Key Stage 2 English reading test mark scheme
Mark schemes for the English reading test
Section 1: The Great Barrier Reef
Qu. Requirement Mark
1 Look at page 4 of your reading booklet.
In 1981, the Great Barrier Reef was classified as what?
1m
Content domain: 2b – retrieve and record information/identify key details from fiction and
non-fiction.
Award 1 mark for:
• a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2 According to the text, how long is the Great Barrier Reef?
Content domain: 2b – retrieve and record information/identify key details from fiction and 1m
non-fiction.
Award 1 mark for:
• 2,300 kilometres (km)
3 Look at the opening paragraph.
Complete the sentence below.
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world… Tick one.
1m
Content domain: 2b – retrieve and record information/identify key details from fiction and
non-fiction.
Award 1 mark for:
stretching from Gladstone all the way to Cape York.
measuring 2,900 kilometres.
making it the only living thing that is clearly visible from outer space.
and is home to 1200 tropical islands.
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Key Stage 2 English reading test mark scheme
Section 1: The Great Barrier Reef
Qu. Requirement Mark
4 What are the islands of the Great Barrier Reef known for?
Content domain: 2b – retrieve and record information/identify key details from fiction and 1m
non-fiction.
Award 1 mark for reference to the beaches, e.g.
• they are known for the sandy, white beaches
• they are known for their beautiful sandy beaches.
Do not accept answers relating to the size of the Great Barrier Reef which do not
recognise the islands, e.g.
• known for being the largest reef in the world and can be seen from space
5 Look at the section headed: Geography.
Find and copy one word which shows the Great Barrier Reef is cherished by the local
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups. 1m
Content domain: 2a – give/explain the meaning of words in context.
Award 1 mark for:
• sacred
6 According to the text, how many species of coral does the Great Barrier Reef consist of?
Content domain: 2b – retrieve and record information/identify key details from fiction and 1m
non-fiction.
Award 1 mark for:
• over 600
7 Look at the section headed: Ecology.
Find and copy one word which means there are many different animals in the waters of the
Great Barrier Reef. 1m
Content domain: 2a – give/explain the meaning of words in context.
Award 1 mark for:
• variety
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Key Stage 2 English reading test mark scheme
Section 1: The Great Barrier Reef
Qu. Requirement Mark
8 The Great Barrier Reef is home to a variety of sea life including…
What does the word variety mean in this sentence? Tick one.
1m
Content domain: 2a – give/explain the meaning of words in context.
Award 1 mark for:
collection
similarity
difference
modification
9 Look at page 5 of your reading booklet.
The Great Barrier Reef is home to a variety of sea life including some of the world’s
most vulnerable marine animals. 1m
Which of the 30 species of mammals found in the Great Barrier Reef has been classified as
vulnerable?
Content domain: 2b – retrieve and record information/identify key details from fiction and
non-fiction.
Award 1 mark for reference to the dugong, e.g.
• a slow-moving mammal called the dugong
• a mammal related to the manatee
Do not accept answers relating to other species found in the reef, e.g.
• marine turtles are threatened
10 Number these facts about what happens to the coral reef when the water temperatures rise
from 1 – 5 in the order which they happen. The first one has been done for you.
1m
Content domain: 2b – retrieve and record information/identify key details from fiction and
non-fiction.
Award 1 mark for for the correct sequence.
3 White skeletons are revealed.
1 The coral suffers heat stress.
5 Reefs are reduced in size.
2 The coral releases an algae.
4 The coral loses its colour.
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Key Stage 2 English reading test mark scheme
Section 1: The Great Barrier Reef
Qu. Requirement Mark
11 Look at the section headed: Threats.
According to the text, give two effects of climate change that have resulted in damage to the
Great Barrier Reef. Up to
2m
Content domain: 2b – retrieve and record information/identify key details from fiction and
non-fiction.
Award 1 mark for reference to either of the following, up to a maximum of 2 marks:
1. carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere, e.g.
• an increase of carbon dioxide causes the water temperature to rise
2. increase in adverse weather events, e.g.
• more frequent and severe cyclones cause damage
Do not accept answers which refer simply to threats to the reef without some indication of
required change, e.g.
