English resources

Students identify the visual techniques used within a static image and describe how they support the meaning of the written text.

This comprehension task assesses student ability to identify and justify evidence used to visualise and make inferences about a character and setting.

Students use a video clip as the stimulus for completing a poem. Scaffolds are provided for this process.

The parts of a book provide the context for this resource with 12 questions on the various components of a book.

Students listen to a narrative about an unusual mouse and then respond to 6 multiple-choice questions.

Students are assessed on their ability to identify the main idea of a text that recounts one person's experience of a Tryathlon.

Students are assessed on their ability to identify the main idea of a narrative concerning one child's experience of White Sunday in Sāmoa.

The context for this oral assessment is an informative speech about a famous person. ARB scoring guides A, B, and C are suitable for this task.

This comprehension task assesses a student's ability to use evidence in a text to work out what a poem could be about as it is disclosed in stages.

Students read an extract from Steinbeck's 'Of Mice and Men' to answer retrieval and inferential questions.

Students place photos in order, then use them to write a narrative with a beginning, middle, and end.

A tale about a character who resolves a problem creatively provides the context for this cloze exercise. Students use their vocabulary and knowledge of grammar to fill in the missing words.

Using a picture as stimulus, students use nouns and verbs to create well-formed sentences.

Students read a short extract on diving and answer five comprehension questions.

Students choose a proverb from a list, then prepare and make a short speech explaining the proverb's message. The assessment focus is on explaining an idea, using an example and personal opinion. ARB scoring guides B and C are suitable for this task.

Assessment focus: ability to de-construct and interpret messages in advertising, so that students can understand meaning-making processes in the construction of imagery.

Students read a short story about swimming in summer and answer questions about comprehension and inference. SJ-2-1-1992. Text provided.

Assessment focus: ability to use contextual clues to infer meaning of a word. (There is a link to the text used for this resource in the Using this Resource section.) Reading age 9.5-10.5. SJ-2-2006. Text provided.

Students read a poem then retrieve information to answer comprehension questions. SJ-1-1-1999. Text not provided.

Students are assessed on knowing how to use a contents page. SJ-1-1-1999. Text provided.

This listening comprehension assessment is based on a short extract from a school journal on moving an old house. SJ-2-3-1995. Text not provided.

Students listen to a text about cacti and recall information from it in multiple-choice questions. SJ-2-3-1993. Text not provided.

Students read an extract from a drama script and answer questions on props, dialogue, and stage sets. (The text used is reproduced in the the Teacher information pages.) SJ-4-1-2000. Text provided.

The native bird the kakapo is the subject of this listening comprehension assessment. SJ-2-3-1992. Text not provided.

Students read the poem 'Hide-and-go-seek' to make inferences about the game. SJ-3-2-1996. Text provided.