YEAR 9

END OF YEAR TEST

2016

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

REVISION & INFORMATION BOOKLET

Y9 ENGLISH 2015-16

ENGLISH OVERVIEW

• In Year 11, you will sit two exams in English Language and two in English Literature. • For the Year 9 test, one exam only, in English Language. • Everybody sits the same paper • You will have no books with you in the test to help you.

THE ENGLISH Y9 END OF YEAR TEST

• You have not practised this English Language paper in class before, and therefore it will be completely new to you. The exam tests your reading and writing skills only – skills that you have been practising since you started school!

• The point of the test is to:

o give you experience of writing in formal exam conditions o find out how well you can apply your English studies to a GCSE exam o find out what areas you need to concentrate on next year

• Paper 1 is split into 2 sections: Section A, Reading, and Section B, Writing.

• Try to answer ALL of the questions for Section A. The questions increase in difficulty.

• Answer only one of the questions for Section B.

• The mock exam is 1 hour and 45 minutes long:

o Spend about 15 minutes reading through the questions and the fiction extract o Spend about 45 minutes answering the questions in Section A – Reading

o Spend about 5 minutes planning your writing for Section B o Spend about 35 writing your answer to Section B o Spend about 5 minutes checking your writing for accuracy

QUESTION STRUCTURE

Section A – Reading

You will be asked to read a piece of fiction and answer questions about it. Answer all the questions.

You could be asked to:

• List facts about the text • Decide whether statements about the text are true or false • Analyse the writer’s use of language • Analyse the writer’s use of structure • Decide to what extent you agree with a statement

Section B – Writing

You will be asked to write something. You will be given a choice of questions. Answer only one question.

You could be asked to:

• Write part of a story • Write a description • Write in response to a picture

WHAT WE EXPECT YOU TO BE ABLE TO DO AT THIS STAGE OF SCHOOL:

1. You MUST try to answer all of the questions in Section A, using quotations to support your answers

when necessary

2. You MUST try to write at least 5 paragraphs in response to Section B

3. You SHOULD be able to pick out some examples of language features

4. You MIGHT be able to pick out some structural features

5. You SHOULD be able to agree and/or disagree with a statement, and give a reason why

REMEMBER TO…

• Read the questions carefully • Use the line numbers to help you • Support your ideas with quotations • Check your writing for accuracy and paragraphs

WHAT ARE “LANGUAGE FEATURES”

• For Section A of the exam, you will be asked to analyse the “writer’s use of language”. • This means that you need to explain why the writer chose to use different words, phrases or

techniques. You need to explain the effect of these choices on the reader. • You can also use these language features in your own writing in Section B.

SOME LANGUAGE FEATURES YOU MIGHT FIND USED IN A PIECE OF WRITING: You can practise explaining the effects of features by completing the empty boxes.

LANGUAGE FEATURE DEFINITION & EXAMPLE POSSIBLE EFFECT

What is the effect of the language features used?

Adjective A word that describes a noun: The grey, old building.

The writer’s use of adjectives makes the building seem depressing and neglected.

Verb A word that defines an action: He stumbled and tripped.

The writer’s use of verbs makes the man seem clumsy and awkward.

Adverb Often used to describe verbs: He stumbled and tripped frequently.

The writer’s use of the adverb suggests that the man is really struggling to walk.

Noun A person, place or thing: The gang finally arrived.

The writer’s use of the noun makes the people seem like a group of friends. It also sounds a little threatening.

Alliteration Groups of words that start with the same sound: The tall trees trembled…

Simile A comparison using “as” or “like”: …as white as snow.

Metaphor

A comparison where one things is described as actually being another: The teacher was a real dragon.

Senses

Use of smell, taste, touch, hearing or sight – but especially sounds and smells: The thick tarry smoke and rattle of chains filled the air…

WHAT ARE “STRUCTURAL FEATURES”

• For Section A of the exam, you will be asked to analyse the “writer’s use of structure”. • This means that you need to explain why the writer chose to order and organise their writing in

certain ways. • You can also use these structural features in your own writing in Section B.

SOME STRUCTURAL FEATURES YOU MIGHT FIND USED IN A PIECE OF WRITING: You can practise explaining the effects of features by completing the empty boxes.

STRUCTURAL FEATURE DEFINITION or EXAMPLE POSSIBLE EFFECT

What is the effect of the language features used?

Short sentence / paragraphs

He dropped his gun. The writer’s use of a short sentence makes the event seem sudden, dramatic and more important.

Lists The wind blew, the rain fell, and temperature dropped…

Repeated ideas An image, phrase or idea is used more than once in a piece of writing.

Zoom in

The writer might start with a general description of something, and then focus on specific, important details.

Linear / chronological structure

Events happen in time order so that they make sense. Most texts are written this way.

Non-linear Events do not happen in time order. Flashbacks or memories might be used.

Building suspense and tension

Events at the start of the writing are calm and ‘normal’, but become more and more exciting and unusual.

Ellipsis The use of ‘…’

Introductions and conclusions

Opening paragraphs might introduce new ideas with general information; conclusions might summarise events.

Cliff-hanger The writing ends without explaining fully what happens next.