GCSE Reading AO1a Identify/interpret explicit & implicit information & ideas

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GCSE English Language > Critical Reading and Comprehension > critical reading and comprehension

Reading AO1(a) Identify and interpret explicit and implicit information and ideas: identifying and interpreting themes, ideas and information in a range of literature and other high-quality writing; reading in different ways for different purposes, and comparing and evaluating the usefulness, relevance and presentation of content for these purposes; drawing inferences and justifying these with evidence; supporting a point of view by referring to evidence within the text; identifying bias and misuse of evidence, including distinguishing between statements that are supported by evidence and those that are not; reflecting critically and evaluatively on text, using the context of the text and drawing on knowledge and skills gained from wider reading; recognising the possibility of different responses to a text

Source:  DfE (2013), English Language GCSE subject content and assessment objectives.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcse-english-language-and-gcse-english-literature-new-content

AQA Paper 2-style exam questions and non-fiction extracts. One extract is taken from Sinead O'Connor's memoir "Rememberings" (2021) and the other is from Stephen Hough's memoir "Enough: scenes from Childhood" (2023). In the real exam, Source B is always a 19th Century text, but here I've used another contemporary text, so that learners can more easily practice the exam skills of comparing two pieces of writing. In these extracts, both writers reflect upon the first time they encountered a piano.

Level
GCSE L1-5
English
GCSE Reading AO1a Identify/interpret explicit & implicit information & ideas
GCSE Reading AO1b Select & synthesise evidence from different texts
GCSE Reading AO2 Explain & analyse language & structure
GCSE Reading AO3 Compare writers’ ideas & perspectives across 2 or more texts
Context
Art Film Media Music Radio TV

An extract from When I Was Ten (Fiona Cummins 2021) with questions 1, 2, 3 and 4. AQA Paper One-style exam practice. 

Editor's Note

Another wonderful text extract from Matthew Ruddle. If you haven't read the book, I highly recommend it. 
Ideal for exam practice and revision. 

Level
GCSE L1-5
English
GCSE Reading AO1a Identify/interpret explicit & implicit information & ideas
GCSE Reading AO2 Explain & analyse language & structure
GCSE AO4 Evaluate texts critically & support with textual references

GCSE English Language Paper Two AQA exam-style texts and questions 1-4. 
Based on a contemporary source from Jay Rayner (2023) and a Victorian article (Henry Mayhew 1865).

Editor's notes
Another excellent GCSE Practice resource from Matthew with, as usual, a super choice of texts.

Level
GCSE L1-5
English
GCSE Reading AO1a Identify/interpret explicit & implicit information & ideas
GCSE Reading AO1b Select & synthesise evidence from different texts
GCSE Reading AO2 Explain & analyse language & structure
GCSE Reading AO3 Compare writers’ ideas & perspectives across 2 or more texts
Context
Catering Food Nutrition
Business & Money management

AQA GCSE English Language Paper 1 exam-style resource with an extract from Last Lesson (by James Goodhand) and Questions 1-4. Also includes hints and tips for each question as well as example answers, so it can be used as a revision resource or as a classroom activity. 

Editor's Note

Level
GCSE L1-5
English
GCSE Reading AO1a Identify/interpret explicit & implicit information & ideas
GCSE Reading AO2 Explain & analyse language & structure
GCSE AO4 Evaluate texts critically & support with textual references

AQA GCSE English Language Paper One-style extract with questions 1-4, as revision or an introduction to how to answer Paper One. 

This extract is from A Kind of Spark, a children's book with an autistic protagonist. The author, Elle McNicoll, is autistic and is dedicated to writing books with neurodiverse characters. 

This extract works well with neurodiverse learners who often see themselves reflected in the story. 

Editor's Note

A wonderful text extract. Ideal for end of year exam practice and revision.

Level
GCSE L1-5
English
GCSE Reading AO1a Identify/interpret explicit & implicit information & ideas
GCSE Reading AO1b Select & synthesise evidence from different texts
GCSE Reading AO2 Explain & analyse language & structure
GCSE AO4 Evaluate texts critically & support with textual references

AQA GCSE English Language Paper 2 style exam practice. Source A is from a contemporary memoir "Life As A Unicorn" by Amrou Al-Kadhi. Source B is adapted from a Victorian article about aquariums. The questions mimic AQA Paper 2; questions 1 to 5. Question 5 asks students to write an article about gender roles. The whole paper reflects the advance information given by AQA about the summer 2022 exams; a memoir paired with a Victorian essay and an article writing task. 

Editor's notes

Level
GCSE L1-5
English
GCSE Reading AO1a Identify/interpret explicit & implicit information & ideas
GCSE Reading AO1b Select & synthesise evidence from different texts
GCSE Reading AO2 Explain & analyse language & structure
GCSE Reading AO3 Compare writers’ ideas & perspectives across 2 or more texts
GCSE Writing A5 (a) Use tone, style and register for different forms, purposes & audiences
GCSE Writing A5 (b) Organise information using structural and grammatical features
GCSE A6 Use a range of vocabulary & sentence structure - with accurate SPaG
Context
Animals, animal care, farming & equine

Social Media - AI behind the scenes slides exploring: how many people use social media and the algorithms running behind the scenes; the fact that we are being 'watched' and the concept that 'if you're not paying for the product, then YOU are the product'. Slides also explore DeepMind, Google Autocomplete and the idea that smartphones are making us dumber. 

