English Mid-Year Assessments – Year 9
What to expect
You will have an exam which is in two parts:
Section A: Reading
Section B: Writing
You will have 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete the task, so time your responses carefully!
Section A: Reading:
Timing: 15 minutes reading time, 45 minutes answering time.
You will be given an extract from a novel, and four extended questions to answer.
Top Tips

Read the extract carefully.

Take your time to read the question carefully and make sure you answer the question properly.

If bullet points are given – use them to structure your answer.
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If it helps, highlight the text as you read it.

Only use bullet points or a list in your answer if you are told to, otherwise write in sentences and
paragraphs.
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Remember to use small quotations – write a little about a lot.

Make sure that you explain your point using quotations or structural features. An explanation may
include why the writer chose it, how it makes us think or feel, what ideas or themes it relates to.

Remember to use SPEED paragraphs where applicable. Here are some useful sentence starters to
remind you how to use it:
Signpost: Firstly, secondly, later on, we also discover…
Point: The character feels/thinks… The writer reveals… The atmosphere is
Evidence: Use a short relevant quotation from the text
Explanation: This implies/suggests/reveals/highlights/emphasises…
Development: This could also infer/suggest…. This links to the idea later in the text…….
Connective
Firstly
Secondly
Thirdly
As well as this
Furthermore
Moreover
Finally
Lastly
Likewise
Similarly
The author / language in the text…
Builds
Connotes
Contrasts
Conveys
Creates
Demonstrates
Describes
Depicts
Emphasises
Evokes
Exaggerates
Expresses
Gives the impression
Gives a sense
Highlights
Informs
Implies
Indicates
Narrates
Realises
Recognises
Refers to
Reflects
Reveals
Signifies
Suggests
Shows
Tells
The reader…
(or ‘we’…)
Is made aware
Is informed
Is told
Learns
Discovers
Realises
Read below for guidance about the types of questions you will be asked:
Question 1 will ask you to locate and retrieve information. It will ask you to list information you have found
from the text.
Question 2:
The effect of language features. You need to look out for:
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Words and phrases: look for ones which show strong emotion or atmosphere.
Remember, you will need to explain the effect using examples and quotations from the text.
Language features: for example; similes, metaphors, personification, onomatopoeia,
alliteration, assonance, pathetic fallacy, juxtaposition, etc.
Look over your skills lists and exercise books remind you about what they mean.
Question 3:
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The effect of structure: for example; order of sentences and paragraphs, ellipsis, colons,
hyphen, change in perspective, length of paragraphs, focus on specific or general detail,
narrative voice, tenses, change of place and time, pattern repetition, chronological, cause
and effect, problem and solution.
Remember, the writer uses structure to focus the reader’s attention on certain things or emphasise
similarities and/or differences between subjects.
Question 4:
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Impressions of characters or places. Choose a range of vocabulary to describe your
impressions of characters. Explain why you have these impressions using quotations.
Evaluate how these impressions are created using appropriate examples from the text.
Remember to comment on the writer’s choices and their effects.
Try to list a range of vocabulary you can use to describe emotions and/or impressions of character.
Section B Writing
You will be able to choose from two pieces of writing based on the theme of gothic horror. Both will ask you
to use descriptive language. You only need to answer one.
Top Tips - Descriptive writing
 Paragraphs are very important. Aim for three to six paragraphs
 Try to link some paragraphs using connectives
 Use descriptive language – use your senses, figurative language and powerful verbs, adjectives,
adverbs, etc.
 Check you are opening sentences in a variety of ways
 Do not use first person. E.g. Do not use ‘I’
 Imagine you are a CCTV camera – zooming in and out and focus on a scene
 Include some gothic features such as contrasts of beauty and horror, fog, secrecy, luxury and
wealth, androgyny, entrapment, colour, etc.
 Use a range of sentence types. Short, simple sentences can be very powerful
 Describe where things are in relation to each other. E.g. The chair is next to…above…under.
 You must try to be as accurate as possible with your spelling, punctuation and sentence structures.
 Include a range of punctuation – use commas and full stops and try to incorporate an exclamation
mark and/or question mark.
 Use a varied and interesting vocabulary e.g. Do not use ‘Nice’ ‘Good’ ‘Bad’ ‘Boring’ ‘Weird’
Punctuation:
You must be able to use punctuation correctly. Make sure you use at least 3 types of punctuation in any
piece of writing. Practise writing a description or narrative in timed conditions. Focus on using correct
punctuation.
Full Stops:
Use a full stop to end a sentence. A sentence is one idea. Read through your writing. Full stops should help
it make sense.
Commas:
Commas are used to separate items on a list.
Example: He was tall, thin and had piercing blue eyes.
Commas are also used to separate clauses in a sentence.
Example: As he walked into the room, all heads turned towards him.
Exclamation marks:
Use the exclamation mark when you are referring to a very strong emotion. Use it when something is being
expressed and you’re very angry, very excited or very scared.
Example:
Dial 999 now!
Question marks:
Use a question mark when you are looking for an answer. A question mark is always used when asking a
question. It is always used at the end of a sentence that asks a direct question.
Example:
Will you please pass me the butter?
Apostrophe:
The apostrophe has 2 functions. One is to show ownership.
Example:
John’s new shoes are red.
An apostrophe is also used to show a word or letter(s) is missing:
Example:
Don’t go outside. (Do not)
I’ll finish my homework later. (I will – I’ll)
Paragraphs:
Paragraphs are used to show a change of: Time, place, topic, person
In order to make your writing flow, you need to link them. They can be linked by:
• Using connectives (time, opposition, adding information, cause)
• Repeat a key word or phrase
• Re-word a key word or phrase
•
Use a pronoun like ‘these’ or that which refers to something or someone in the previous paragraph.
Tenses:
You must make sure you write in the correct tense. For example:
I am revising for my exam = present tense
I was revising for my exam = past tense.
The following phrases are often written incorrectly. Remember:
I/he/she/it was
We/they/you were
Vocabulary:
You must make sure you use a range of vocabulary for effect. Use a thesaurus to find alternative words for
the following:
 Good





