Reading For Factual Detail
Overview
The very first exercise of your Reading and Writing paper hands you the most winnable marks on the whole component, and yet careful candidates still drop them. The skill is simple to describe and hard to do under pressure: find the exact fact a question asks for, and write down that fact and nothing else. Read past the answer, or scoop up the words around it, and a right idea can turn into a wrong response.
This lesson trains the habit that protects those marks. You will learn to read the question before the text, lock onto the single detail it wants, and answer in the fewest accurate words. We model each move on short, realistic snippets, set a weak answer beside a strong one so you can see exactly what loses the mark, and finish with a full Exercise 1 task marked the way an examiner would mark it.
Objectives
- Locate explicit factual information, ideas and specific details in a range of texts.
- Read questions closely and select only the detail each question asks for.
- Avoid lifting surrounding detail that can make an otherwise correct answer wrong.
Audio Lesson
Listen to this lesson in the app
Flashcards
Quick recall practice on the facts this topic is tested on.
Practise these cards in the app
Lesson Note
Complete Note Available on the Green Bridge App
Get the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer for the complete IGCSE library: past papers, mark schemes, mind maps, flashcards and audio lessons.
Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Reading For Factual Detail. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- A one-mark question asks: 'What did the writer build to promote her business?' The text says she 'built a small website and printed some leaflets'. Which answer is best? A. a website B. built a small website C. built a small website and printed some leaflets D. She wanted to promote her business so she built a website and printed leaflets Answer: B
- Why is it risky to copy the whole sentence that contains the answer in Exercise 1? A. Examiners do not allow any words from the text B. It may include a nearby detail that is wrong for the question and cancel the mark C. Copied answers are always given zero D. You must always use your own words in Exercise 1 Answer: B
- A text reads: 'A friend offered to drive her, but she finally took the early train.' The question asks how she travelled. Which answer scores? A. a friend offered to drive her B. she took the early train C. a friend offered to drive her, but she took the train D. by car Answer: B
- A question carries two marks. What does this tell you? A. You should write a long, detailed paragraph B. Two separate details are required, one for each mark C. You may give the same point twice D. The answer must be exactly two words Answer: B
- Which of these is an explicit detail you would locate and retrieve in Exercise 1? A. The tense silence that suggested he was angry B. The shop opened in March C. The way she avoided answering the question D. The implied disappointment in his reply Answer: B
Work through these questions in the app
Work through these questions in the app
Recommended Books
Practice Mock Questions
Want to practice mock questions on Reading For Factual Detail? Download the Green Bridge CBT app to access mock questions and full practice assessments for this topic.
Download The App On Google Playstore
Everything you need to excel in your exams