• water temperatures are rising
Do not accept answers which refer to the result of poor health on the reef and its
inhabitants, e.g.
• sea levels rise
12 According to the text, climate change is the greatest threat to the existence of the Great
Barrier Reef. What other threats are there?
Give two and include the reason they are a threat. Up to
2m
Content domain: 2b – retrieve and record information/identify key details from fiction and
non-fiction.
Award 1 mark for referencing each of the following, up to a maximum of 2 marks:
1. pollution, e.g.
• an increase in pollution has resulted in poorer water quality
2. overfishing, e.g.
• overfishing of predators could cause an increase in the levels of crown-of-thorns
starfish
Do not accept answers which refer to a change in water temperature e.g.
• rising water temperatures have caused a reduction in the coral
Do not accept answers which refer to severe weather events, e.g.
• more frequent cyclones cause damage to the reef
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Key Stage 2 English reading test mark scheme
Section 1: The Great Barrier Reef
Qu. Requirement Mark
13 Look at the section headed: Action.
According to the text, what must happen to improve and maintain the health of the Great Barrier Reef?
1m
Content domain: 2d – make inferences from the text/explain and justify inferences with
evidence from the text.
Award 1 mark for reference to either of the following:
1. the pollution levels, e.g.
• clear the pollution (rubbish) from the reef
2. the rate of climate change, e.g.
• reduce the rate of climate change
Do not accept answers which refer simply to threats to the reef without some indication of
required change, e.g.
• water temperatures are rising
Do not accept answers which refer to the result of poor health on the reef and its inhabitants, e.g.
• the coral loses its colour
• crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks
14 Which statement is the best summary of page 5 of the reading booklet? Tick one.
Content domain: 2c – summarise main ideas from more than one paragraph. 1m
Award 1 mark for: Many animals live in the Great Barrier Reef.
There are several threats to the Great Barrier Reef but this can
improve with the reduction of climate change and pollution.
It is important to help to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
The Great Barrier Reef is changing, soon there will be no coral left.
15 Using information from the text, tick one box in each row to show whether each
statement is true or false.
1m
Content domain: 2d – make inferences from the text/explain and justify inferences with
evidence from the text.
Award 1 mark for all three correct:
True False
There are 1,500 species of animals living in the Great Barrier Reef.
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
The Great Barrier Reef is home to some of the deadliest animals in the ocean.
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Key Stage 2 English reading test mark scheme
Section 2: What Do We Plant?
Qu. Requirement Mark
16 In the first verse, what is the author suggesting the tree may be used for?
Content domain: 2d – make inferences from the text/explain and justify inferences with 1m
evidence from the text.
Award 1 mark for reference to the following:
1. building a ship (boat), e.g.
• the wood from the tree could be used to build a ship
Do not accept answers which refer simply to the parts of ship (boat), e.g.
• to make a mast
17 Find and copy one word from the first verse that suggests that the wood used to make the
ship is strong and able to tolerate bad weather.
1m
Content domain: 2a – give/explain the meaning of words in context.
Award 1 mark for:
• withstand
18 We plant the ship, which will cross the sea. What is meant by ‘we plant the ship…’?
Content domain: 2d – make inferences from the text/explain and justify inferences with Up to
evidence from the text. 2m
Award 1 mark for referencing each of the following, up to a maximum of 2 marks:
1. a tree is planted to get wood, e.g.
• the ship (boat) could not be made without the wood from the tree (if the tree was
not planted)
2. the wood is used to build a ship (boat), e.g.
• the wood from the tree is used to build a ship (boat)
Do not accept answers which refer simply to the general use of wood, e.g.
• wood can be used to build things
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Key Stage 2 English reading test mark scheme
Section 2: What Do We Plant?
Qu. Requirement Mark
19 In the second verse, what is the poet suggesting the tree may be used for?
Content domain: 2d – make inferences from the text/explain and justify inferences with 1m
evidence from the text.
Award 1 mark for reference to the following:
1. building a house, e.g.
• the wood from the tree could be used to build parts of a house
Do not accept answers which simply refer to parts of a house, e.g.
