COMPREHENSION SKILLS
[30 minutes]
NB!
Do not leave comprehension for last
A sentence per mark
Answer according to mark allocation – elaborate when needed
Pace yourself
Do not leave out questions, always try!
READ THE QUESTION CAREFULLY
[Make sure to always answer all parts of the question!- The question
includes extra information]
What is the actual question?
Where to find the answer?
How to present the answer?
TIPS
1. In each question – underline the KEY WORD OR KEY IDEA
2. If you are asked to supply a synonym or an antonym:
a. Replace it with the same part of speech e.g., a noun with a noun,
an adverb with an adverb
b. Take the word that you have chosen back to the passage.
Replace the original word with this synonym and see if it is
appropriate.
3. Read and follow the instructions given at the beginning of the exam
paper. These are given for your benefit. You can lose valuable
marks if you do not follow the instructions exactly.
4. Skim the entire passage quickly to get the gist of what it is about.
Then read all the questions carefully and re-read (scan) the passage
to find the references to the questions. If you see something that
reminds you of a question, mark it by writing the number of that
question next to the relevant part of the passage.
5. Now read slowly and carefully, looking for details. This detailed
reading will help you to absorb the obvious meaning of the passage,
as well as to read between the lines, working out what the writer
implies or leaves unsaid.
6. Most comprehension questions follow the order of the passage, so
you can find the answers in the same order as that in which the
questions appear. Pay attention to line and paragraph references.
The paragraphs are numbered on the left (1, 2, 3, etc.) and the lines
are numbered on the right (5, 10, 15, etc.).
[30 minutes]
NB!
Do not leave comprehension for last
A sentence per mark
Answer according to mark allocation – elaborate when needed
Pace yourself
Do not leave out questions, always try!
READ THE QUESTION CAREFULLY
[Make sure to always answer all parts of the question!- The question
includes extra information]
What is the actual question?
Where to find the answer?
How to present the answer?
TIPS
1. In each question – underline the KEY WORD OR KEY IDEA
2. If you are asked to supply a synonym or an antonym:
a. Replace it with the same part of speech e.g., a noun with a noun,
an adverb with an adverb
b. Take the word that you have chosen back to the passage.
Replace the original word with this synonym and see if it is
appropriate.
3. Read and follow the instructions given at the beginning of the exam
paper. These are given for your benefit. You can lose valuable
marks if you do not follow the instructions exactly.
4. Skim the entire passage quickly to get the gist of what it is about.
Then read all the questions carefully and re-read (scan) the passage
to find the references to the questions. If you see something that
reminds you of a question, mark it by writing the number of that
question next to the relevant part of the passage.
5. Now read slowly and carefully, looking for details. This detailed
reading will help you to absorb the obvious meaning of the passage,
as well as to read between the lines, working out what the writer
implies or leaves unsaid.
6. Most comprehension questions follow the order of the passage, so
you can find the answers in the same order as that in which the
questions appear. Pay attention to line and paragraph references.
The paragraphs are numbered on the left (1, 2, 3, etc.) and the lines
are numbered on the right (5, 10, 15, etc.).
