English paper 2 generally tests reading skills such as skimming, scanning, intensive reading and extensive. Close reading and inference. All these are covered in 4 broad areas:
·
Question 1:
Conventional comprehension (20mks
)
·
Question 2:
Extract from the compulsory text (25mks)
·
Question 3: Poetry/oral
literature (20mks)
·
Question 4: Grammar (15 mks)
Question 1: Conventional comprehension/ Unseen Passage
Areas Tested in comprehension/unseen passage
The unseen passage or the comprehension tests the emerging/ current issues, for
instance, we can expect questions on Covid-19, Environment, Terrorism, Trade,
Global warming etc)
How comprehension/unseen passage is Tested
Comprehension/Unseen passage is usually tested through a variety of questions that require comprehension and inference skills, summary questions, note-making, paraphrasing semantics and grammar.
Tips for tackling this question
·
Use SQ3R – Survey,
Question, Read, Recite, and Review
·
Read the whole
passage to get an idea of what it is about
·
Read the questions
given
·
Classify the
questions as either Comprehension or Inferences
·
Read the passage
again with the question in mind underlining any parts that answer any of the
questions.
Comprehension questions include:
·
According to the
passage…
·
Summary question
·
Making notes
·
Questions on
facts/ figures.
·
Import/ Lift the
answers directly from the passage- Answer must be in complete sentences
Inferences questions are introduced by:
·
In your opinion…
·
Why do you think…?
·
What’s the
attitude?
·
How…?
·
Semantics/ meaning-
using synonyms or descriptions
NB: avoid stroking of words as
synonyms
How to describe an attitude
Attitude refers to the
feelings expressed by the author/ speaker arrived at through his/her choice of
words. Attitude is described using adjectives. Example:
The girl is a slim - appreciative attitude
The girl is skinny -contemptuous/ scornful attitude
Commonly used adjectives to describe an attitude
•
Condemning
•
Condescending
•
Critical
• Spiteful
• Scornful.
•
Contemptuous
•
Appreciative
•
Admiration
•
Magical
•
Sympathetic
•
Resigned
•
Submissive
•
Dismissive
•
Accommodating
NB:
currently, marking allows the use of verbs+ nouns to describe an attitude
E.g. the writer condemns/
critics/ looks down upon etc…
Summary writing tips
•
Draft a rough copy
using the words used in the passage
•
Join the points
into one paragraph in continuous prose using conjunctions and connectors
•
Check the wording
of the question
•
In not more than
50 words -strictly 50
•
In about 50 words -maximum 55 words
•
If a candidate
uses more than the set limit, the additional words are not marked
•
If not in prose
form, 50% deducted from the total
NB: avoid using your own words
as the marking scheme is prepared using the words in the passage
Note making tips
•
Written in point
form
•
Must be identified
using dashes, stars, arrows, etc. if not identified 50% from the total.
•
Use incomplete
sentences
Paraphrasing tips
•
Candidates should
not use the keywords given in the original sentence but their equivalents
•
Meaning of
original extract/ sentence must be maintained
Challenges that affect students’ performance in English paper 2
•
Failure to answer
in full sentences
•
Failure to
infer/interpretation-poses greatest challenge..how/what do you think, etc
•
Failure to respond
to questions demand/ to isolate the required response
•
Factual errors:
includes misspelling words thus changing meaning e.g. rash…rush…took a
leave…took live…suffered psychologically/physiologically
•
Making notes- failure
to use incomplete sentences/dashes/numbering etc
•
Summary writing-
failure to use complete sentences
•
Expression errors-
subject-verb agreement, tense, etc.
Penalties in English paper 2 Question 1 Comprehension
•
Factual Errors
•
Omissions
•
Summary-using
incomplete sentences
•
Expression errors
esp. in grammatical questions, summary writing, and questions on
semantics/meaning- tense must be maintained.
NB:
For comprehension questions, the candidate can lift a
whole paragraph and the examiner picks the relevant part
The answer can be written anywhere within the question
paper provided the examiner is guided accordingly
Candidates not penalized for grammatical errors and
spellings in question 1 except in summary
Question 2: Extract from Compulsory text and Question 3:Poetry and Question 4: Grammar
The tips for tackling English paper 2 Question 2 ( Extract from compulsory text), Question3 (poetry) and question 4 (Grammar) are accessible here