Paper 2 Comprehension: Overview (Cambridge International AS English)

The CIE AS English General Paper is a skills-based qualification. It is designed to encourage you to think critically about modern issues, develop your skills in writing and reading and strengthen your English communication skills. These are skills that you can transfer to most other academic fields and in the professional world.

The following revision note provides an overview of Paper 2 (comprehension).

What is Paper 2 (comprehension) about?

Paper 2 is the comprehension paper. You will be provided with unseen reading materials, and you will be asked to respond to a range of questions about these materials. Specifically, you will be asked to:

• Explain, summarise and/or interpret information
• Offer your opinion in response to a text
• Justify your responses using text-based evidence and/or your own knowledge
• Work out the meaning of words or phrases and consider their impact
• Analyse and evaluate information
• Identify and analyse inference in the reading materials

It is essential that you answer all of the questions, adjusting the length of each of your answers according to the marks available.

How is Paper 2 (comprehension) assessed?

• 1 hour 45 minutes

• 50 marks

• 2 sections each worth 25 marks

• 50% of the AS level

• Source materials will be provided in a separate insert booklet:

  • The materials may come from reports, reviews, essays, blogs, scripts, speeches and descriptions, and may include visual data such as diagrams or graphs
  • The materials will be up to 900 words in length

You are not allowed to use a dictionary in the exam.

The sections consist of a range of sub-questions, which are a mix of short responses and extended answers of up to 120 words. The two sections are broken down into:

Section A

You are required to:

• Answer a range of short-response and longer-response questions
• Explain and interpret the information provided in the source material to show understanding
• Write a persuasive response that expresses an opinion and justifies a conclusion

Section B

You are required to:

• Answer a range of short-response and longer response questions
• Demonstrate your ability to read for detailed understanding at word, sentence and paragraph level
• Demonstrate understanding of how language features are used
• Analyse and evaluate the source material
• Identify and analyse inference

Exam Hint If you are sitting your exam from 2028, this exam will be available in both digital and paper-based forms. The exam paper will still be split into 2 sections, with a variety of short-answer and structured questions to respond to.

What are the Paper 2 (comprehension) Assessment Objectives?

Assessment Objectives define the skills you are expected to demonstrate in your responses in the exam. There are three Assessment Objectives (AOs) in the CIE AS English General Paper, and all three are assessed in both papers.

What the examiner is looking for in Paper 2 (comprehension)

CIE examiners make the following recommendations:

• Read each question carefully first:

  • Highlight the key word(s) in each question
  • Read the relevant source material with each question in mind
  • Follow the instructions in each question carefully (especially if the instruction is to not refer to something)
  • If the instructions tell you to use continuous prose, this means you must write in full sentences

• Ensure you use the sections of source material you are directed to:

  • If the question asks you to focus on certain lines of the source material, make sure you stick to this

• Use the number of marks available to guide how much you write:

  • It is a waste of valuable time to write more than is necessary

• Ensure your answers are clear and make sense:

  • Unclear or ambiguous answers can negatively impact your marks

• Make sure you select the essential relevant points:

  • Be precise and write with sufficient detail

What are the common command words for Paper 2 (comprehension)?

Knowing the common command words that will be used in an exam paper, and what they mean, can be helpful in understanding what is expected of you in the exam. The table below covers some of the common command words you should expect to see in your Paper 2 exam.