Year 8January Exams English Revision
You will complete two exams in English:
English Reading Exam (1 hour) – this is based on an unseen extract.
English Writing Exam (45 minutes) – you will be given a picture and asked to describe it OR to write a story.
Reading Exam: 1 hour
You will be given an unseen extract. You will be asked four questions:
Question / Timing / What does the question ask? / How should I answer?1 / 5 mins / List four things you learn about ______/ Make sure you answer the question!
2 / 15 mins / How does the writer use language to ______?
You could include the writer’s choice of:
- words and phrases
- language features and techniques
- sentence forms
Choose evidence that helps you answer the question
Use PEE
Pick out and fully analyse key words
Use the modal verbs: could, may and might to explore different interpretations
3 / 15 mins / How has the writer structured the text to interest you as a reader?
You could write about:
- what the writer focuses your attention on at the beginning
- how and why the writer changes this focus as the Source develops
- any other structural features that interest you.
Use sentence starters such as:
- At the beginning of the extract…
- Towards the middle of the extract…
- At the end of the extract…
4 / 25 mins / Focus this part of your answer on the second half of the Source.
A student, having read this section of the text said: ‘This part of the story is ______’
To what extent do you agree?
In your response, you could:
- write about your own impressions of ______
- evaluate how the writer has created ______
- support your opinions with quotations from the text
Choose evidence that helps you answer the question
Use PEE
Pick out and fully analyse key words
Use the modal verbs: could, may and might to explore different interpretations
Writing Exam: 45 minutes
You will be given a picture and asked to either:
write a description of the pictureOR
write a story
What am I aiming to show?
You will be given a mark out of 24 for content and organisation and a mark out of 16 for technical accuracy. This will be added together to give you a total mark out of 40.
Content and organisation (24 marks)
Communication is convincing and compelling throughout
Tone, style and register matched to purpose, form and audience
Extensive and ambitious vocabulary
Range of techniques – similes, metaphors, personification, alliteration, pathetic fallacy, etc
Ideas are organised into paragraphs
Paragraphs are fluently linked with a range of connectives both within and between paragraphs
Technical accuracy (16 marks)
Accurate use of full stops, capital letters and commas throughout
Full range of punctuation used accurately - …():;!? -,.
Full range of sentence lengths and structures
Uses Standard English (no slang)
Accurate spelling
Extensive and ambitious vocabulary
Using more ambitious vocabulary
Synonym challenge
A synonym is a word that means the same as another word
Complete the table by adding as many synonyms as you can think of. The first column has been done for you.
happy / sad / hot / cold / angry / calmblissful
cheery
content
delighted
ecstatic
euphoric
exultant
gleeful
jovial
joyful
jubilant
rapturous
thrilled
Superb similes
A simile is ______
Complete these similes:
The moon glowed like ______
Raindrops dripped down the window pane like ______
Smoke floated on the air like ______
The air smells as fresh as ______
The rose petals are as delicate as ______
The surface of the water is as smooth as ______
The icicles pointed downwards like ______
Dewdrops glistened on the flowers like ______
The fog covered the city like ______
The clouds are as fluffy as ______
The girl sings as sweetly as ______
The traffic moved as slowly as ______
The crows cackled like ______
The children scuttled across the beach like ______
The road wove its way up the mountain like ______
The sea sand lay across the path like ______
The water streamed down like ______
Snow drifted to the earth like ______
Clumps of snow stuck to the branches like ______
Her angry words spewed out like______
The rain tapped on the roof as steadily as ______
The wind rushed through the house like ______
Wildflowers dotted the landscape like ______
The child ate like ______
His stomach rumbled like ______
The soft breeze on her face was as gentle as ______
Snow topped the mountain like ______
Perfect personification
Personification is when human qualities are given to things that are not human. It is a very effective descriptive writing technique.
Underline the example of personification in each sentence.
1. The wind sang her mournful song through the falling leaves.
2. The strawberries seemed to sing, "Eat me first!"
3. The rain kissed my cheeks as it fell.
4. The daffodils nodded their yellow heads at the walkers.
5. The water beckoned invitingly to the hot swimmers.
6. The snow whispered as it fell to the ground during the early morning hours.
7. The china danced on the shelves during the earthquake.
8. The car engine coughed and sputtered when it started during the blizzard.
Practice assessment
Your school or college is asking students to contribute some creative writing for its website.
Write a description suggested by this picture:
ORWrite a story which begins: I guessed that something was wrong as soon as I …
(24 marks for content and organisation
16 marks for technical accuracy)
[40 marks]
Example of excellent descriptive writing
Now look at this example. Label all the features that make it an effective description.
Clouds crawl majestically across a black velvet sky studded with tiny diamond-like stars. Like a delighted queen surveying her magical kingdom, the pearly moon smiles proudly. Anticipation simmers. The air is ripe with excitement. Despite the icy chill that pierces the night like a knife, crowds have gathered on the old market square. Welcome to Wonderland!
The first stall offers a range of tasty treats: warm mince pies that melt in the mouth; striped candy canes in a myriad of colours; hot turkey sandwiches that smell divine; gingerbread reindeer with sparkling antlers; and luscious hot drinks like sweet, syrupy nectar. The temptation proves too much.
“I want that one!” a child yelps excitedly as he points to a gigantic chocolate snowman.
“Just a minute Ben,“ his Dad replies.
But Ben’s excitement is insuppressible. His hand flies towards the snowman, snatching frantically at the plastic casing. He grabs it and tugs violently, sending scores of chocolate treats cascading to the ground. Disaster! Ben’s Dad is furious. The stall-holder is livid. Ben’s in trouble…serious trouble.
“How could you be so stupid?” his Dad roars. Ben is silent and shame-faced; words have escaped him.
Far from the commotion and chaos of the food stall, an elderly couple stroll towards the candle stall. The smell is heavenly: cinnamon, vanilla, spiced orange, heather and saffron. Spoilt for choice, they gaze in wonder at the tiny flames that dance and flicker. Their eyes feast on the sumptuous selection before they eventually make a choice. Hand in hand, they wander on, clutching their precious purchase.
Meanwhile, at the Christmas jumper stall, an argument is brewing. One jumper, two sisters…who will win? They scowl at each other menacingly.
“Sorry girls, that’s the last one I’m afraid.” The stall-holder tries to tempt the girls with an alternative design. It’s futile. Their minds are made up.
“Perhaps you could share it?” the elderly stall-holder suggests.
“Not a chance,” replies their Mum.
The stall-holder shrugs sympathetically whilst the innocent jumper sits patiently on its hanger. This battle has only just begun.
On the other side of the market a group of amateur singers are warming up for their much-anticipated performance. Clutching their music, they begin to sing their joyful, jubilant carols. Ribbons of sweet music spiral through the night sky.
The royal moon is elated and content. Her smile widens. ‘Merry Christmas’ she whispers to herself. ‘Merry Christmas everyone.’
Practice assessment
Your school or college is asking students to contribute some creative writing for its website.
Write a description suggested by this picture:
OR
Write a story which begins: The last thing I wanted to do that day was…
(24 marks for content and organisation
16 marks for technical accuracy)
[40 marks]
Practice assessment
Write a story about an old man as suggested by this picture:
OR Write a story about a character who makes a mistake.
Write a description suggested by this picture:
OR Write a story which begins: As the mist cleared, I saw…
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