5 Tips on How to Approach GCSE English Reading Section

In your GCSE English exam, you are handed one or two pieces of text and asked to read. Then, you must answer all the difficult questions that begin with Hows and Whys. In order to make sense of the comprehension, it is very important to understand what you are reading for. Here are 5 tips to make the reading section easier to handle.

1) Questions First

Our brain is a marvellous machine which works on a conscious and subconscious level at the same time. Thus, in order to maximise efficiency, a great way of tackling a reading comprehension is to skim through the questions first. Whilst they may seem confusing and out of context at first, our brain will remember fragments of them and try to search for the answers even upon the first reading.

2) Read More than Once

During an exam, there are many factors affecting the outcome of our performance. It might be nerves, or exhaustion, or both which cause us to misunderstand the text or the questions. Moreover, upon first reading, it is rather difficult to pick up all the details. Though it may seem time consuming, we still advise you to read the comprehension more than once to ensure maximum accuracy.

3) Structure  

After the first reading, you should have a gist of what the comprehension is about. By the end of your second reading, you should be able to identify the main topic at hand. Once you do, it is crucial to take note of the structure of the text. You must analyse not only what information is being given, but also how it is given. This would provide clarity to the writer’s intention and once you’ve understood what the writer wants the text to do, the questions in the reading section become much easier to answer.

When we look at the structure of a text, it is important to pay attention to the length of sentences and paragraphs…