KS2 SATs KS2 Writing Skills & Vocabulary 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'purpose' mean in the phrase 'audience and purpose'?
- The length of the text
- The reason why the text is being written (Correct answer)
- Who the text is written for
- The vocabulary used
Correct answer: The reason why the text is being written
Purpose means the reason for writing — for example, to entertain, inform, persuade, or explain. Knowing your purpose shapes every decision you make about content, structure, vocabulary, and tone.
Question 2: Which transition phrase would best begin a concluding paragraph?
- First of all
- On the other hand
- In conclusion (Correct answer)
- For example
Correct answer: In conclusion
'In conclusion' is a standard phrase used to signal the beginning of a final paragraph that summarises or wraps up the argument or discussion. It tells the reader the writing is coming to an end.
Question 3: What is an example of 'show, don't tell' in writing?
- 'He was angry.'
- 'His fists clenched and his face turned red as he slammed the door.' (Correct answer)
- 'The character felt very upset that day.'
- 'She was sad because of what happened.'
Correct answer: 'His fists clenched and his face turned red as he slammed the door.'
'Show, don't tell' means demonstrating an emotion or situation through actions, details, and dialogue rather than stating it directly. Describing physical reactions shows anger far more powerfully than saying 'he was angry'.
Question 4: What is the difference between first and third person narration?
- First person uses 'I'; third person uses 'he', 'she', or 'they' (Correct answer)
- First person uses 'he'; third person uses 'I'
- First person is for non-fiction only
- Third person is always more interesting
Correct answer: First person uses 'I'; third person uses 'he', 'she', or 'they'
First-person narration uses 'I' and 'we', giving a personal, inside view. Third-person narration uses 'he', 'she', 'they', giving an outside view. Each creates a different relationship with the reader.
Question 5: What is the purpose of using dialogue in a story?
- To make the story longer
- To reveal character, move the plot forward, and make the story feel more realistic (Correct answer)
- To avoid describing settings
- To use up speech marks
Correct answer: To reveal character, move the plot forward, and make the story feel more realistic
Dialogue reveals character through how characters speak, advances the plot, creates pace, and makes the story feel more immediate and realistic. Well-written dialogue also varies sentence structure.
Question 6: Which word best replaces 'nice' to make this sentence more precise: 'We had a ___ meal'?
- nice
- good
- delicious (Correct answer)
- fine
Correct answer: delicious
'Delicious' is far more precise and evocative than 'nice', 'good', or 'fine'. Ambitious vocabulary choices create a clearer picture in the reader's mind and make writing more engaging.
KS2 SATs KS2 Writing Skills & Vocabulary 3
What does 'purpose' mean in the phrase 'audience and purpose'?