Three Tips for English Comprehension (Open-Ended)

By WR!TERS@WORK

The Open-ended Comprehension section in Paper 2 can be a challenging task for many of us. Understanding the passage and the question requirements is essential for accurate answers. But don’t worry! Today, we will share some tips to help you tackle this section effectively. Let’s delve into 3 Tips for English Comprehension (Open-Ended)!

Tip 1: Read, and Read Again!

Hey there! So, here’s a cool tip for you: make sure to give that passage a double take before diving into those questions. It’s super important for getting the gist of what you’re about to read. Before you even start, quickly glance over the questions so you know what to keep an eye out for.

On your first read-through, focus on grasping the main idea of the text – whether it’s a story or some other type of writing, understanding the big picture is key. Don’t stress about every little detail just yet; this round is all about getting a feel for what it’s all about.

When you go in for round two, get your thinking cap on and start jotting down your thoughts as you read. This active engagement with the text will really help things click better for you. Pay extra attention to any parts that tripped you up before and see if they make more sense now. Also, start noting down any important details that might come in handy later when tackling those questions.

Sample Question:

The purpose of the exclamation marks in the section “Choose Exciting Science!” is to
1) give children a surprise

2) Spark interest in the book

3) children excited about Science

4) emphasise how easy the experiments are to follow

2023 P6 English Prelim Pei Chun

Sample Question:

What was the tone used by the writer in the section, “Why is Science Important?”?

1) witty

2) caring

3) persuasive

4) authoritative

2023 P6 English Prelim Maris Stella

Tip 2:Read and Annotate.

This technique may sound familiar from your school days. Simply put, annotate by writing notes, comments, or questions next to the text as you read. Use symbols like stars for important points, circles for unfamiliar words or phrases, and question marks for confusing ideas.

Annotating as you read is a common study technique that involves writing notes and comments next to the text. This method may bring back memories of your school days, where symbols like stars were used for important points, circles for unfamiliar words or phrases, and question marks for confusing ideas.

By incorporating annotations into your reading process, you can actively engage with the material and better comprehend complex concepts. Not only does this practice help in highlighting key information, but it also aids in retaining information for later reference. By utilising symbols throughout the reading process, you can enhance your understanding of the material more effectively.

Annotating helps you slow down while reading, promoting better comprehension and active engagement with the text. It encourages asking questions to deepen understanding, helps capture details that might be missed when reading quickly, and aids in drawing conclusions and making inferences. These skills will ultimately help you answer questions accurately and concisely.

Sample Question:

Why is an exclamation mark used in the heading, “Clay Sculptures For Beginners”?

• To show that clay sculpting is fun
• To convey the excitement about clay sculpting
• To draw attention to what clay sculpting is all about
• To emphasise that clay sculpting is for beginners only

2023 P6 English Prelim Rosyth

For further tips on interacting with and annotating texts effectively, check out this post!

Tip 3: Focus on the Question Requirements.

You can use this tip after you’ve thoroughly read the passage and made annotations. It is crucial to identify and highlight key words in the questions. Utilise colourful highlighters to emphasise important information in the questions, ensuring not to highlight arbitrarily. Start by recognizing and highlighting question types, indicated by 5W1H words – Who, What, Where, When, Why & How. This step is vital for understanding the specific information sought and responding accurately.

Sample Question

An extract from the book is included in the article for the following possible reasons except

1) to get readers to be interested in the book

2) to Set readers have a brief look at the book’s contents

3)to tell readers the steps to create their own tornadoes

4) to assure readers that materials required are easily available

2023 P6 English Prelim Maris Stella

Next, circle or highlight tense words in the question to determine the required tense for your answer. For instance, if ‘had’ is used in a question, it signifies using past tense in your response. Additionally, spotlight other keywords that indicate the focus of the question; this acts as a guide to locate answers within the passage.

Consider an example where highlighting ‘Where’ prompts finding a place or location for answering. Notice how key words from the question – ‘hide his gold coins’ – are mirrored in the passage? Being mindful of this aids in swiftly locating answers near where these keywords appear in the paragraph. Circling ‘did’ informs that subsequent verbs should be in past tense.

By integrating these steps together as demonstrated above, our final answer aligns with paying attention to question requirements for clear and concise responses. For detailed guidance on analysing question requirements for various types of questions, refer to this post! Implement these tips during your next attempt at comprehending open-ended sections; share your experiences in the comments below! Wishing you success as we navigate towards PSLE – let WRITERS AT WORK assist you in identifying areas needing additional support or alternate approaches for PSLE readiness.

Here Are the Answers to a Few Common Questions You May Have About PSLE English:

 1. How Can I Improve My English Comprehension for PSLE?

Firstly, good vocabulary is needed by reading widely. Next, look for clues in the context by reading the surrounding sentences. The main idea of the passage should be read, and the reader should get the gist of the entire passage. Lastly, students should read the comprehension questions to see what they are being asked to answer.

2. What are Some Types of Comprehension Questions?

There are several types of comprehension questions for PSLE English: factual, inference, sequencing, vocabulary in context, and applied vocabulary.

 3. What are Common Mistakes in PSLE English Reading Comprehension?

Students could not read the question properly, misunderstanding the answers they needed to give. Furthermore, students may not get the gist of the comprehension passage and may be at a loss to what the passage means.

4. What Activities Help with Reading Comprehension?

Reading widely helps students to answer reading comprehension. Furthermore, asking questions and answering questions will help students learn vocabulary to understand the context of the passage.

5. What are the 5W’s in Reading Comprehension?

The 5W’s in reading comprehension are: Who, What, When, Why, and Where, and also How.

6. What are the 4C’s for Reading Comprehension?

The 4C’s are the 4 perspectives of connections, challenges, concepts, and changes.