A4P4 - Lesson 1

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Reading tests

This presentation was inspired by colleagues from all over the country.

     Time management

Always check the following things first:

1. How many texts are in the exam?
2. How many points can you get?
3. How much time do you have?

So: how much time per point? (somewhere between 2 and 3 minutes per point, usually)

Please note:

1. Never write your answers down in pencil!

2. Bring a marker (or several), they can help a lot! You can mark up the test papers as much as you like!

Question Types

1. Multiple choice questions (40-70% of the points)

2. Open questions (10-20% of the points)

3. Gap questions (10-20% of the points)

4. True/False questions (10-20% of the points)

MC question facts

• The answers are listed aphabetically, so you could have to answer A for 6 consecutive times or more. This is complete conincidence and should not make you feel insecure.
• If only part of the answer is correct, it is the wrong answer.
• Two answers are often nonsensical and therefore easy to reject. The trick is to find the difference between the other two answers.
• Even if you think you know the answer immediately, read the other options as well. You never know if there is a better one.
• The correct answer is often (part of) a sentence that is in the text, but in different words/synonyms.
• Your own opinion does not matter during these kinds of tests. If an answer states that cows are not mammals (even though you know they are), the answer is still incorrect if the text says they are not mammals.
  
  

Multiple Choice questions

Before you begin answering questions:

• Scan the layout of the text, read and look at the title and maybe the lead/introduction, sources, images, etc.
• Take 30 seconds to close your eyes and think about what you know about the topic. This makes your brain more able to absorb the tekst. Really.
  
• Optional: Use the ELZA method (eerste en laatste zin van de alinea) to quickly read the text.
• Do not read the whole text at this time, unless you‘re an expert/fast reader and have time to spare.

Multiple Choice questions

For everyone:

• Pay close attention to the first and last sentences of the paragraphs. They often contain the most important information.
• Mark or take note of the transition words, such as but, although, because, etc. They indicate text relations: contradictions, causes / effects, list of similar things, etc.
  
  

Two ways to go from here!

• Different people have different brains. That’s why we like to approach certain types of questions in different ways. Here are two options suited for multiple choice questions.

MC - Option 1

• Read the question and answers carefully. Underline the important words in the answers and figure out and write down what makes each answer different/unique.
• Now, read the relevant paragraph.
• Find the sentence that contains words and/or synonyms of words in the questions. Read these sentences carefully and make sure you understand them fully.
• Check if the sentence corresponds completely to the answer it relates to.
• Yes? Select the answer.
• No? It’s a trap! Keep on looking.

MC Option 2

• Read the question.
• Read the relevant paragraph.
• Formulate your own answer to the question before you look at the answers.
• Now choose the answer that most resembles your answer.

Multiple Choice questions

• After you have completed the text and if you have the time, read all questions and answers once more.
• Do your answers still make sense?
• Are the questions and answers a reasonable summary of the text?
• Yes to both? You probably selected the correct answers.

Open questions

• Answer the question in Dutch (yes: DUTCH!), and only use as many words as necessary.
• After you have written the answer, read the question again and check if you actually answered the question.
• Limit your answer to what was asked. If the question asks for two things and your answer contains three, only the first two are considered and marked.

Open questions

• If a maximum number of words is given, keep to it or lose points.
• When you have to quote (citeren), you usually have to write down the first two and last two words. Please note that sometimes the questions ask you to quote a sentence (zin), and sometimes they ask you for a group of words or phrase (zinsdeel/zinsnede). Make sure you do what was asked!
• Basically always do what the question asks you to. We love people with their own opinions, but not if it costs them points…

Gap questions

• Approach for “normal” readers
• Make sure you know exactly what the answers mean (using a dictionary).
• Read only the sentence with the gap. Do you know the answer yet? Select it. Not yet? Go to the next step.
• Read the sentence before and after the one with the gap. Do you know the answer now? Select it. Not yet? Go to the next step.
• Keep expanding your reading around the gap until you know the answer.

Gap questions

Approach for quick and good readers:

•     Read the entire tekst once so that you know what it’s about.
•     Read the paragraph with the gap carefuly. Sometimes you need information before the gap, sometimes behind, sometimes even in the paragraph before or after.
•     Transition words are often extremely important for this type of question and tell you where to continue your search for information.
•     Try to come up with a Dutch (group of) word (s) that would make sense in the gap.
•     Pick the answer that corresponds to your own answer.
•     Check if the other answers are wrong.

Gap questions

•     If you cannot find the correct answer, cross off the answers that are false until you can or want to make a choice.
•     Use the dictionary when needed!
•     Done with the text and some time left? Read the whole tekst with the words you selected in the gaps. Sometimes you may change your mind because you understand the text better after having worked on more questions.

OMG! I don’t know a word!!!

• Never panic, often a difficult word or a synonym will reappear in the same paragraph or later in the tekst. This can help you understand it without having to look it up.
• Try to decide if you really need to know the word. Is it in the sentence that you think is relevant? Try to deduce the meaning from the context. The following questions can help:
  a: Is it a noun, a verb, an adverb or something else?
  b: Does it have prefixes or suffixes (voor- en achtervoegsels)     you know? (like un-, dis-, or -tion, -ility)
  c: Does the word look like a Dutch, German or French word?
  d: Does the tekst have other clues that can help you guess the meaning?
• Still don’t have a clue? See the next slide.
  

Mr Dictionary is your friend!

• Use the dictionary if you have to in order to be sure about an answer. You should have enough time, but training to quickly find words (about 10 seconds to look one up) is a good idea.
• Be careful: many words have more than one meaning. Read the entire entry for the word.
• Take care that you read the correct entry: the one for the correct word type (noun, verb, etc.)
• Read the example sentences, different combinations with prepositions, etc.

Now a little vocab test: match the words to their meaning. You have 100 seconds (enough to look each word up)! Good luck!

grimace

misunderstood

enliven

courageous

exuberance

grin

angst

quirk

engaged

eager

to twist the face in an ugly way ...

having the ability to control your fear ...

interested in things

to make something more interesting

strong anxiety and unhappiness ...

an unusual part of someone's personality ...

energy

wanting very much to do or to have something ...

having qualities that people do not recognise or appreciate

a wide smile

Say No when you mean No

It’s possible that a question asks for something that is not in the text.

Be brave, and don’t be afraid to write down ‘nee’ or ‘geen’.

(but: always in Dutch unless it is indicated that you can answer in English!!)

What students lose points on

• Not reading the question carefully. Well, there’s no excuse for that!
• Not answering the question fully.
• Selecting an answer that is half right.
• Not reading the other answers.
• Time stress. Avoid it.
• Sticking to their own opinions and preconceptions instead of really reading the text.
  
• (for central exam only) Second examiners that are very literal-minded. Some look for gaps in your answer and take points away!

TEST

Which question type will get (or cost) you most points?

1. Open questions
2. Multiple choice questions
3. True/False questions
4. Gap questions

Should you always read an entire text?

1. Yes
2. No