Checkpoint English 0844 — Paper 1 Mock (Reading + Writing + Grammar)

How to find it: Paragraph 3 lists squirting ink and squeezing through a gap. The others are not in the text.

LO: 6Rx2 — paraphrase explicit meanings from more than one point in the text (retrieve two details).

How to work it out: Paragraph 3 — “Because it has no bones, it can squeeze through a gap no wider than a coin.”

LO: 6Ri2 — make plausible inferences (cause and effect) from the text.

How to decide: The text gives true, checkable information rather than feelings, a story or steps. So it is mostly facts.

LO: 6Rx1 — distinguish between fact and opinion in a range of texts.

Model answer: Paragraph 2 says it can change the colour and texture of its skin, so “a master of disguise” means it is very good at hiding by blending in with its surroundings.

LO: 6Rw1 — comment on a writer’s use of language and its impact on the reader. Keyword auto-graded; model answer shown.

Model answer: “The octopus is very clever: it can open jars for food, find its way through mazes, and use coconut shells to hide.”

Marking: 2 marks = under 25 words + the key points (opens jars, solves mazes, uses shells). 1 mark = two points, or all points but over length.

LO: 6Wa10 — summarise a passage in a given number of words. Keyword auto-graded; model answer shown.

How Cambridge marks this (20 marks):

• Purpose & audience [6] — well-shaped, clear viewpoint, written for the reader.
• Text structure [5] — report features; logical order; well-linked paragraphs/sections.
• Sentence structure [5] — some controlled complex sentences; varied connectives.
• Punctuation [2] — accurate sentence punctuation; some commas/apostrophes.
• Spelling [2] — mostly accurate, including ambitious words.

The automatic check below looks at three focuses (Purpose & audience, Text structure, Sentence structure = 16 marks). Punctuation [2] and Spelling [2] are assessed by a teacher.

Model opening: “Have you ever wondered how bees make honey? Honeybees are amazing insects that live in large groups called colonies…”

LO: 6Wa9 — write non-chronological reports (non-fiction information text, 0844 P1 Section B). Self-/teacher-assessed extended writing.

How to decide: noun = a thing (whale); verb = an action (dived); adjective describes a noun (enormous); adverb describes a verb, often -ly (quickly); pronoun replaces a noun (she).

LO: 6Ro2 — understand different word classes.

Working: A preposition shows position — the robin perched on the branch. (Others: in, under, beside, through.)

LO: 6Ro2 — understand different word classes (prepositions).

Working: One main clause, one verb, no joining word = simple.

LO: 6Wp2 — develop grammatical control of complex sentences (recognising sentence types).

Working: Two main clauses joined by and = compound.

LO: 6Wp2 — develop grammatical control of compound and complex sentences.

Working: Main clause + subordinate clause (‘because it was hungry’) = complex.

LO: 6Wp2 — develop grammatical control of complex sentences.

Working: ‘the pupils left the classroom’ makes sense alone. ‘When the bell rang’ cannot stand alone.

LO: 6Wp3 — distinguish the main clause and other clauses in a complex sentence.

Working: An adverb tells you how — moved how? slowly. Many adverbs end in -ly.

LO: 6Ro2 — understand different word classes (adverbs).

Working: Adjectives describe nouns — ‘ancient’ (castle) and ‘narrow’ (staircase).

LO: 6Ro2 — understand different word classes (adjectives).

Working: present tense with singular subjects, so add -s.

1. bake → bakes (the baker — singular).
2. open → opens (the shop — singular).

LO: 6Rv2 — conventions of standard English usage (subject–verb agreement).

Working:

1. sang → sing ('the birds' is plural, so no -s).
2. rose → rises ('the sun' is singular, so add -s).

LO: 6Rv2 — conventions of standard English usage (tense and agreement).

Working: Passive = thing acted on first + ‘to be’ + past participle: was chased.

LO: 6Rw11 — explore the use of active and passive verbs within a sentence.

Working: Passive present = ‘are’ + past participle: are picked.

LO: 6Rw11 — explore the use of active and passive verbs within a sentence.

Working: One owner → apostrophe + s: baby’s toys (possession, not plural).

LO: 6Wp5 — use apostrophes accurately (possession).

Working: Spoken words inside the speech marks, the ‘!’ stays inside, and ‘she’ is lower-case. So: “What a beautiful song!” she whispered.

LO: 6Wp5 — punctuate speech accurately (direct speech).

Working: a synonym must keep the sense of the sentence.

1. basic → simple / initial / plain.
2. refine → improve / develop / perfect.

Many answers are accepted as long as the meaning is kept.

LO: 6Wa3 — explore definitions and shades of meaning and use new words in context (synonyms).

Model answer: ‘We were happy when the sun came out.’ (‘we was’ → ‘we were’; ‘come’ → ‘came’.)

LO: 6Rv2 — conventions of standard English usage (verb agreement & tense). Keyword auto-graded; model answer shown.