Reading and Responding: Comprehension of Texts
Reading and Responding: Comprehension of Texts
This domain tests close reading of fiction and non-fiction: retrieving explicit information, interpreting implied meaning, recognising the writer's purpose and tone, and explaining vocabulary in context. Answers must be grounded in the passage, not in general knowledge.
Core rules
- Skim first for the gist and text structure; then scan for the line or paragraph that answers each question.
- Answer in your own words unless the question asks you to quote. Quote only the relevant words, not a whole sentence.
- For 'in context' vocabulary, substitute the word in the sentence and test whether the meaning still fits.
- Distinguish fact from opinion, and claim from evidence: 'The council claims...' is not the same as 'Research shows...'.
- Match the length of your answer to the marks: a 2-mark question needs two distinct points.
Worked example
Passage: 'With no guaranteed funding, the scheme is a gamble, but one the council believes is worth taking.' Question: What does 'a gamble' suggest about the scheme? (2 marks) Answer: It involves financial risk because funding is not certain, yet the council expects a worthwhile return. Reasoning: 'gamble' signals risk or uncertainty; 'no guaranteed funding' explains the risk; 'but...worth taking' adds the council's optimistic judgement. Two ideas equal two marks. A weak answer such as 'It is like a casino game' is literal and misses the financial risk.
Traps
Copying large chunks of text and hoping the examiner finds the point; answering from background knowledge; confusing the writer's view with a quoted speaker's view; ignoring 'both' or 'two reasons' in the question; writing one long point when two are required.