Level
Level 2
GCSE L1-5
English
FE L2.2 Follow narratives & lines of argument
FS Eng L2.5 Communicate information/ideas/opinions clearly/effectively with further detail/development if required
FS Eng L2.6 Express opinions and arguments and support them with relevant and persuasive evidence
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
FE L2.15 Use a range of reference materials & resources (e.g. glossaries, legends/keys) for different purposes
FE L2.18 Follow an argument, identifying different points of view & distinguishing fact from opinion
FE L2.23 Communicate information, ideas and opinions clearly, coherently and effectively
FE L2.24 Write text of appropriate level of detail & length to meet needs of purpose & audience
FE L2.27 Use language & register (e.g. persuasive techniques, supporting evidence, specialist words) to suit audience & purpose
GCSE Spoken language A8 Listen and respond
GCSE Reading AO1a Identify/interpret explicit & implicit information & ideas
GCSE Reading AO1b Select & synthesise evidence from different texts
GCSE Reading AO2 Explain & analyse language & structure
GCSE Writing A5 (a) Use tone, style and register for different forms, purposes & audiences
GCSE Writing A5 (b) Organise information using structural and grammatical features
Context
Electrical, Electronics & Technology
Art Film Media Music Radio TV

A set of five texts about screen time, physical and sedentary activity, and sleep for Children under age 5. The texts can be used in various combinations for Functional Skills (FS) speaking, listening and communicating; reading and writing activities. Teachers can pick and choose their own texts and create related DARTs (directed activities related to text) and questions to suit. There will also be pre-prepared resources on skillsworkshop. See "See also" for links.

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
GCSE L1-5
T Levels - embedded maths or English
English
Functional English reading
TL - Synthesise information
GCSE Reading AO1a Identify/interpret explicit & implicit information & ideas
GCSE Reading AO1b Select & synthesise evidence from different texts
GCSE Reading AO2 Explain & analyse language & structure
GCSE Reading AO3 Compare writers’ ideas & perspectives across 2 or more texts
Context
Health, Social care, Early years

A challenging set of reading and writing (spelling and sentence structure only) tasks based on a WHO (World Health Organisation) report about sleep, screen and activity time for children under five.  This resource is not intended to emulate formal L1-2 summative assessment papers as it includes underpinning spelling and sentence structure tasks. In addition, some questions are deliberately challenging and beyond the Level 2 Functional English curriculum and, unlike formal assessment papers, questions are arranged by topic.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
GCSE L1-5
T Levels - embedded maths or English
English
FE L1.17 Read & understand a range of specialist words in context
FE L2.15 Use a range of reference materials & resources (e.g. glossaries, legends/keys) for different purposes
FE E3.17 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 3
FE L1.13 Use reference materials & appropriate strategies for a range of purposes, inc. to find word meanings
FE L1.21 Spell words used most often in work, study and daily life, including specialist words
FE L2.22 Spell words used in work, study & daily life, including a range of specialist words
FE L1.25 Write consistently & accurately in complex sentences, using paragraphs where appropriate
FE L2.28 Construct complex sentences consistently & accurately, using paragraphs where appropriate
FE L1.9 Identify & understand the main points, ideas & details
FE L2.11 Identify when main points are sufficient & when specific details are important
FE L1.14 Understand organisational / structural features use to locate relevant information
FE L1.14 Understand organisational / structural features use to locate relevant information
FE L1.18 Use knowledge of punctuation to aid understanding of texts
FE L1.15 Infer from images meanings not explicit in the accompanying text
FE L1.16 Recognise vocabulary typically associated with specific types and purposes of texts (e.g. formal, informal, instructional, descriptive, explanatory and persuasive)
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
FE L2.19 Identify different styles of writing & writer’s voice
TL - Synthesise information
GCSE Reading AO1a Identify/interpret explicit & implicit information & ideas
GCSE Reading AO1b Select & synthesise evidence from different texts
GCSE A6 Use a range of vocabulary & sentence structure - with accurate SPaG

A challenging set of reading tasks based on an interesting and complex scientific article from the Guardian. Covers three main area of the L2 Functional English curriculum: reading for detail, language features and tone/style. Also suitable for GCSE and embedded English for T Levels.  

With curriculum mapping. No answer sheet.

Level
Level 2
GCSE L1-5
T Levels - embedded maths or English
English
FE L2.11 Identify when main points are sufficient & when specific details are important
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
FE L2.19 Identify different styles of writing & writer’s voice
TL - Synthesise information
GCSE Reading AO1a Identify/interpret explicit & implicit information & ideas
GCSE Reading AO2 Explain & analyse language & structure
Context
Science, Nature & Weather