EduTest Year 8 Written Expression free practice questions with answers

Plan first, then write your response on the lined pages. Your plan is not marked. YOUR TASK Should schools start later in the morning? Write to persuade. Type of writing: Persuasive. Reader: your school community. Planning space Use this box for a quick plan. It is not marked. TASK 1 OF 2 Persuasive

A MODEL RESPONSE AND GUIDANCE FOR THAT TASK Step 1: Decode the task

• Type of writing: Persuasive. The marker expects the conventions of this form.

• Reader: your school community. Choose tone and vocabulary to suit them.

• Underline the verbs in the task. They tell you what the text must do: ‘Write to persuade’ means: take a side, give reasons and move the reader. Step 2: Plan before you write

• Opening: a hook, then your position in one sentence.

• Reason 1: health and sleep, with a fact or example.

• Reason 2: learning and results, with an example.

• Other side: one objection and your reply.

• Closing: a firm last sentence. Step 3: An annotated model response (about 145 words) Imagine dragging yourself out of bed at six o'clock, eyes barely open, to catch the first bus to school. (1) For most teenagers, this happens every morning, and it is time schools started later. The first reason is health. Teenagers' body clocks naturally shift, so they fall asleep later and need more sleep than adults. (2) Starting at nine instead of half past eight would give students the rest their brains need. The second reason is results. Schools that moved their start times found that attendance and marks improved. (3) A tired student cannot concentrate, however good the lesson is. Some people argue that later starts would clash with parents' work hours. However, many schools already run breakfast clubs, so supervision is easy to arrange. (4)

A later start is a small change with a big payoff. It is time schools let their students wake up. (5) What the numbers show

(1) A hook that makes the reader picture the problem. The opening scene is specific and then leads straight to the position.

(2) A reason with a fact behind it. The body-clock point is explained, not just stated, and linked to the proposal.

(3) Evidence and a link back. Improved attendance and marks support the argument, and the last sentence ties tiredness to concentration.

(4) The other side answered. “Some people argue ... However” shows the writer has thought about an objection.

(5) A firm close. The last line repeats the position in fresh words. TASK 1: PERSUASIVE Worked solution

A weaker opening and a stronger opening WEAKER