English as a Second Language Reading and Writing Tips

It is crucial that you understand the different exercises in English as a Second Language Reading and Writing paper. Read below for tips on approaching each reading and writing exercise.

How to approach the ESL reading and writing paper?

For the reading and writing paper, you need to answer all questions on the paper. Some of the exercises have several questions.

Let’s start with some general reading and writing tips before we tackle the different exercises: 

1. Plan your time: Before the exam, decide how you’ll manage your time. Make sure to leave enough time for the writing exercises, which need longer responses.
   
2. Stick to the word limit: Know how many words you write per line. This helps you estimate the number of lines needed for the writing exercises.
   
3. Skim and scan: For reading exercises, quickly skim the text to get the main ideas. Then, scan the text more carefully to find specific answers.
   
4. Select information carefully: The text will have both useful information and distractions. Focus on what directly answers the questions.

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Reading exercises – Precision is the key!

The reading exercises of the English as a Second Language paper mainly test your reading comprehension skills. We will discuss what the examiners are looking for in your response to these kinds of exercises.

Short answer questions tips

1. Skim the text first: Quickly read through the text to get a general idea of the content. Pay attention to headings, subheadings, and any highlighted or bolded words.
   
2. Identify question words: Look for question words like ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘where’, ‘when’, ‘why’, and ‘how’. These will guide you on what kind of information you need to find.
   
3. Highlight key information: As you read the text, underline or highlight key facts, opinions, ideas, and attitudes. This will make it easier to locate answers later.
   
4. Match keywords: Match the keywords in the questions with the corresponding parts of the text. Look for exact words or synonyms.
   
5. Read carefully: Once you find the relevant section, read it carefully to understand the context and extract the correct answer.
   
6. Keep answers short: Provide concise answers. A single word or a short phrase is usually sufficient.
   
7. Look for multiple details: For the final question, ensure you find and list all three required details. Separate each answer clearly.
   
8. Check for synonyms: If you can’t find the exact word from the question in the text, look for synonyms or phrases with similar meanings.
   
9. Spell correctly: Make sure your answers are spelt correctly. Incorrect spelling can lead to losing marks.
   
10. Follow the order: Remember that the questions usually follow the order of the text. This can help you locate answers more efficiently.

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Summary writing – Keeping to the word limit

In the summary writing task, examiners want to see that you understand the text and can rewrite the main ideas in your own words. Make sure your summary is accurate, flows well, and clearly presents the key points.

In your summary, you should:

1. Understand the task: Know that your goal is to extract key information from the source text and summarise it as a whole.
2. Skim the text: Quickly read through the text to get a general idea of the main points and structure.
3. Identify key points: Highlight or underline the main ideas and important details that are essential to the summary.
4. Use your own words: Paraphrase the information instead of copying it directly from the text. This shows your understanding and helps you avoid plagiarism.
5. Organise your summary: Structure your summary logically. Start with an introduction that briefly states the main idea, followed by the key points in a coherent order.

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Writing exercises – Develop own ideas

There are usually two writing tasks. The first task requires an informal style to address all bullet points. The second task needs a formal style and persuasive language to convince the reader of your opinions.

For both writing exercises, you must make sure to: 

Understand the stimulus:

• Carefully read the short text provided.
• Observe the picture(s) closely.
• Review the list of items to write about.

Identify key information:

• Determine the purpose of your writing.
• Identify your audience.
• Note the required form (informal or formal).

Stay on topic:

• Keep referring back to the stimulus and instructions.
• Ensure all bullet points or prompts are addressed.

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Master the writing skills

For the two writing exercises, you’ll respond to a prompt. This could be a short text, a picture, or a list of items. You’ll get information about why you’re writing, who your audience is, and what format to use. Here are some detailed tips to help you master informal and formal writing skills.

Informal writing tips:

1. Know your audience: Write as if you’re talking to the person. This helps you use the right conversational tone and informal language.
   
2. Focus on the main content: When writing a letter or email, skip introductory details like addresses or subjects. Spend most of your time on the main body of your answer.
   
3. Cover all points: Write at least one paragraph for each bullet point given in the question. This ensures your writing is balanced and complete. You’ll lose marks if you miss any points.
   
4. Structure your writing: Start and finish your writing clearly. Without a clear structure, your writing might turn into a story and lose its tone.

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