The document provides guidance and tips for students taking mock exams in preparation for the Reading section of an exam. It emphasizes the following skills needed to do well on the Reading section: reading and understanding non-fiction texts; selecting quotations from the texts to support ideas; comparing and cross-referencing multiple texts; commenting on the use of language and its impact on the reader; and organizing responses into effective paragraphs with good punctuation and spelling. The document then guides students through sample exam questions, providing success criteria for skills and excellent answers. It advises students to reflect on their performance, identifying their strengths and areas for improvement.

1. Making Mocks Matter

2. READ THE QUESTIONS FOR SECTION A
HIGHLIGHT key words (so you know what you’re looking for
when reading the insert)
2 minutes

3. READ THE INSERT
THREE non-fiction texts (newspaper article, extract from a
biography, travel writing, etc)
HIGHLIGHT key words (that help you understand what the
text is about and will help you answer the questions in
Section A)
13 minutes

4. QUESTION 1 12 minutes
Technique: 8 marks = 4 ideas
4 x Idea + Quotation + Impact on reader
We find out that the tribes live in remote areas. For example, the
author describes how “it is peaceful and there is not another soul
for miles around”. This suggests that the tribe have become used
to living in isolation and would not welcome visitors or tourists.
- Read and understand non-fiction texts
- Select quotations to support ideas

5. FLAP: Form, Language, Audience, Purpose – HIGHLIGHT these in the
question
Brainstorm/Plan: 16 marks: 3–4 ideas/sections
24 marks: 4–6 ideas/sections
24 minutes
Variety of: Vocabulary Paragraphs
Sentence Structures Punctuation
36 minutes

6. What skills do you need to do well in the
Reading section of the exam?
Engaging, exciting writing
Comment on use of
layout and presentational
devices and their impact
on the reader
Compare and cross-
reference texts
Select quotations to
support ideas
Comment on the use of
language on its impact on
the reader
Read and understand
non-fiction texts
Good punctuation
Good spelling
A wide range of sentence
structures
Organise your work into
effective paragraphs
Handwriting

7. What skills do you need to do well in the
Reading section of the exam?
Comment on use of
layout and presentational
devices and their impact
on the reader
Compare and cross-
reference texts
Select quotations to
support ideas
Comment on the use of
language on its impact on
the reader
Read and understand
non-fiction texts
Which skill do you think you are currently best at?
Which do you think you need to develop?

9. Question Wording Skill(s) My Mark
1
What do you learn from
Elisabeth Hyde’s article about
where she has been and what
she has been doing?
- Read and understand non-
fiction texts
- Select quotations to support
ideas
/8
Question Marks Skilled... Excellent...
1 8
(1-4 marks)
- identifies the main points about
where Elisabeth Hyde has been
and what she has been doing
BUT
- has no quotations or only for
some of the points made
(5-8 marks)
- explains a range of the things
Elisabeth Hyde has been doing
- has quotations from the text to
support their ideas
- make inferences and deductions
about what kind of trip she had
Use the Success Criteria on the back of the sheet to decide what mark
YOU think you got.

11. Skilled
(1-4 marks)
- identifies the main points
about where Elisabeth Hyde
has been and what she has
been doing
BUT
- has no quotations or only for
some of the points made
Excellent
(5-8 marks)
- explains a range of the things
Elisabeth Hyde has been doing
- has quotations from the text
to support their ideas
- make inferences and
deductions about what kind of
trip she had

12. Is this from a skilled or excellent answer?

13. Is this from a skilled or excellent answer?

16. When you get your marks, add them to your teacher feedback sheet so
you have a single record of ALL your feedback and your marks.

17. My overall mark
Section A: /40
Mark Grade
31+ A*
27-30 A
24-26 B
21-23 C
17-20 D
16 or below N

19. Looking at your marks,
which skill are you
ACTUALLY best at?
Which skill to you need to
develop?
1. Which questions in the mock exam that you have just taken does
your target apply to?
2. Of those questions, which one could you have improved the most?
3. Re-write your answer to that question, using your target to improve
your performance.

20. What skills do you need to do well in the
Writing section of the exam?
Engaging, exciting writing
Comment on use of
layout and presentational
devices and their impact
on the reader
Compare and cross-
reference texts
Select quotations to
support ideas
Comment on the use of
language on its impact on
the reader
Read and understand
non-fiction texts
Good punctuation
Good spelling
A wide range of sentence
structures
Organise your work into
effective paragraphs
Handwriting

26. When you get your marks, add them
to your teacher feedback sheet so
you have a single record of ALL your
feedback and your marks.

27. My overall mark
Section A: /40
Section B: /40
TOTAL: /80
Mark Grade
0-27 U
28-32 N
33-42 D
43-49 C
50-56 B
57-63 A
64-80 A*

29. Looking at your marks,
which skill are you
ACTUALLY best at?
Which skill to you need to
develop?
1. Which of the two questions in the Writing section could you improve
the most?
2. Re-write your answer to that answer, using your target to improve
your performance.

30. HIGHER
FOUNDATION