y9 how to smash the exam
TRANSCRIPT
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How to smash the KS3 Exam
Thursday 21st May
LO: To understand the structure of
the exam
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The structure
• The exam is 1 hour 45 minutes long• The paper is split equally into reading and
writing – 40 marks for each• There are 4 reading questions and 1
writing question• There will be a colour insert containing 2
sources on a vaguely related topic• How many marks available should help
you decide how long to spend on each question – Just like the GCSE exam timing is crucial!
• (There will be a clock if you are watchless)
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BEFORE YOU START
• The first task should be to read both texts you are given.
• Before even looking at the questions, just get it straight in your head what is “going on.”
• Try and identify the genre of each text – you may be told this if you look carefully! –consider how is each text different?
No more than 15 minutes reading time just to digest
the two texts
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Question 1• As the whole year group is taking this
test, question 1 is designed to ease you in gently – to give you confidence and basically ensure nobody in the hall leaves with a zero.
• It will test your skimming and scanning skills – can you spot information in the given source?
• There will be a series of statements that you will have to decide are true or false
4 marks = no more than 4 minutes! It’s just not worth it!
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Question 2• Question 2 is a bit longer and so is worth 8 marks• There will be a similar theme to the 2 texts and you will
be asked to write a summary of what is being talked about
• Can you identify and interpret the information you have been given?
• Top marks will involve some precisely chosen quotes used but majority of your answer will be your own words.
• Inference will be required to get above 2 out of 8 -
8 marks = try around 8-9 minutes
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Question 3
• Question 3 will ask you to look at one of the texts in particular, asking you how language is used for effect
• This will test your knowledge of any language techniques you have learnt in forever
• Words / Phrases / Language features / Language techniques / Sentence forms
• You will need to analyse the choice of language, offer precise quotes and use a range of subject terminology appropriately to get the top Level
12 Marks = 12-13
minutes on this
question
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Question 4
• Question 4 will ask you to look at both sources – you need to compare how each text presents a particular theme
• You will need to compare ideas in a perceptive way – so comparison connectives must be used – how many do you know?
• Quotations must be precise and well-chosen (You get the picture by now!)
16 marks –spend
around 16-18 minutes
on this question
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Question 5 - Writing
• Now you are onto the writing! If you are scared about timing yourself, you may think of starting with Question 5 as it is longer
• however, you may want to read the reading texts first as your task will normally be on the same theme – so on this practise paper there is an animal theme!
• So there may be facts or statistics that you may wish to borrow for your writing (but do not copy word for word – not so good….)
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Question 5 - Writing
• Question 5 will set you a statement which you will use to give your point of view – it will either be to explain or to argue your point of view. Be careful as there is a subtle difference.
• To explain – to inform readers by providing facts using clear statements
• Giving unbiased detailed answers
• Style is linked to the given audience
• Use of structural features to order your answer
• Linguistic devices used for effect
• Sophisticated vocabulary
You will get to spend the
whole remaining 45 minutes
on this question –
which includes
time to plan it out!
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Question 5 - Writing
• 24 marks for content and organisation
• (Is the writing interesting to read? Is it well organised? Have they used ambitious words and features?)
• 16 marks for accuracy
• (Spelling, punctuation and grammar)
You will get to spend the
whole remaining 45 minutes
on this question –
which includes
time to plan it out!
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Practise Writing task
• “People become too attached to their pets. Animals are here to be useful, not to be spoilt.”
• Write the text to appear on a website about the treatment of animals in which you explain your point of view on this statement.
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Animals - how should they be treated?
What reasons for each of the sides could you think of?
We love being attached to our pets –they should be spoilt!
This is a problem. Animals are here to be useful