This document provides guidance on preparing for the reading comprehension section of the GCSE English exam. It explains that the exam is divided into 3 units worth different percentages of the total grade. Unit 1 includes a 2 hour and 15 minute exam worth 40% that tests reading and writing skills. It focuses on helping students maximize their chances of earning a C or higher in Section A, which involves answering questions about 3 unseen non-fiction texts. The document provides tips on skills like skimming, scanning, identifying purpose, audience and form, reading between the lines, and preparing for exam day.

2. Your guide to gaining the
best possible grade for
reading

3. How is my GCSE made up?
Unit 1 - Your examination (2 hours 15 minutes)
Worth 40% of total marks
Section A – Understanding non-fiction texts (testing reading skills) 20%
Section B – Producing non-fiction texts (testing writing skills) 20%
Unit 2 - Speaking and Listening
Worth 20% of total marks
3 x assessments completed in class and assessed by your teacher
Unit 3 - Controlled Assessments
Worth 40% of total marks
1 x Extended reading – worth 15%
2 x Creative writing – worth 15%
1 x Spoken Language Study – worth 10%
All assessments completed in exam conditions in class and assessed
by your teacher

4. Unit 1 section A.
How can you maximise your
chances of gaining a C in this
section?
Let’s see what the exam board say
you need to know....

5. AQA Assessment objectives for Unit 1 Section A
This is what the exam board AQA say you need to know:
Read and understand texts, selecting material appropriate to purpose,
collating from different sources and making comparisons and cross-
references as appropriate.
This means can you understand what the text is about and be able to write
about it clearly? Can you select parts of the text that support your ideas and
compare two different texts with each other.
Explain and evaluate how writers use linguistic, grammatical, structural and
presentational features to achieve effects and engage and influence the
reader, supporting their comments with detailed textual references.
This means can you explain why the author has used specific words and
phrases. Can you explain the effect they have on the reader. Can you also talk
in detail about the presentation (not the writing) of the text?

6. AQA Assessment objectives for Unit 1 Section A
In the examination, you will be given 3 pieces of unseen writing to read. The writing
will always be non – fiction / media and you will always be asked five questions.
The type of texts you are asked to read could be any of the
following:
Leaflets
Articles (newspaper and magazine)
Reports
Autobiography / biography
Travel writing
Advertisements
Web pages
Reviews

7. AQA Assessment objectives for Unit 1 Section A
So, there are five questions in total:
Question 1a – find information in Source 1 (4 marks)
Question 1b – write about how a point is suggested, so
being able to read between the lines in Source 1 (4
marks)
Question 2 - find and understand part of Source 2 and
suggest what is being implied (8 marks)
Question 3 – write in detail about the language the
writer of Source 3 has used (12 marks)
Question 4 - choose two of the sources and compare
the presentational features used (12 marks)

8. Preparing for the reading
section of the exam really
helps you prepare for the
writing section of the exam –
many of the skills are identical.

9. Back to Basics
Skimming and scanning
techniques
Skimming and scanning are ways of
reading a text quickly. You will need
these skills when you are looking
for information in your source
materials.

10. Skimming and scanning are especially valuable when there is
only one item of information that you need to find from a
particular passage.
Skimming and scanning are very rapid
reading methods in which you glance at a
passage to find specific information. These
reading methods make it easier for you to
grasp large amounts of material, especially
when you're previewing. They are also
useful when you don't need to know every
word.

11. Skimming refers to the process of reading only main
ideas within a passage to get an overall impression of
the content of a reading selection. An example of this is
when we read the title of a newspaper to know what
happens everyday.
How to skim:
1.Read the title.
2.Read the introduction or the first paragraph.
3.Read the first sentence of every other paragraph.
4.Notice any pictures, charts, or graphs. * Notice any
italicized or boldface words or phrases.
5.Read the summary or last paragraph.

12. Scanning is a reading technique to be used when you want
to find specific information quickly. In scanning you have a
question in your mind and you read a passage only to find
the answer, ignoring unrelated information.
How to scan:
1. State the specific information you are looking for.
2. Try to anticipate how the answer will appear and what
clues you might use to help you locate the answer. For
example, if you were looking for a certain date, you
would quickly read the paragraph looking only for
numbers.
3. Use headings and any other aids that will help you
identify which sections might contain the information
you are looking for.
4. Selectively read and skip through sections of the
passage.

13. Back to Basics
When reading any type of non fiction text, try to find the PAF.
PAF means PURPOSE, AUDIENCE, FORM
PURPOSE
The purpose of a text is most important. What is the text trying to do? Is it
trying to make you buy something? Is it trying to give you advice? Is it trying to
give you balanced information about an event? How do you know this? What
gives it away?
AUDIENCE
Who do you think is the intended audience of this text? Is it a child? Is it a
teenager? Is it an adult? How do you know? What gave it away?
FORM
What kind of non fiction text is this? Is it a letter, a newspaper article, a
review? How do you know? What gives it away? Do you know the features of
each kind of non fiction text type? This will be helpful for the writing section
too.......

14. Reading between the lines
Humour / sarcasm. A writer might poke fun at a topic or mock it to show that
they disagree with it.
Exaggeration. A writer might go over the top about the topic. This implies that
they like or don’t like something.
Repetition. A writer could repeat a statistic or a phrase to show they do or
don’t like something.
Rhetorical questions. This is a technique often used in writing an argument
and its function is to get the reader to agree with what the writer thinks.
Positive and negative language. Words often carry positive and negative
meanings. It might be nice to be called ‘curvy’ but not so nice to be ‘fat’.
Emotive language. This is language that stirs up the emotions. If the writer
uses language like ‘unimaginable cruelty’ when discussing animal experiments,
they are probably not in favour of them.

15. Finally!!
Top tips for exam success........
1.Prepare for your exam now. Start saving that junk mail ..... you know what to do!
2.Start asking for those past papers.
3.Time yourself. You have 1 hour to complete 5 questions. Can you do it?
4.Read every non fiction title you can manage. Start to look at different types of
newspapers and magazines, web pages, travel writing etc. Start to look for particular
styles – know what to expect.
5.Get a good night’s sleep before your exam – you’ll need it!
6.Pack at least two pens in black or blue.
7.Read the questions before you read the texts. This will help you as you already
know what you are looking for when you read the texts.
8.Read the questions carefully. Use the bullet points to help structure your answer.
9.Remember that you get most marks for questions 4 and 5.
You can do it!!