Question 3
Aiming for Top Band
Step 1: READ THE QUESTION!!!
• Summarise:
• (a) the facts about the sea, and its amazing features, according to
Passage B;
• (b) what the fisherman enjoys about living in such a desolate place,
according to Passage A.
• Use your own words as far as possible.
• You should write about 1 side in total, allowing for the size of your
handwriting.
• Up to 15 marks are available for the content of your answer, and up to 5
marks for the quality of your writing.
Focus
•You MUST ensure that you are
summarising about the topic that the
exam board have asked you to focus on.
•Identify the topic and write it above
each text.
Getting All 15 Reading Marks
• Look at what they have asked you to write about for your
summary.
• Read through the text and highlight or underline at least 8
points to use in your summary per text!
• Bullet point your ideas and check that they are definitely
linked to the focus of the summary.
• Write your bullet points up into fluid paragraphs.
• Try to keep your summaries to about ½ a side of A4.
• Go through your paragraphs and check that you can see 8
points within your paragraphs.
Getting All 5 Writing Marks
• Both parts of the summary are well focused on the passage
and the question.
• Make sure that everything you have written is linked to the
question.
• Make sure that you have definitely covered both parts of
the question.
Getting All 5 Writing Marks
• Summaries are expressed concisely, clearly and fluently,
and in own words throughout (where appropriate.)
• Make sure that you’re responses are short and snappy.
• Ensure that you are using your own words. You will be
marked down if you are lifting big chunks of the text.
Getting the style right…
(b) what the fisherman enjoys about living in such a desolate place,
according to Passage A.
Yes
• The fisherman enjoys living in a desolate
place because it makes him feel like the
king of the area. He also feels like a
hero when he defeats the storms, like
he’s a real survivor.
• He also loves being so close to the sea,
enjoys the peace and quiet that being
isolated gives him and likes being alone.
• Finally, he enjoys living there because
he has a romantic idea about being
swept out to see and loves seeing the
huge waves and powerful storms.
No
• As the fisherman looks out to sea, he
realises how happy he is to be living in
such a beautiful and spectacular place.
• Too narrative – like a story. This is not
appropriate.
• I love it here. The view of the sea when I
wake is an addiction. When kind to me,
the water lies like a flat pond as far as the
eye can see, and gives me the sensation of
perfect peace.
• This is simply lifted from the text.
Despite the fact it is relevant, no marks
can be awarded because it has been
copied.
Your Turn: Passage B: Summarise the facts
about the sea and its amazing features.
• Find your bullet points.
• Make sure you have at least 8 points.
• Write up your summary.
• Count up your points.
Check your answers
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Covers most of the earth’s surface (allow statistic)
Its extreme depth (allow statistic)
Discoveries of animal species/ecosystems
Contains the largest animal
Large amount of (natural) gold (not treasure)
Has own mythology/monsters
Vessels can disappear without warning
Monster waves
Sudden changes
Could explain origins of human existence
Coral reefs
Roman/ancient cities underwater