Rt/L2.3 Identify the main points and specific detail

A rigorous and fully mapped reading assessment with mark sheet and detailed answers. This resource takes account of the changes demanded since Ofqual published its thematic review of Functional Skills in January 2015. Can also of course be used for normal classwork, revision, homework or private study. Ideal for Pancake day but could be used any time of year.

Reading comprehension based on a BBC website report of New Year round the world. The first part requires specific answers (i.e. Shanghai rather than China) to require learners to think about their answers rather than copy out general lumps of text. The second part asks higher level, more analytical questions.
I am using as an introductory topic to New Year sessions.

Editor’s note
A simplified E2 version of this resource is now available – scroll down to See also.

Level 1 / Level 2 resource for literacy students exploring Chinese customs. This has proved to be a popular resource with my students. Includes: reading, dictionary work, comprehension and grammatical knowledge with a fun part where learners find their Chinese horoscope animal.

Two resources, one for L1 and one for L2. Both resources include the same 12 short paragraphs. Each paragraph has four points – but which one is the main point?

Designed to be a group activity or a matching exercise this was adapted from an online resource at http://www.softschools.com/ because I didn’t have computer access for my groups and wanted to encourage group discussion. The learner has to read each short paragraph and decide which of four statements describes the main point.

A set of exercises based around an article from the BBC News website during the adverse weather of 2010.
There are multiple choice comprehension questions, together with exercises on apostrophes, vocabulary and synonyms and anagrams. The learner is then asked to write his/her views.

Beautiful set of L1-2 Reading comprehension exercises. Includes Medieval Christmas, Victorian Christmas, Post-War Christmas, etc. The main focus is reading for detail but there are also vocabulary and dictionary questions.

Based on a series of BBC British History web pages of the same name – but note that only nine “ages” are included in this resource! (There is no Georgian/Regency Christmas).

Series of L2 tasks based on an article from the BBC News website written after England left the World Cup 2010 competition.
This is a complicated text. The exercises include a comprehension, identifying spelling mistakes and a vocabulary task. There is also a short writing task.

A set of comprehension questions, together with vocabulary exercises, anagrams and a writing prompt.
Useful for those working towards Level 2 Certificate in Adult Literacy and anyone with an interest in word origins and English linguistics.
All based on an article from the BBC News website www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10776581
See below for links to other Level 2 exercises.

Primary education ‘too narrow’ is a comprehension activity based on a BBC 2009 news report. General comprehension questions and recognising the main points.

Topical comprehension based on a 2001 BBC News report with comprehension & vocabulary questions written for E2E learners. Although this is an old report from 2001 it is still of interest to younger students and ideal for provoking discussion about appropriate language, lyrics, etc.