How to Answer Question 1: Comprehension

• In the CIE IGCSE Paper 1: Reading, this exam is compulsory, and the CIE examiners advise completing the questions in the order they appear.
• Question 1 is divided into two parts: a comprehension task and a summary task.
• The comprehension task focuses on Text A from the reading insert.

 

This guide will give you the necessary steps and advice to tackle Question 1: Comprehension with confidence.

 

Question 1 Overview

 

In this task, you will answer a series of sub-questions based on Text A.

These questions assess your understanding of both explicit and implicit meanings, as well as your ability to identify and use relevant information from the text (Assessment Objectives R1, R2, and R5). The sub-questions carry a total of 15 marks and are structured as follows:

 

 

Question	What you are asked to do	Marks
1(a)	Identify two specific pieces of information from the text	1
1(b)(i)	Explain the meaning of a word or phrase from the text using your own words. This will focus on its straightforward or surface meaning.	2
1(b)(ii)	Explain the meaning of a word or phrase using your own words. This will require you to consider a more implicit or deeper meaning.	2
1(c)	Identify two specific pieces of information from the text	2
1(d)(i)	Identify two specific pieces of information from the text	2
1(d)(ii)	Explain something from the text by making three distinct points.	3
1(e)	Explain something from the text using your own words, making three distinct points. You will need to infer the suggested or hidden meaning.	3

 

Understanding the Questions

Question 1: Comprehension is split into seven sub-questions. To answer effectively, it’s essential to carefully read each question and pay attention to the following:

 

• Command words – These tell you what action to take (e.g., explain, identify).
• Question focus – This specifies what you need to look for in the text.
• Marks available – The number of marks indicates how detailed your response should be.

 

 

 

 

Steps to Success

 

By following these steps, you can develop an effective strategy for answering the question:

 

1. Read the Question Carefully and highlight:

a) The command words (indicating what you need to do).

b) The focus of the question (the specific words or phrases to find in the text).

c) Pay attention to the marks awarded for each sub-question while highlighting.

 

 

2. Scan Text A and highlight the relevant evidence that answers the question, or the words and phrases you need to explain:

a) Keep in mind that there may be multiple valid answers—ensure your response aligns with the question’s instructions.

 

3. Write Your Answers following the instructions:

a) If the question asks for two examples, provide two separate examples.

b) If the question requests your own words, avoid copying from the text.

c) Tailor Your Responses to the Marks

 

d) Adjust your answer length according to the number of marks given.

e) When explaining a phrase, always consider the context—don’t guess without it.

f) Remember: Not all answers are explicit:

i. You may need to infer meaning or read between the lines.

 

Time Management:

Aim to spend no more than 15-20 minutes on this question, including reading time.

 

The full June 2022 exam paper is available here.