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 2 of 5

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

1Reading comprehensionWhat feature appears in the recent photograph?

Your answer

2Reading comprehensionWhat changed in the later testing procedure?

A. No verbal hints were supplied.B. Pauses were ignored.C. The screen was never shown.D. Only designers participated.

3Reading comprehensionWhat trade-off did the museum accept?

A. Less dramatic wording in exchange for greater accuracy about uncertaintyB. A lower price for the objectC. Less accuracy for more entertainmentD. No information at all

4Reading comprehensionWhat was a major source of interruption?

A. The notice was in a frame.B. People collecting printed work through the study areaC. The room had no entrance.D. Every pupil refused to study.

5WritingAn argument attacks the speaker rather than the claim. What should a reviewer do?

A. Accept the attack as proof.B. Ask for evidence about the claim itself.C. Ignore all future evidence.D. Count the insults.

6WritingWriting and argument: which term fits this description? The quality of ideas fitting together in an understandable sequence.

A. CitationB. ThesisC. RevisionD. Coherence

7WritingWhich revision task should come before checking every comma?

A. Checking whether the argument makes sense and stays on topicB. Changing every short wordC. Making all sentences the same lengthD. Adding more exclamation marks

8WritingWhich item normally needs attribution in an academic essay?

A. Your own choice of headingB. The number of paragraphs in your draftC. Your own original observation, identified as suchD. A distinctive argument developed by another author

9Grammar & vocabularyWhich uses parentheses for extra information?

A. The (hall is closed.B. The hall built (in) is closed.C. The hall (built in 1920) is closed.D. The hall) is closed(.

10Grammar & vocabularyEnglish grammar essentials: which term fits this description? A word used to name a person, place, thing or idea.

A. NounB. AdjectiveC. PredicateD. Homophone

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)Add un- to fair. Write the new word.

Your answer

15Reading comprehension (Grade 7)Why were some items put in the third tray?

A. The volunteers disliked all repairs.B. The items had no owners.C. They required tools or expertise unavailable there.D. The tray was decorative.