In the reading paper, your child will be asked to read three short texts and answer a range of questions, some requiring short answers, some a longer response.

In the writing paper, your child will choose a task that requires them to write a continuous piece.

In the Shakespeare paper, there is a reading task which tests your child’s ability to understand and write in detail about printed extracts from two scenes from Much Ado About Nothing.

Your child should be able to:

• use commas, speech marks and apostrophes accurately;
• use paragraphs;
• spell some difficult words correctly;
• use some complex (longer and more detailed/descriptive) sentences;
• use a wide range of vocabulary;
• give reasons and explanations, backed up by evidence, in their answers.

What you can do to help your child with English

• Watch the film of the Shakespeare play.
• Help with key spellings: rhythm, rhyme, scene, playwright, author, character, soliloquy, theatre, simile, onomatopoeia.
• Find out what they always forget (for example, there/their/they’re, or using paragraphs) and help them to remember.
• Ensure that they revise – short, regular revision sessions are better than infrequent, long ones.
• Help them check their writing for accuracy.
• Help them read complex fiction and non-fiction texts and encourage them to think about what messages the writer is trying to convey and about how they use language to do this.

The following websites are very useful for SATs revision:

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/english/ (this is the best site to revise from as it covers the three English papers in detail. You can read the Much Ado About Nothing set scenes, see sample material for the Writing and Reading papers and try practice tests).
• http://www.teachit.co.uk/attachments/5123.pdf (a sample from a Reading Paper)
• http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/muchado/ (background notes on Much Ado About Nothing).
• If you enjoy writing and would like to push yourself even further, have a look at some of these sites:
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/arts/features/howtowrite/index.shtml
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/blast/writing/articles/top_writing_tips.shtml
• A guide to writing clear English:
  • http://www.ziskadesigns.co.uk/masterplain.html