Bad
Say
Go
Happy
Sad
Look at these different types of sentences. Try to identify them when you’re reading. Try to include them in your
own writing.
1. A BOYS sentence has two parts. The first start ends with a comma, and the second part starts with one of
the words: but, or, yet, so
Examples:
He was a friendly man most of the time, but he could become nasty.
He could be really friendly, or he could be miserable.
It was a warn day, yet the storm clouds gathered over the distant mountains.
It was a beautiful morning for a walk, so he set off quite happily.
2. A 3 ED sentence begins with three related adjectives, each of which ends in ed. The words must be
followed by commas. Most ed words are used to describe emotions. They are very good for telling your
reader about the character and how they are feeling.
Examples:
Frightened, terrified, exhausted, they ran from the creature.
Amused, amazed, excited, he left the circus reluctantly.
3. The emotion word, (comma) sentence starts with an adjective describing an emotion. It then describes
some actions
Examples:
Desperate, she screamed for help.
Terrified, he froze instantly on the spot where he stood.
Anxious, they began to realise they were lost in the maze.
4. A many questions sentence usually starts with one of these words:
WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY, HOW, WHAT IF.
Examples:
Where is the treasure? The diamonds? The gold? The rubies?
What if it rained? It poured? It thundered? It became story?
5. A De:de sentence is created by having two separate parts, which are separated by a colon. The first part of
the sentence is description: the second part is detail.
Examples:
I was shattered: I hadn’t slept for more than three days.
Hamsters are nocturnal: they sleep during the daytime.
6. A burger sentence is created by including a subordinate clause in the middle of a sentence.
Examples:
The grasshopper, who had been jumping all day, went to sleep.
The children, quickly and quietly, returned to their seats.
Now work through the literacy pack. Pay attention
to those areas you know you need help with.