GRADE 12 IEB
ENGLISH HL
PAPER 1
,Paper 1: Comprehension Notes (IEB)
Paper 1: Summary Notes (IEB)
Paper 1: Seen Poetry Notes (IEB)
Paper 1: Unseen Poetry Notes (IEB)
Paper 1: Critical & Visual Literacy Notes (IEB)
Paper 1: Language Notes (IEB)
,Question 1: Comprehension
Comprehension Notes – Overview & Introduction
The comprehension section of Paper 1 is designed to test more than just your ability to “read a
passage.” Examiners are looking for three key skills:
1. Understanding (Literal Meaning)
You must show that you can read and explain what the text is saying in your own words. This
includes identifying the writer’s main ideas and summarising arguments.
2. Interpretation (Inference and Analysis)
Questions often go beyond “what is written” and ask what is suggested, implied, or reinforced.
Here, you must think critically about the text — not just repeat it.
3. Language and Style (How it is Written)
You need to comment on diction (word choice), tone, register, structure, and other language
techniques, and explain how they support the writer’s message.
Why is comprehension difficult?
- Many learners copy directly from the passage instead of answering in their own words.
- Answers are often too long for low-mark questions, or too vague for high-mark ones.
- Learners struggle with tone, diction, and inference because they don’t know what
examiners want.
- Time management: spending too long on one question and rushing the rest.
How these notes will help you
- Provide clear strategies for answering each type of question.
- Give you a cheat-sheet of useful vocabulary (tone, diction, style).
- Show you step-by-step methods to approach passages.
, Question 2: Summary
Summary Notes - Summary Strategy
1. Read All Texts First
a. Skim all provided texts (Text 2, 3, 4, etc.) to get the general idea of each.
b. Don’t annotate yet — just identify the purpose of each text.
c. Ask yourself: What is the main point of this text?
d. Who is it for? (context matters for register)
2. Highlight Relevant Information
a. Focus on ideas that answer the task directly.
b. Ignore:
i. Repeated information
ii. Examples or stories (unless they directly support the main idea)
iii. Minor details or statistics unless essential
Tip: Use keywords to highlight: impact, benefit, challenge, change, official, education…
3. Paraphrase as You Go
a. Rewriting ideas in your own words is crucial — cutting & pasting loses marks.
b. Techniques:
i. Use synonyms: impact → influence, effect
ii. Change structure: convert lists into sentences
iii. Condense: remove unnecessary words, combine short sentences
4. Synthesize Information
a. Combine ideas from multiple texts into one cohesive thought.
b. Don’t just repeat points text by text; merge related concepts.
c. Link ideas using connectives: therefore, as a result, thus, consequently,
additionally.
5. Write a Single Cohesive Paragraph
a. Start with a topic sentence summarising the overall idea.
b. Middle sentences combine and condense all the relevant info.
c. End with a concluding remark about the impact (if relevant).
i. Keep sentences full and grammatically correct.
ii. Avoid lists; link sentences smoothly.
6. Check Word Count & Register
a. Maximum: 90 words.
b. Exact word count at the end (required by IEB).
c. Avoid slang, personal opinions, or storytelling tone
d. Final check: grammar, spelling, cohesion
ENGLISH HL
PAPER 1
,Paper 1: Comprehension Notes (IEB)
Paper 1: Summary Notes (IEB)
Paper 1: Seen Poetry Notes (IEB)
Paper 1: Unseen Poetry Notes (IEB)
Paper 1: Critical & Visual Literacy Notes (IEB)
Paper 1: Language Notes (IEB)
,Question 1: Comprehension
Comprehension Notes – Overview & Introduction
The comprehension section of Paper 1 is designed to test more than just your ability to “read a
passage.” Examiners are looking for three key skills:
1. Understanding (Literal Meaning)
You must show that you can read and explain what the text is saying in your own words. This
includes identifying the writer’s main ideas and summarising arguments.
2. Interpretation (Inference and Analysis)
Questions often go beyond “what is written” and ask what is suggested, implied, or reinforced.
Here, you must think critically about the text — not just repeat it.
3. Language and Style (How it is Written)
You need to comment on diction (word choice), tone, register, structure, and other language
techniques, and explain how they support the writer’s message.
Why is comprehension difficult?
- Many learners copy directly from the passage instead of answering in their own words.
- Answers are often too long for low-mark questions, or too vague for high-mark ones.
- Learners struggle with tone, diction, and inference because they don’t know what
examiners want.
- Time management: spending too long on one question and rushing the rest.
How these notes will help you
- Provide clear strategies for answering each type of question.
- Give you a cheat-sheet of useful vocabulary (tone, diction, style).
- Show you step-by-step methods to approach passages.
, Question 2: Summary
Summary Notes - Summary Strategy
1. Read All Texts First
a. Skim all provided texts (Text 2, 3, 4, etc.) to get the general idea of each.
b. Don’t annotate yet — just identify the purpose of each text.
c. Ask yourself: What is the main point of this text?
d. Who is it for? (context matters for register)
2. Highlight Relevant Information
a. Focus on ideas that answer the task directly.
b. Ignore:
i. Repeated information
ii. Examples or stories (unless they directly support the main idea)
iii. Minor details or statistics unless essential
Tip: Use keywords to highlight: impact, benefit, challenge, change, official, education…
3. Paraphrase as You Go
a. Rewriting ideas in your own words is crucial — cutting & pasting loses marks.
b. Techniques:
i. Use synonyms: impact → influence, effect
ii. Change structure: convert lists into sentences
iii. Condense: remove unnecessary words, combine short sentences
4. Synthesize Information
a. Combine ideas from multiple texts into one cohesive thought.
b. Don’t just repeat points text by text; merge related concepts.
c. Link ideas using connectives: therefore, as a result, thus, consequently,
additionally.
5. Write a Single Cohesive Paragraph
a. Start with a topic sentence summarising the overall idea.
b. Middle sentences combine and condense all the relevant info.
c. End with a concluding remark about the impact (if relevant).
i. Keep sentences full and grammatically correct.
ii. Avoid lists; link sentences smoothly.
6. Check Word Count & Register
a. Maximum: 90 words.
b. Exact word count at the end (required by IEB).
c. Avoid slang, personal opinions, or storytelling tone
d. Final check: grammar, spelling, cohesion
