Year 8 English

• The assessment consists of 60 multiple-choice questions.

• Each question is worth 1 mark.

• The assessment tests key knowledge covered in the first Year 8 unit, Lacking a Voice.

• It also assesses the retention of knowledge taught in Y7.

• For spelling, punctuation and grammar, students may be assessed on foundational knowledge from any point in their education, including primary school.

• This assessment is reviewed against the most recently completed standardised reading and writing assessments to give a broad assessment snapshot.

• Characterisation, characterisation tools and character function.

• The components of a literature essay

• Essay planning

• Thesis statements

• Foregrounding the writer

• Including evidence

• Tentative language

• Effective group discussion: ingredients and roles.

• Key vocabulary

• General spelling, punctuation and grammar knowledge

• Key Y7 knowledge

Please note that spelling, punctuation and grammar questions will form a sizeable part of the assessment.  While these will test knowledge specifically taught as part of this unit, some questions may also cover foundational knowledge taught in KS1 and KS2.

• Students should use the knowledge organiser for the unit (provided by their teacher) to revise the key knowledge from the first unit.

• Students should also give particular attention to the basic building blocks of writing: spelling, punctuation and grammar.  

• BBC Bitesize is a useful free revision resource.  While most students will find the KS3 resources most useful, the KS2 or KS4 resources can also be appropriate tools in some cases (please note the filter at the top of the page that allows you to avoid the resources pitched for very young students).