Grade 8 Reading & writing diagnostic

15 questions on reading comprehension, writing and grammar & vocabulary, plus 3 from Grade 7. Answer what you can, then check your answers to see which topics are secure and what to practise next.

15 questions3 topicsAbout 15 minutesSet 1 of 5

Skip a question if you do not know the answer. It is better than guessing, because it shows what to practise.

1Reading comprehensionLeo planted a seed in a pot and watered it. A week later, a green shoot appeared. What happened after Leo watered the seed?

A. The seed began to grow into a small plantB. The pot disappearedC. It snowed indoorsD. He bought a bicycle

2Reading comprehensionWhat did the student initially infer?

A. The shoreline had moved toward the path.B. The maps had identical scales.C. Every landmark had vanished.D. The path had never existed.

3Reading comprehensionReading and literary analysis: which term fits this description? An object, action or detail that also represents a broader idea in context.

A. SettingB. SymbolC. MoodD. Summary

4Reading comprehensionWhich theme best fits the passage?

A. Surviving records may not represent all past activity equally.B. Official records answer everything.C. Advertisements have no possible historical value.D. Every empty folder proves an event never occurred.

5WritingWhich evidence most directly supports demand for later library hours?

A. A record of people turned away near closing timeB. the age of the building signC. the number of trees outsideD. the colour of the shelves

6WritingWriting and argument: which term fits this description? Restating a source's meaning using genuinely new wording and sentence structure.

A. Formal registerB. ParaphraseC. CounterargumentD. Transition

7WritingWhich bibliography detail helps readers locate a source?

A. Author, title and publication informationB. Only the page colourC. Only the author's first initialD. Only the word website

8WritingWhich detail best supports a paragraph about reducing classroom noise?

A. Felt pads on chair legs reduced scraping sounds.B. The classroom has four windows.C. The wall is pale blue.D. The chairs were delivered in April.

9Grammar & vocabularyEnglish grammar essentials: which term fits this description? The part of a clause about which something is stated, often controlling verb agreement.

A. SuffixB. SubjectC. Complex sentenceD. Preposition

10Grammar & vocabularyWrite the possessive form for several foxes: the ___ den.

Your answer

11Grammar & vocabularyChoose the noun: run, blue, river, slowly.

A. riverB. slowlyC. runD. blue

12Grammar & vocabularyChoose the opposite of “before”.

A. afterB. alwaysC. nearD. under

From Grade 7

These questions check skills from the grade below, so gaps can be spotted early.

13Reading comprehension (Grade 7)What did the group change?

A. They closed the event immediately.B. They promised to repair everything.C. They added an explanation and possible next steps.D. They removed all labels.

14Grammar & vocabulary (Grade 7)In careless, -less suggests

A. full ofB. againC. more thanD. without

15Reading comprehension (Grade 7)What was wrong with the original sign?

A. The exhibition had no name.B. The letters were all missing.C. Both arrows were invisible.D. The same arrow direction misdirected readers approaching from opposite sides.