Summary
Highlights
The composition is the most critical section. Aim for substantial length, ideally above 900 words. Do not rush to choose the first attractive question; carefully consider all options. Practice with past papers and discuss your choices with your teacher. Plan your answer, figure out the genre (short story, personal essay), audience, purpose, and tone. Originality is highly valued, so strive to create your own unique compositions rather than borrowing others' work.
Paper 1 consists of two 100-mark sections: Comprehension and Composition. The total time allotted is approximately 117 minutes. It's recommended to spend about 20 minutes for initial reading and selection, 35 minutes on each of the two comprehension questions (A and B), and then the remaining 18 minutes on the composition, which is often considered the most challenging part.
Paper 1 is thematic, focusing on a single theme like communication, films, or identity. It's crucial not to start with the composition. Instead, first, identify the paper's overarching theme by looking at comprehension text titles. Then, review the composition assignments, marking those you find suitable, and discarding others. Always choose your 'B' comprehension question first, as it dictates a specific writing mode (e.g., report, speech), before selecting your 'A' comprehension question.
Question A assesses your ability to extract and interpret information from the text. Always read the questions first, then the text, underlining keywords with a pencil as you read. Avoid superficial answers and aim for original, intelligent responses that stand out. Only offer opinions if explicitly asked, and always support your answers with direct references or quotations from the text.
Question B provides an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding by writing a short piece (around 500 words) related to the comprehension text. Remember that Question B must come from a different text than Question A. Identify the required form (e.g., speech, letter, report), the audience, and the task (persuade, respond, outline). Focus on common sense, quality of ideas, and avoid overwriting, as quality trumps quantity.