Diploma Exam Preparation-Reading Comprehension

Strategy 5:  Look out for links!

There may be questions that link two or more texts from your Readings booklet.  Linking questions might ask you to consider what these texts have in common.  You may also be asked to consider how they connect the texts thematically.

Your cue will be at least two text titles in the stem.  All the other strategies still apply here, in terms of highlighting and making notes in the margin.

Strategy 6:  Ready to read!

On the diploma exam, once you have written notes in your Questions booklet, and highlighted your Readings booklet, pay close attention to the highlighted sections as you read the texts.

Also, help is there, if you look for it.  Introductory information may be provided at the top of a text to help you understand the text.  You may learn about the text’s context and relevant biographical information about the text creator.

You may also see definitions provided for difficult words.  These may be words that are specific to the context that you might not know (e.g. “carabiner” is used to tether the lines that connect climbers together when mountain climbing).

Paying attention to this information can often help you make a final selection between alternatives.