CXC CSEC English A exam - Paper 2 topics

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.