Reading and Writing
Reading and Writing: what the paper tests
This paper checks reading of simple sentences and short texts, and writing at word level. It lasts about 20 minutes and has five parts with 25 questions. Pictures carry much of the meaning, so learners match words to what they see. Writing is limited: words, numbers and one-word answers, not full sentences. Part 3 also tests spelling through anagrams.
Core format and rules
- Part 1 (5 marks): read a sentence about a picture and put a tick if it is true or a cross if it is false.
- Part 2 (5 marks): read sentences about a picture and write 'yes' or 'no'.
- Part 3 (5 marks): look at a picture and a set of jumbled letters; write the word.
- Part 4 (5 marks): read a short picture story with gaps; choose words from a box.
- Part 5 (5 marks): read questions about a picture and write one-word answers.
In Parts 1 and 2, every detail matters: the object, action, colour, number and position. A sentence with one wrong detail is false. In Part 3, use the picture to identify the object, then arrange all the letters into a familiar word. In Part 4, read the whole story before choosing; the box words are used once. In Part 5, answer the question directly with one word or number.
Worked example
Part 3 shows a picture of a chair and the letters 'r i a h c'.
Reasoning: the picture is a piece of furniture for one person; the letters can form 'chair'. The first letter is not fixed by the order given, so move letters rather than reading left to right. Write 'chair', not 'chari'. Check spelling and singular/plural: one chair, so no -s.
Traps that cost marks
- Ticking a sentence that is 'almost right'. 'The cat is on the table' is false if the cat is under it.
- Answering 'yes' from general knowledge. In Part 2, answer only what the picture shows.
- Using letters twice in Part 3. Each letter in the jumbled set is used once; a missing letter means the word is wrong.
- Writing a full sentence in Part 5. One word is enough and extra words can introduce errors.
- Ignoring the word box in Part 4. A word may fit the grammar but not the story meaning.