CXC CSEC English A exam - Paper 2 topics

CXC CSEC English A exam - Paper 2 exam topics (2018)

 

This paper contains five (5) questions in four (4) sections

 

Section One Summary essay

Section one (1) is made up of one compulsory question. In this section, you MUST write a summary of a given passage.

Paper 2 directions state that in this section you must write in "continuous prose", that is, you must write using paragraphs. You MUST NOT write using note form. Also, after the stated number of words requested for the summary, anything you write will NOT be assessed.

Here are samples of the type of summary questions that were set in CXC CSEC English A past papers.

 

 

Section Two: Expository essay

Section two (2) consists of one compulsory question. You MUST write an expository essay in this section. You will be given a text 'stimulus' to prompt your writing activity. You are required to respond to the stimulus by writing either an email, a letter, a report, a notice, a news article or some other form of informational text. Please note; Your answer must be in the for of 'continuous prose". That means your answer cannot be in the form of jotted down notes.

 

 

Section Three: Short story essay

Section three (3) is made up of two optional questions. The questions are prompts for two short story essay questions. You must choose one question to answer.

The paper 2 exam states that your answer in this section should be approximately 400-450 words in length and you must write in standard English, although you may use dialect in conversations. 

(As a side note: I have seen short stories twice this length win the CXC CSEC English A short story award!)

 

Here are samples of the type of short story questions that have been set in CXC CSEC English A past papers.

Here are short stories that have won the CXC CSEC short story awards.

 

 

Section Four: Argumentative essay

Section four (4) is made up of one compulsory question. You MUST write an argumentative essay in this section.Your answer is may be required to take the form of a letter to the editor of a newspaper, a formal letter to an official, a letter to a friend, a speech, a presentation or an essay.

The paper 2 exam states that your answer in this section should be approximately 250-300 words in length and you MUST write in standard English.

Here are samples of the type of argumentative essay questions that have been set in CXC CSEC English A past papers.

 

 

 

Fivestar

FRANZ (not verified) 18 April 2009 - 2:08am

rate the site creators big up!!!!!!!!!!!

Kathy-ann Daniel 18 April 2009 - 12:43pm

In reply to by FRANZ (not verified)

Thanks! We are really glad you like the site, it is still a work-in-progress though. We are continually working on it to make it better for CXC exam candidates. Keep checking with us!

simonsese whyte (not verified) 27 November 2009 - 10:57am

In reply to by Kathy-ann Daniel

Hi Kathy

I am new to this site, as I am sure you know. My query is, do you provide answers for the questions on this site? I have chosen to attempt one of your summary writing questions, and I have seen where persons have posted answers previously. Is there someone in place to acknowledge their answers or is there an answer to the summary question that we can view?

Thanks in advance for your assistance,

Kathy-ann Daniel 27 November 2009 - 12:14pm

In reply to by simonsese whyte (not verified)

Hi simonsese,

We do not provide traditional type instruction for the CXC subjects in this community. As a result, there are no 'teachers' here really to correct answers; what we are is a study group of 'people helping people' for the CXC exams.

In this study group, like all study groups, it is the members who help each other. Members are encouraged to work together, read and helpfully comment on each others' work, share their own answers and generally help each other in their preparations for the CXC exams.

Another way in which we help members who want to know if their answer is correct: we have just started providing rubrics for questions; rubrics help you identify what information your answer should have. Also, we do have posted some sample answers to summary questions that CXC provided in their school reports.

I hope this answer helps.

Joseph Morton (not verified) 7 September 2020 - 11:05am

In reply to by simonsese whyte (not verified)

Would appreciate sample papers please. Thanks

guest (not verified) 20 April 2009 - 6:31am

If I go beyond three hundred words in Persausive writing as in Story Writing, would I be penalized for dat.

Hi, no you do not get penalized if you go beyond 300 words.

But the problem with going too far beyond 300 words is this: if you spend too much time on the persuasive essay and do it very well, but don't have enough time to do the short story or reading comprehension as well, you will lose marks on the short story/ reading comprehension and you still can't get more than 35 marks on the persuasive essay.