• to make the rafters
20 Find and copy one word which means ‘roof support timbers’.
Content domain: 2a – give/explain the meaning of words in context. 1m
Award 1 mark for:
• rafters
21 Look at verse 2.
As well as using wood to build the structure, roof and door of a house, what else does the
author suggest could be made from wood? 1m
Content domain: 2d – make inferences from the text/explain and justify inferences with
evidence from the text.
Award 1 mark for:
• the floors
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Key Stage 2 English reading test mark scheme
Section 2: What Do We Plant?
Qu. Requirement Mark
22 Explain what the poet may think about trees.
Content domain: 2d – make inferences from the text/explain and justify inferences with Up to
evidence from the text. 2m
Award 1 mark for referencing each of the following, up to a maximum of 2 marks:
1. trees are useful, e.g.
• trees can be used to make many things
2. the wood that trees produce is strong, e.g.
• the wood is strong to enable its use in building houses
3. gratefulness, e.g.
• the author is grateful for the many things the trees can provide
Do not accept answers which refer simply to how much the author likes trees, e.g.
• the author likes trees as they are the subject of the poem
23 The author describes trees as ‘a thousand things that we daily see’.
What does the author suggest can be made from the trees in the same verse?
Give two items. Up to
2m
Content domain: 2d – make inferences from the text/explain and justify inferences with evidence
from the text.
Award 1 mark for reference to any of the following, up to a maximum of 2 marks:
1. church spire, e.g.
• the spire on top of a church
2. flag staff, e.g.
• the wooden part of a flag
3. a shaded area e.g.
• a tree makes a large shadow, so can provide shade on a hot day
24 Look at the last verse.
Find and copy a group of words that shows that the poet believes that wooden objects are
very common. 1m
Content domain: 2a – give/explain the meaning of words in context.
Award 1 mark for:
• a thousand things that we daily see
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Key Stage 2 English reading test mark scheme
Section 2: What Do We Plant?
Qu. Requirement Mark
25 The use of the trees could be described as… Tick one.
Content domain: 2d – make inferences from the text/explain and justify inferences with 1m
evidence from the text.
Award 1 mark for:
effective
disadvantageous
harmful
unsuitable
26 The poet describes different builds that can be made from trees.
Tick the two verses that detail individual builds.
1m
Content domain: 2d – make inferences from the text/explain and justify inferences with
evidence from the text.
Award 1 mark for:
Verse 1
Verse 2
Verse 3
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Key Stage 2 English reading test mark scheme
Section 3: The Wild Swans
Qu. Requirement Mark
27 Look at the second paragraph.
What did the wicked stepmother do to show her contempt for the children?
1m
Content domain: 2d – make inferences from the text/explain and justify inferences with
evidence from the text.
Award 1 mark for for referencing sand, e.g.
• she fed then sand instead of cake
Do not accept answers which refer simply to the sand, e.g.
• she gave them sand
Do not accept answers which refer simply to poor food, e.g
• she gave them horrible things to eat
28 Look at the first two paragraphs.
Which sentence below best describes the life of the royal family before the wedding?
Tick one. 1m
Content domain: 2c – summarise main ideas from more than one paragraph.
Award 1 mark for:
It was full of hard work and sibling rivalry.
It was calm and peaceful, without hardship.
It was boring.
It was lonely.
29 Find and copy one word which suggests that the guests at the wedding were treated with
respect.
1m
Content domain: 2a – give/explain the meaning of words in context.
Award 1 mark for:
• honoured
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Key Stage 2 English reading test mark scheme
Section 3: The Wild Swans
Qu. Requirement Mark
30 …the queen callously dismissed Eliza from privilege…
Which of the following words is closest in meaning to privilege?
Tick one. 1m
Content domain: 2a – give/explain the meaning of words in context.
Award 1 mark for:
misfortune
disadvantage
position
entitlement
31 Look at the fourth paragraph.
Possessing virtue that outweighed the evil curse…
This means that the princes… 1m
Tick one.
Content domain: 2a – give/explain the meaning of words in context.
Award 1 mark for:
were unkind.
maintained high moral standards and honesty.
had a good imagination.
were doomed by the evil curse.
