KS2 SATs Writing Skills 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of planning before writing an extended piece?
- To make the work look neater
- To organise ideas and ensure the writing has structure (Correct answer)
- To use up extra time
- To show the teacher you worked hard
Correct answer: To organise ideas and ensure the writing has structure
Planning helps organise ideas logically, ensures the writing has a clear structure with a beginning, middle and end, and prevents the writer from going off topic.
Question 2: Which of these is an example of emotive language?
- The building was demolished in 2019.
- 43% of students agreed.
- Innocent children are suffering needlessly. (Correct answer)
- The report was published on Monday.
Correct answer: Innocent children are suffering needlessly.
Emotive language is designed to create an emotional response. Words like 'innocent', 'suffering', and 'needlessly' are chosen to make the reader feel sympathy and outrage.
Question 3: In persuasive writing, what is a 'counter-argument'?
- Repeating your main point
- Acknowledging the opposing view before explaining why your view is stronger (Correct answer)
- Using facts and statistics
- Writing in the first person
Correct answer: Acknowledging the opposing view before explaining why your view is stronger
A counter-argument acknowledges what someone who disagrees might say, then explains why your own argument is still stronger. This makes your writing more balanced and convincing.
Question 4: Which of these is the best example of 'show, not tell' writing?
- She was scared.
- Her hands trembled and her breath came in short, shallow gasps. (Correct answer)
- She felt really frightened.
- The girl was very afraid of the dark.
Correct answer: Her hands trembled and her breath came in short, shallow gasps.
'Show, not tell' means describing physical signs and actions rather than simply stating the emotion. Trembling hands and shallow gasps SHOW fear without using the word 'scared'.
Question 5: What is the correct order for paragraphs in a balanced argument?
- Conclusion, arguments for, arguments against, introduction
- Introduction, arguments for, arguments against, conclusion (Correct answer)
- Arguments for, conclusion, introduction, arguments against
- Introduction, conclusion, arguments for, arguments against
Correct answer: Introduction, arguments for, arguments against, conclusion
A balanced argument follows a logical structure: introduction (introduce the topic), arguments for, arguments against, then conclusion (weigh up both sides).
Question 6: Why might a writer use a rhetorical question?
- Because they don't know the answer
- To make the reader think and engage with the argument (Correct answer)
- To fill space in their writing
- Because the answer is too difficult to explain
Correct answer: To make the reader think and engage with the argument
Rhetorical questions are not asked to get an answer — they are used to make the reader think about the point being made and engage with the argument.
KS2 SATs Writing Skills 2
What is the purpose of planning before writing an extended piece?