Things to Remember During the Checkpoint Exam
Speech
Make sure that the persona’s voice or viewpoint comes across strongly
Engage your audience straightaway
Match the style to the audience
Structure the speech to get the listeners interested straightaway, keep their attention with new points in
each paragraph and finish strongly
Ensure you have four or five clear paragraphs
Speak directly to the audience using inclusive pronouns (you, we) and rhetorical devices – CAMELS EAT
PARIS
Use questions, shorter sentences, informal language (depends on the question) to make a personal
connection with the listeners. However, overall, in the speech, use a range of sentence lengths
Use humour, everyday references and powerful imagery or emotive language, as appropriate to the
topic and audience
Consider counter arguments
Link openings and endings
Use a range of sentence lengths for effect
Use transitional phrases like moreover, however, similarly, on the other hand.... to link paragraphs
Formal Report
Keep in mind who will read the report when deciding how formal the register should be– School Board,
a government body, Student Council, debating Society etc. even for a report meant for fellow students,
you should stick to formal, standard English.
When ordering ideas, prioritize. Develop the more significant ideas first, then the others.
Always provide strong evidence
Your report should sound convincing and real with an excellent sense of audience
News Report
Follow the inverted pyramid structure you have been given. (The news report structure sheet that has
been shared with you)
Your headline and report must be aligned.
Introduction must contain the five Ws
Maintain an objective tone throughout.
Include quotations from eyewitnesses, survivors, experts, etc. employing direct speech, but the quotes
must contain information and not just opinions and emotions.
Use time connectives to link paragraphs [first, later, finally] but your report must not sound like a story.
Feature Articles
Are often personal ( the writer refers to himself or herself)
Cover wider ground than a news report or more complex ideas
Offer a distinct viewpoint
Have an unusual perspective on the topic
Explore ideas more deeply
Use informal connectives
Use rhetorical questions, one or two exclamation marks, some triple structure and pronouns like ‘we’,
‘our’, ‘us’ and ‘you’
Use short punchy sentences in places
Employ a light hearted chatty tone
Link opening and ending
Ensure you have four or five clear paragraphs
Letters
Remember to maintain the required level of formality
Develop and link ideas fluently in a sequence of paragraphs. Use transitional phrases to link paragraphs
The voice of the character should be convincing and sustained
Use powerful emotive words to get your point across
Use rhetorical questions
Don’t use contractions ( like don’t)
Don’t use too many exclamations if you are asked to write to a friend
Link opening and ending
Journals
Capture the voice of the person
Employ the first person
Use time references and tenses correctly
Provide a vivid portrait of what has happened/been experienced
Use tenses fluently to move between the past, present, future
Summary Writing
The examiner is looking for evidence that
You have understood what you have read
Can select the relevant information
Can express the information using your own words and in a shorter form than original
You are able to use a variety of sentences: complex, compound AND simple sentences.
Remember the following:
Identify only the relevant information. READ THE QUESTION CAREFULLY.
Do not write an introductory or concluding sentence that does not have a point in it.
Do not repeat points
Give each point equal weighting
Use your own words as far as possible
Do not include:
Personal opinions
Extra information or explanations or descriptions
Your own comments or opinions on the points in the original text
Quotations from the original passage
Narrative Writing
Respond to the specific demands of the question and stay clearly focused on the task
Show off your knowledge of plot, characterization, conflict, point of view
Structural (provide characters and details that later become significant; different types of beginning and
end
Descriptive/linguistic (provide pictures to clarify and words that define).
Imaginative; (select essential details which are relevant to the aim of the story; create interesting
dialogue that fulfils a function)
Employ punctuation for effect
DO NOT write stories that include improbable and exaggerated events
Avoid clichéd expressions
Present thoughts and ideas, do not just narrate
Interweave genuine thoughts and emotions.
Employ varied syntax
Descriptive Writing
Linguistic (create pictures and feelings with words)
Structural (create and order enough material to sustain interest throughout writing)
Respond to the specific demands of the question and stay clearly focused on the task
Word Choice – Use powerful verbs and adverbs; precise nouns
Avoid redundancy (unnecessary repetition)
Find new ways to talk about regular things
Ideas – focus on central idea, theme, argument, or story line.
Use detail to add interest or to expand or support main points.
Use sensory imagery and figurative language
Avoid clichéd comparisons and overuse of adjectives
Employ varied syntax
Paper 2, Section A (Reading Skills)
While reading the passage try and discover both the denotations and connotations of the
text and particular words/ phrases.
Select appropriate information in response to the questions – while quoting, focus on the
exact word or phrase that illustrates the points, not the complete sentence
