Grade 9 Papers

Grade 9 papers begin to look like O/L papers: longer reading passages, more writing, and questions that ask for a reason rather than a fact.

• Start timing the paper this year. Grade 9 is early enough that running out of time is a lesson rather than a disaster, and late enough that the habit will still be there at O/L.
• Most of these are third-term papers - nine of the sixteen - so they suit the end of the year. Earlier in the year, use the second-term papers and the Grade 8 collection.
• Answer the question that was asked. From this grade on, the commonest loss of marks is a well-written answer to a slightly different question. Underline the words in the question that limit it.
• There are no marking schemes in this collection yet. Mark against the Grade 10 and 11 schemes for the equivalent question types, which are close enough to keep your standard honest.