Year 7 Entrance Examination

English Specimen Paper B

First name:

Surname:

Candidate number:

Time allowed for this paper: 1 hour 20 minutes

Reading: 10 minutes
Writing: 70 minutes
PLEASE ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS
• The reading passage is on a separate piece of paper.

• You have 10 minutes to read the passage and the questions (should you wish to). Do not
write or type anything during this time.

• Pay careful attention to the number of marks available for each question and think about
how you are going to make the best use of your time.

• NOTE: there are 30 marks available for Question 9, so make sure you leave enough time to
answer this question.

• You may write notes on the passage if you wish, after the end of the ten minutes of reading
time.

The following section is for the examiners’ use only:

Total
Question 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
(Marks Available) (4) (5) (6) (6) (7) (7) (5) (4) (30) (6) (80)

Mark Achieved
Paragraph No.

1 It was the second to last week of the first half-term of the school year, of
James’ first half-term at a new school. He’d not enjoyed a great start to life in his
new surroundings. Joining the single-form primary school at the start of Year 6
had left him with the same feeling you get in musical chairs when you realise
you don’t have a seat.

2 The move was his parents’ decision. The family had “come into some
money” after his paternal grandmother, known to him as Granma, had passed
away. Once the family’s grief had eventually subsided, his parents had spoken
of how “Every dark cloud has a silver lining” and - before he knew it - they’d
declared that they were leaving their noisy terraced house in the city for a semi-
detached one in the leafy suburbs – meaning he’d be changing school. His
protestations proved futile as they were apparently outweighed by the better
schools that he could attend and the bigger home they could all enjoy.

3 Since making the move, James had tried to brand himself in what he
thought was an appealing way. Upon meeting his new peers, he’d said that
everybody at his old school simply called him “J” and he’d made grand claims
about his footballing prowess that he’d then struggled to live up to during break
and lunchtime kickabouts. Now, six weeks on, nobody was calling him by his
preferred name, he spent lunchtimes eating alone in the canteen, and he found
himself routinely picked last for football, perceived more as a burden than a
teammate.

4 Annoyingly, his younger brother, Andrew, appeared to be doing much

better in Year 4 and his seemingly effortless success only served to compound
James’ misery. Andrew had already been absent at home during lots of evenings
as many of his new classmates were keen to invite him round for supper. Whilst
James had to pester the other Year 6 students to include him in anything, the
rest of Year 4 liked Andrew so much that they were desperate to spend even
more time with him after school. James’ parents reassured him that it wasn’t
unusual for it to take time to settle into a new place and to make friends, and
they sought to console him with the fact that next year he’d be starting
secondary school, meaning everything would change again anyway. However,
the ease with which his little brother had acclimatised and his fast-approaching
eleventh birthday meant that he was becoming more - rather than less - anxious.
In all seriousness, how many of his new schoolmates would show for his
upcoming party? It had disaster written all over it. No, drastic action was
definitely needed.

5 That was how he’d ended up with Paul and Matt (the two most popular
boys in his year group), spray cans of paint in each of their hands defacing the
school sign with a mixture of fashionably cool words and naughty swear words
designed to reflect their rebellious audacity. He’d finally got their attention a
few days before by falsely boasting about how he thought graffiti was “no big
deal” and regaling them with stories about how he’d done it all the time where
he used to live. Consequently, they’d finally become interested in him. When
 they then suggested they do it together after school on Friday and on the school
sign no less, he’d thought that he had the ticket to popularity that he’d craved
so badly.

6 On the evening, it had all been going so well. By the time they’d got back
from buying the paint at the nearby bike shop, everyone else had gone and the
coast was clear. After thirty minutes of spraying, laughing, encouraging one
another to be bolder and bolder, and more spraying, the three of them had left
convinced they’d committed the perfect crime. What they hadn’t banked on was
the curtain twitching of Mrs Reynolds from her living room directly opposite the
school sign and the very lengthy phone call between her and the Headmaster
which followed immediately afterwards.

