A Report on English Paper I 2022
The English paper 1 2022 generally performed well compared to the previous years. Most students scored above 30.
Functional writing English paper 1
The speech was what saved most learners. As the test expected, the learners were to highlight the four issues raised in the question in their speech. Most learners got 8 marks for that and an average language mark of 4, giving them 12. On the format, learners scored for the title, introducing themselves, acknowledging those present, and ending the speech by saying thanks.Teachers must, however, help learners understand the elements of a speech title, like the words "speech," "event," "venue," "topic," etc.
Learners should also know the order of hierarchy in acknowledgment. Most learners placed the principal in the first position even though it wasn't raised in the question.
For a text to qualify as "speech," there must be the use of first-person perspective, the use of contracted forms such as "I'm" for "I am," direct address, and audience endearment.
Learners must also write legibly using correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Cloze test.
This area was fairly well performed. Most average learners got over 5. However, there's a need to teach learners how to write letters like w, p, c, and o in lower case and upper case.
Oral skills
Most learners were unable to construct the correct rhyme scheme. Those who constructed it also punctuated it using commas, which gave them a zero mark. Let learners focus on the last syllabic sound, not the last sound. No commas should be used. They should then describe the scheme as regular and give its functions, such as rhythm and memorability.On performing a line, it was fairly performed, but let the learners give two answers or more, each having a verbal and nonverbal cue, to score full marks.
On the homophones section, candidates only wrote one word, yet the question said two words. Let learners follow instructions.
On the stressed syllables, teachers must teach the rules of syllabic stress. It was poorly performed, as most learners just guessed. Again, they should follow instructions like not underlining and not using stress markers. Those who used stress markers got zero.
On non-verbal cues of attentiveness, students performed fairly. Let learners how ever qualify the cues. like leaning forward to get the speaker's message.
The incomplete conversation expected learners to read through it before filling in the blanks. Learners failed in this area as they didn't observe etiquette. Most learners addressed the landlady as "landlady" instead of "madam." This made them lose marks. The conversation expected the use of etiquette, negotiation skills, and turn-taking cues.
As I conclude, learners must do more revision on oral skills as it has proven to be the area that denies students marks. Most students had 16 in speech but only 10 in oral skills.
Teachers should also consult examiners on the best ways of presenting answers in Paper 1.