Question 3: Skills: Extended Response to Reading

 For this task, you will be asked to write in a specific format based on what you have read in Text C. The format could be one of the following genres:

• A letter
• A report
• A journal entry
• A speech
• An interview
• An article

 This question is worth 25 marks:

• 15 marks for the content of your answer (reading skills).
• 10 marks for the quality of your writing.

 

Selecting and Developing Details from the Text

 To successfully answer the question, you need to:

 

1. Understand the task:
   • Read the question carefully, noting the format, bullet points, and the perspective you’re writing from.
2. Select relevant information:
   • Highlight key details from Text C linked to each bullet point.
3. Develop the details:
   • Don’t just copy from the text. Instead, interpret and expand on the information creatively while staying true to the text.

 

Let’s look at the following example question from the June 2022 paper:

 

 

For this question:

 

You will produce a piece of writing in a particular format, based on what you have read in Text C.

This question asks you to imagine you are Sam being interviewed for a podcast about your Ironman experience.

 

The Question

The interviewer asks you three questions:

 

1. How exactly do you need to prepare for a challenge like Ironman, and why is each aspect of that preparation important?
2. How do you think preparing for Ironman affected other areas of your life, and what advice would you offer anyone considering entering an Ironman for the first time?
3. What were the rewards of completing an Ironman for you and your family?

 

Breaking Down the Question

 Let’s identify the relevant details from the text:

 

Preparation for Ironman

• Sam started training in January for the race in July
• Worked with an expert coach and followed monthly plans
• Training ramped up gradually: swimming, cycling, and running
• Consistency and planning were key.

Impact on Personal Life

• Strained family dynamics: weekends consumed by training.
• Partner felt restricted and isolated due to Sam's schedule.
• Missed family activities like camping and hiking.
• Child adapted but initially missed Sam's presence.

Rewards

• Completing the race felt incredible: "god-like" emergence, pride.
• Family shared the achievement, cheering him on.
• Son was inspired and engaged (toy Ironman figure).
• It was a challenging but bonding experience.

 

Developing your Response

 We will now need to develop the relevant details by considering the 3 questions in the question:

 

Question	Response
How exactly do you need to prepare for a challenge like Ironman, and why is each aspect of that preparation important?	‘Preparing for an Ironman is like taking on a second full-time job. I began training months in advance with a coach who created a structured plan for me. The key is consistency—building up endurance gradually so your body can handle the physical demands of the event. Swimming required open-water practice to simulate race-day conditions, while cycling meant hours on the road in all-weather to prepare for different terrains. Nutrition played a huge role too—I had to figure out what ‘fuel’ kept me going during long sessions. Recovery wasn’t optional either; without proper rest, injuries could derail everything. Each piece of the puzzle was vital for success.’
How do you think preparing for Ironman affected other areas of your life, and what advice would you offer anyone considering entering an Ironman for the first time?	‘Honestly, training for Ironman had a big impact on my family life. Weekends disappeared into training sessions, and my son struggled to adjust to my absences. My wife also had to juggle more responsibilities at home, which wasn’t always easy. My advice? Communicate and involve your family from the start. Make them part of the journey so they feel invested too. And for first timers, I’d say: start small. Do a sprint or Olympic-distance triathlon before tackling an Ironman. It’s a massive commitment, and you need to be mentally prepared for the sacrifices it demands.’
What were the rewards of completing an Ironman for you and your family?	‘Crossing that finish line was like no other feeling. Emerging from the water, powering past my family on the bike, and hearing my kids cheer as I sprinted down the chute—that moment was pure magic. It wasn’t just my achievement; it was a shared victory. My wife’s support, my son’s excitement—it all came together. My son even started acting out the race with his toy Ironman figure, which was both hilarious and heartwarming. Completing the Ironman proved to all of us that with determination and teamwork, we could overcome anything. And next year? My wife says it’s her turn!’

 

Why This Works:

• The response stays true to the text but uses Sam’s perspective and voice.
• Answers are clear and directly address each bullet point.
• Details from the text are developed logically with added depth and personal reflection.
• The tone is conversational and engaging, suitable for a podcast interview.

 

By following these steps, your answer will cover all the requirements of the question and be well-structured to achieve top marks.

 

Using the Right Language and Tone

When you write for an exam, you need to use a style (sometimes called a “register”) that fits the type of writing you are asked to do. This means choosing words and a tone (how you sound) that make sense for who you’re writing as and who you’re writing to.

It’s also important to figure out the point of view (or perspective) you’re writing from and stay consistent. You might not always be writing as yourself—you could be asked to write as a different character or person. This is called your narrative voice. You should act and sound like that character throughout your work. For example, if you’re writing as a student sending a letter to their parents, it would be less formal and might include more casual expressions.

 

Why does this matter?

Your choice of words and tone will show the format you’re writing in. In your exam, you could be asked to write:

• A letter
• A report
• A journal entry
• A speech
• An interview
• An article

You don’t have to worry too much about fancy layouts or lots of detail in the structure. Focus on using the right style and voice. For example, if you write a letter, it’s good to start with “Dear …” and end with a proper closing. If you write an interview, use the bullet points given as questions. For the other types of writing, you usually don’t need special headings or subheadings unless you’re told to include them.

 

Although you’ll have to match your language to each style of writing, here are some general tips:

 

Type of writing	Form, language and tone
Letter	Start with “Dear…” and sign off properly (for example, ‘Yours sincerely’) Decide how formal you need to be based on who you’re writing to Usually written in the first person (‘I,’ ‘my’) You don’t need to include an address or date unless it’s specifically asked for
Report	A report might be for a newspaper or about an event The tone should be more formal and less personal Often written in the third person (using ‘he,’ ‘she,’ ‘they,’ or people’s names) You don’t need special headings unless required
Journal Entry	This is personal writing about your own feelings or experiences. Use the first person (‘I,’ ‘my’). The language is more relaxed and informal.
Speech	A speech might use techniques to convince or inspire people. Written in the first person (‘I,’ ‘my’) and speaks directly to the audience (‘you’). The tone is friendly and you should sound as if you’re talking to the audience.
Interview	Use the bullet points as your interview questions. Answer the questions in the voice of the character you’re pretending to be. The tone is personal, focusing on thoughts and feelings.
Article	Often written for a magazine or online publication. Can use first person (‘I,’ ‘my’) or third person, depending on the task. The language and tone are usually more formal, like a professional piece of writing. Remember, most of the marks go to how well you understand and respond to the reading material. While you still need to show good writing skills, don’t worry too much about super-detailed layouts. Focus on using a voice and style that match the task and the character you’re writing as.

 

Remember, most of the marks go to how well you understand and respond to the reading material. While you still need to show good writing skills, don’t worry too much about super-detailed layouts. Focus on using a voice and style that match the task and the character you’re writing as.