Comprehension

The Comprehension section of Paper 1 is worth 100 marks and is the first thing you face in the exam. It tests your ability to read a passage closely, understand what the writer is doing, and respond with clarity and precision. Students who prepare well here build a strong foundation for the rest of the paper.

Part A asks you to answer a set of short questions on a given text. These are direct and focused, but they require you to engage carefully with the language of the passage. Part B asks you to write a longer response in a particular genre, drawing on the ideas or style of the comprehension text. Knowing what each part demands is half the battle.

On this site, you will find study guides for both Part A and Part B, along with notes and structures for the key writing genres that come up in the comprehension: reflective writing, feature articles, short stories, personal essays, discursive essays, and speech writing. Use the guides to understand how examiners mark each section, and practise applying what you learn under timed conditions.