CXC CSEC English A exam - Paper 2 exam topics

This paper contains eight (8) questions in four (4) sections

Section A: Summary writing

This section is made up of one compulsory question. In this section, you have to write a summary of a given passage or report. (There is no choice here, you have to answer the only question in this section.)

You will be given a passage or report and asked to write a summary of it.

The 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 allotted number of words, anything you write will not be assessed.

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

This section consists of two compulsory short answer reading comprehension questions. (Again there is no choice here, you have to answer both of the questions in this section).

Each question is made up of a reading passage and 7-8 questions on the passage. You must answer all the questions on each reading passage.

Here are samples of the type of reading comprehension questions that have been set in CXC English A past papers.

Section C: Short story writing/Descriptive writing

This section is made up of three questions. They include two short story essays - one with a picture and one without - and a descriptive essay.(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.

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

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

Section D: Persuasive writing

This section is made up of two persuasive essay questions. Your answer is usually required to be in the form of either an informal letter to a friend, a formal letter to an official, a speech, presentation or an essay. (You must choose one question to answer).

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 persuasive essay questions that have been set in CXC Engliah A past papers.

You must answer five (5) out of the eight (8) questions on this paper in order to pass the CXC English A exam.