7 On the following Monday, James was the first of the three to be told to
go and see Mr Reeves, the Headmaster. His teacher, Ms Drummond, hadn’t said
what it was about, but her manner was cold and there wasn’t any of her
characteristic warmth in her voice.

8 The walk to Mr Reeves’ office was peculiar: the corridor seemed to be

getting bigger and bigger and he felt smaller and smaller. When he finally
arrived, even the Headmaster’s assistant – who’d been so welcoming just six
weeks ago – was aloof and uncommunicative, simply informing him that Mr
Reeves shouldn’t be too long.

9 Twenty minutes later, James found himself making the return trip to his
classroom. His bottom lip was all aquiver, he felt hotter, and he could feel
moisture forming in the corner of his eyes. How was he going to get through the
remainder of the day knowing that his parents were due to be “informed
straightaway”? He felt like a prisoner on death row counting down to his
imminent execution.
1. For
a) Based on paragraph 1, which of the six statements below are true? Circle the examiners’
use only
three correct ones.
(3 marks)
a. James is really enjoying school.

b. James has just joined a new school

c. It is nearly the end of the school year.

d. James is not enjoying school

e. James is in Year 5.

f. It is nearly the end of the first half-term

b) What do you think is meant by the description of James having “the same
feeling you get in musical chairs when you realise you don’t have a seat” at the
end of paragraph 1? Circle the option below which you feel offers the best
answer.

(1 mark)
a. James has found things unpredictable.

b. James has found things to be chaotic.

c. James is not very good at party games.

d. James has felt left out.

Q. 1 total
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 For
2. examiners’
use only
a) Look at paragraph 2. In your own words, explain how James’ grandmother
can be viewed as the cause of the family’s recent move from the city to the
suburbs.
(2 marks)

b) Paragraph 2 includes the metaphor “Every dark cloud has a silver lining”. Think
about the situation in which this has been mentioned and explain what the
phrase means with reference to specific words within the quotation.
(2 marks)
For example, if we were explaining the metaphor “Laughter is the best medicine’, we
might mention how laughter, like medicine, is good for us, and will make us feel better.

c) Towards the end of paragraph 2, it is mentioned that James’ protests were

metaphorically “outweighed” by reasons for moving house. Explain what is
meant by this.
(1 mark)

Q. 2 total

Questions continue on the next page. /1

 For
examiners’
3. use only
Look at the first two sentences of paragraph 3. Explain how James tried to make
himself popular with the other pupils at his new school. You should use
quotations to support your answer.
(6 marks)

Q. 3 total

Questions continue on the next page.

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4. For
examiners’
a) Based on the last sentence in paragraph 3, how do you think James would be
use only
feeling emotionally six weeks into his time at the new school?
(1 mark)

b) In paragraph 4, the passage mentions that James had to “pester the other
Year 6 students to include him in anything”. What does the word “pester”
suggest about the way that James asked them to be involved?
(1 mark)

c) Basing your answer on paragraph 4, use your own words to explain why
James’ brother has been absent during a lot of the evenings.
(1 mark)

d) Using paragraph 4, identify two things which James’ parents say to him in
order to make him feel better.
(2 marks)

e) Look towards the end of paragraph 4. Using your own words, explain why
James thinks his upcoming birthday party is going to be a disaster.

(1 mark)

Q. 4 total

Questions continue on the next page.

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 For
examiners’
5. use only

a) Look at paragraph 5 again. Which of the statements given below are true? Circle
the three correct ones.
(3 marks)
a. James did not think that graffiti was a serious crime.

b. All of three of the boys were involved in defacing the school sign.

c. James told Paul and Matt about other times that he had done graffiti in the past.

d. James had finally made genuine friends who liked him for his true self.

e. The boys didn’t write anything offensive on the school sign.

f. James used his claims about graffiti to make himself more popular.

b) Paragraph 5 states that some of the words which were written on the school sign
were designed to reflect the boys’ “rebellious audacity”. Using your own words,
write what this means.
(2 marks)

Question 5 continues on the next page.

