| name | reading-comprehension |
| description | Strategy for unseen passages in English (20 marks total). Students waste time re-reading. This teaches the read-questions-first method that toppers use. |
Reading Comprehension — 20 Marks Strategy
Paper Structure
Passage 1: Factual (10M) — facts, data, informational
Passage 2: Case-based (10M) — scenario with sub-questions
Total: 20 marks from 2 passages = 25% of English paper
The Topper Method: Questions FIRST, Passage SECOND
WRONG (most students):
Read full passage (5 min) → Read questions → Re-read passage to find answers (3 min)
= 8 min per passage, lots of wasted re-reading
RIGHT (toppers):
Read questions first (1 min) → Read passage with answers in mind (3 min) → Write (2 min)
= 6 min per passage, targeted reading
Step-by-Step Strategy
STEP 1 (30 sec): Read ALL questions first
→ Know exactly what you're looking for
→ Note: vocabulary Q, inference Q, title Q, detail Q
STEP 2 (2-3 min): Read passage with purpose
→ Underline key phrases that relate to questions
→ Don't try to understand everything — focus on question areas
→ Note paragraph numbers where answers might be
STEP 3 (2-3 min): Answer in order
→ Direct answer Qs: copy relevant sentence + rephrase slightly
→ Vocabulary Qs: use context clues (surrounding words)
→ Inference Qs: what the passage IMPLIES, not states
→ Title Qs: what's the MAIN idea of the WHOLE passage
STEP 4 (30 sec): Quick check
→ Did I answer every sub-part?
→ Did I stay within word limit?
Question Type Strategies
Factual/Detail Questions
"According to the passage, what causes...?"
Strategy: Answer is DIRECTLY in the passage. Find and rephrase.
❌ Don't add your own knowledge
✅ Use passage language, slightly rephrased
Vocabulary in Context
"What does the word 'X' mean in the passage?"
Strategy: Replace X with each option. Which one fits the sentence?
❌ Don't use dictionary meaning — use CONTEXTUAL meaning
✅ The meaning that makes the sentence make sense
Inference Questions
"What can be inferred from..."
Strategy: What the passage SUGGESTS without directly saying
❌ Don't guess wildly
✅ Find 2 clues in the passage that lead to the inference
Main Idea / Title
"What is the best title for this passage?"
Strategy: What's the ONE topic the ENTIRE passage discusses?
❌ Don't pick a title that covers only one paragraph
✅ The title should cover ALL paragraphs
Timing Budget
Passage 1 (Factual, 10M): 15 minutes max
Passage 2 (Case-based, 10M): 15 minutes max
Total: 30 minutes for 20 marks
This leaves 150 minutes for remaining 60 marks
