how writers achieve effects and influence readers.
Section B Summary and Short response (25 marks)
Question 3a Summary task
- Text B is approximately 550–600 words long.
- Candidates answer a summary task in response to Text B. Candidates write a summary as continuous writing of no more than 150 words.
- This question tests the following reading assessment objectives (10 marks):
- R1 demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings
- R5 select and use information for specific purposes.
- This question also tests the following writing assessment objectives (10 marks):
- W2 organise and structure ideas and opinions for deliberate effect
- W3 use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures appropriate to context.
Question 3b Short response task
- Candidates give a short response to show understanding of implicit meanings and attitude in response to Text B.
- This question tests the following reading assessment objective (5 marks):
- R2 demonstrate understanding of implicit meanings and attitudes.