 For
examiners’
c) In the last sentence of paragraph 5, the passage mentions how James thought use only
that he “had the ticket to popularity that he’d craved so badly”. Identify the type
of figurative device which has been used in this quotation and explain its meaning.

(2 marks)

Type of figurative device (e.g. metaphor, personification, or simile):

Effect:

For example, if we said that somebody was “on the right path” we might explain by
saying that it means they are going the right way and should get to the desired
destination if they keep following the route shown to them by the pathway.

Q. 5 total
(includes
previous
Questions continue on the next page. page)

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 For
examiners’
6. use only

a) Based on your reading of paragraph 6, circle the four correct statements in the
list below.

(4 marks)

a. The boys were spraying graffiti on the school sign for half an hour.

b. The boys spent hours defacing the school sign.

c. The boys bought the paint at a local shop.

d. There were very few other people around.

e. The boys were confident that nobody had seen them.

f. A local resident telephoned the Headmaster.

g. The boys didn’t communicate with each other whilst spraying.

h. The boys tried to be as quick as possible.

b) Paragraph 6 mentions that Mrs Reynolds shared a “very lengthy phone call” with
the boys’ Headmaster. List three things which you think she might have
mentioned to him during their telephone conversation.
(3 marks)

Q. 6 total

Questions continue on the next page.

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 For
examiners’
7. use only

a) Look at paragraph 7. On the following Monday, who informed James that he

needed to see the Headmaster?
(1 mark)

b) Using evidence (quotations) from paragraph 7, explain why James might be

worried by the way in which this person speaks to him when instructing him to
see the Headmaster.

(4 marks)

Q. 7 total

Questions continue on the next page.

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 For
examiners’
8. use only

a) In paragraph 8, the passage states that “the corridor seemed to be getting bigger
and bigger and he felt smaller and smaller”. Using your own words, explain how
you think James felt at this moment.
(2 marks)

b) Based on paragraph 8, use your own words to describe how the Headmaster’s
assistant behaves towards James.
(2 marks)

Q. 8 total

Questions continue on the next page.

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 For
9. examiners’
use only
Empathy and creative writing question. Write a continuation of the story that starts from
the point that the school day ends. What is James thinking as he walks home after school
knowing that his parents are already aware of his involvement in the graffiti? What do his
parents say and do when he sees them that evening? How does he react to them and
what does he feel?

You will be rewarded for:

- Sensitive insights into James’ thoughts and feelings throughout

- Imaginative use of vocabulary, including similes, metaphors and personification

- Varied use of sentence and paragraph structure

- Accurate spelling, punctuation, and grammar

(30 marks)

Use the space below to PLAN your response briefly before you start.

You may wish to use the starter sentence in italics below.

James’ walk home that day was completely unlike any other he had experienced during
that first half-term at the new school… (continue on from here)
For
examiners’
use only
 For
examiners’
use only

Q. 9 total

Questions continue on the next page.

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 For
10. examiners’
use only
a) Look at paragraph 9. Find three physical signs that James is feeling
upset at this point and list them below. You may use quotations for
this question.
(3 marks)

i) _____________________________________________________________________

ii) _____________________________________________________________________

iii) _____________________________________________________________________

b) Read the last sentence of paragraph 9. For this question you must
identify the type of figurative device used and explain in detail what it
shows about how James is feeling
(3 marks)
Type of figurative device (e.g. metaphor, simile, or personification):

Explanation of how it shows what James is feeling:

For example, if we were explaining how someone “felt they had won the lottery”, we
might mention how they felt incredibly excited about the future and thought their life
was about to become much easier and more enjoyable.

Q. 10
total

END OF EXAMINATION
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