So the trick is to manage your time well in the exam room. Make sure that you leave enough time to hit all the questions as best as possible.This is a better strategy for making the most marks possible in the exam.

neisha21 (not verified) 6 May 2009 - 11:53am

This site is very helpful. Whatever area you are weak in they have given you enough questions to practise with. Keep up the good work

katty (not verified) 27 November 2012 - 1:35pm

In reply to by neisha21 (not verified)

is 4 a pass mark

vani (not verified) 30 June 2009 - 11:09am

this is tremendous help, it allows to prepare myself for the upcoming exams..thanks alot!

Amy123 (not verified) 30 June 2009 - 8:07pm

In reply to by vani (not verified)

Hi,
I have wrote Mathematics a few years ago and got a grade 4. Nevertheless, I have rewritten it and got grade 5. However, CXC has declared that grade 4 is appropriate for the working environment. Now, I would like to apply for a job; should I declare that I got a grade 4 in Mathematics or a grade 5.

guest (not verified) 1 July 2009 - 2:02am

In reply to by Amy123 (not verified)

I got a grade 4 because that is a better grade.

Johnson (not verified) 1 July 2009 - 9:50am

In reply to by guest (not verified)

Would that be right to do. I am really confused. I though it is the most recent grade is that what counts.

Well, both are your grades. And you are not obliged to give them your most recent grade, why? Suppose you got a grade 6 the second time, does that mean you did not pass CXC math at all? No. It simply means you didn't pass the second time. You can give them the paper with the best result and ignore the other one. That is what I would do.

amanda (not verified) 1 July 2009 - 4:47pm

In reply to by Amy123 (not verified)

@a.richards in cxc grade 4 is a much rather grade to me personally i got a 3 already was planning to do it any but got scared 1 is an distinction,2 is a credit and 3 is a pass 4 is a fail for us so u know let me know what happens okay

Amy123 (not verified) 2 July 2009 - 4:23pm

In reply to by Amy123 (not verified)

Thank you! Another problem I have is, most vacanies here states that they wants 5 subjects CXC including Mathematics and English. What this actually means? Mathematics and English must be from Grade 1 to 3 or 1 to 4. The reason of asking such question is that CXC has declared grade 4 as a minimum entry requirement. READ http://www.cxc.org/section.asp?Sec=2&SSec=2&Info=19. I don't know if they are refering to 1 to 3 or 1 to 4.

Even tho CXC say a grade 4 is a pass for work, as far as I know, most pple only accept grades 1-3 for employment. I might be wrong tho so somebody else can say what they know.

randyx5 (not verified) 13 November 2009 - 1:30pm

is cxc really easy to pass i want to find out

maya mantock (not verified) 16 November 2009 - 4:11pm

In reply to by randyx5 (not verified)

do well in my cxc get my person prove of me.15

mad_zaza (not verified) 3 January 2010 - 11:05pm

In reply to by randyx5 (not verified)

yess it is as long as u know da topics and u put ur mind 2 it den ......... u surely can pass it

Sabeel Foster (not verified) 28 November 2010 - 11:33am

The exam says that short stories should be 400-450 words. The examples of good award winning cxc short stories are much longer, 600 to even 900 plus words. Please explain. Were these essays written under exam condition? I would like to see an example that met the criteria.

As a form five student English as been very interesting and nice. for English those are the strategies you can do for you to develop more skills. they include make study cards, review a whole CXC English text book or text books, review and do past papers as much as you can, Google or research for games,get activities involve in English and see how well you will overcome joy and excitement.Good luck on studying English.

kay.huslin (not verified) 24 January 2011 - 10:57pm

can any body tell me were i can get a C.X.C English syllabus TO BY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pape (not verified) 24 September 2011 - 5:04pm

In reply to by kay.huslin (not verified)

just google it up and print it off as a pdf

strap don skippa (not verified) 16 June 2012 - 8:04am

In reply to by kay.huslin (not verified)

sangster book store! use yo capital sense n not yo common, yo common a wah yo know already!

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