Secondary English Paper 1 components: Diagnosing your strengths and weaknesses

In Part 2 of this blog series, we will be looking at Secondary English Paper 1 components and how you can diagnose your strengths and weaknesses. A flow chart for each component/section has been designed for you to gauge your progress in these areas and identify your areas for improvement.

Secondary English Paper 1 components: How can you diagnose your strengths and weaknesses?

How to use the flow chart for each section:

• Have your Paper 1 exam paper in front of you.
• Start from the topmost box that contains a statement like “I am ableto use formal and informal language appropriately.” This is one of the learning objectives of Section B: Situational Writing.
• Answer the question with a “Yes” or “No”:
  – If “Yes”, go on to the next box with the next learning objective.
  – If “No”, study the tips/strategies in the yellow box and work through them.
  – Once you have worked through them, move on to the next learning objective, until you reach the end.
• If you can’t say a “Yes” with confidence, go to “No”.
• Basically, follow the arrows from the top of the flow chart to the bottom! By the time you reach the bottom, you should have acquired most of the skills/learning objectives of the particular component.
• Challenge: Try this on another practice paper.

Please note that the learning objectives and strategies outlined are not meant to be exhaustive. They have been selected as key skills required in the respective components. Use them as a guide, and do pose questions if in doubt!

Situational Writing (Paper 1 Section B)

Watch our Summary video lesson series to learn more these techniques.

Essay Writing ( Paper 1 Section C)

If you find yourself making many grammatical mistakes, it’s time to brush up on your editing!