Home > Subjects > English > English level 1 > 1.3 Unfamiliar texts > Subject content > Understanding a question
- Subject: English
- AS: 90851
- Level: 1
- Credits: 4
- External
1.3 Read and show understanding of unfamiliar texts
Understanding a question
The questions you will answer in the examination are designed to allow three levels of response: achievement, merit, and excellence. Your grade will depend on your understanding of the text and your understanding of the question. Each question has several parts to help you build on key ideas in logical stages. Each stage is more demanding.
Look at the types of questions and complete the 'test bite' quiz.
Questions are made up of instructions such as 'read lines 5–10' or 'in your own words' and thinking skills such as 'explain why' or 'identify'. It is vital that you underline these keywords in each question so you can work out what you have to do and where you can locate the information. How questions are phrased gives you clues about the level of answer required.
This chart shows some of the common thinking skills used at each level.
| Achievement - identify | Merit and Excellence - explain and respond |
| Identify, name, find, locate, what is the meaning of... | Explain why/how, describe the differences, explain the effect of..., what is suggested by.... How do verbal and visual features combine to target the audience |