32 How old was Eliza when the king ‘permitted’ her to return to the palace?
Content domain: 2b – retrieve and record information/identify key details from fiction and 1m
non-fiction.
Award 1 mark for:
• 15
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Key Stage 2 English reading test mark scheme
Section 3: The Wild Swans
Qu. Requirement Mark
33 ‘The queen’s loathing heightened…’
What does loathing mean in this sentence?
1m
Content domain: 2a – give/explain the meaning of words in context.
Award 1 mark for reference to the following:
1. disliking of Eliza e.g.
• the queen hated Eliza
34 What had the ‘cloaked figure’ been doing when Eliza met her?
Content domain: 2b – retrieve and record information/identify key details from fiction and 1m
non-fiction.
Award 1 mark for:
• foraging for berries
35 Later, beneath the night’s crystal encrusted blanket…
Which of the following is closest in meaning to the night’s crystal encrusted blanket as it is
used here? 1m
Tick one.
Content domain: 2a – give/explain the meaning of words in context.
Award 1 mark for:
a night-time cover
jewels overhead
a starry night’s sky
a dark cloudy night
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Key Stage 2 English reading test mark scheme
Section 3: The Wild Swans
Qu. Requirement Mark
36 Why was the duke of the neighbouring kingdom unsure of what do with Eliza?
Content domain: 2d – make inferences from the text/explain and justify inferences with 1m
evidence from the text.
Award 1 mark for reference to the following:
1. her righteousness, e.g.
• he saw righteousness in her
Do not accept answers which reference the King helping her, e.g.
• the King sent the jackets to her – to help her finish them
37 How do you know that Eliza was determined to finish the eleventh jacket?
Give one piece of evidence that shows her determination.
1m
Content domain: 2d – explain and justify inferences with evidence from the text.
Award 1 mark for reference to the following:
1. working through the night, e.g.
• she worked hard all night to complete it
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Key Stage 2 English reading test mark scheme
Section 3: The Wild Swans
Qu. Requirement Mark
38 Look at the final page.
What impressions do you get of Eliza at this point in the story?
Give two impressions, using evidence from the text to support your answer. Up to
3m
Content domain: 2d – make inferences from the text/explain and justify inferences with
evidence from the text.
Impression Evidence
• she travelled far to find the swans
• she collected nettles even though she
determined
got stung
• she didn’t justify herself to the duke
• she collected nettles even though she
got stung
hard-working
• she completed the eleventh jacket
• she worked through the night
• she collected nettles even though she
got stung
• she didn’t justify herself to the duke
brave
• even when exiled she continued on her
mission
• she was taken to the duke by guards
Award 3 marks for two acceptable points, at least one with evidence.
Award 2 marks for either two acceptable points, or one acceptable point with evidence.
Award 1 mark for one acceptable point.
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Key Stage 2 English reading test mark scheme
Section 3: The Wild Swans
Qu. Requirement Mark
39 Look at the last paragraph on page 8.
‘Eliza was drawn through the cobbled streets…’
Give two reasons why. Up to
2m
Content domain: 2d – make inferences from the text/explain and justify inferences with
evidence from the text.
Award 1 mark for reference to the following, up to a maximum of 2 marks:
1. her being exiled, e.g.
• she was being removed from the kingdom because she was exiled
• the people of the kingdom chose to exile her
• the time had come for her to leave
40 How can you tell that the stepmother did not like the princes and princess?
Explain two ways, using evidence from the text to support your answer.
Up to
Content domain: 2d – make inferences from the text/explain and justify inferences with 3m
evidence from the text.
Acceptable points:
1. she gave them sand to eat instead of cake
2. she sent Eliza to live with someone else
3. she removed Eliza’s privileged status
4. she made the king doubt his own children
5. she cursed the princes, turning them to birds
6. she made a potion to remove Eliza’s prettiness
Award 3 marks for two acceptable points, at least one with evidence, e.g.
• she gave the children non-food items to eat because on their wedding day she offered
them sand instead of cake. She also turned the princes into birds. [AP1 + evidence, AP4]
• she sent Eliza away from the family home to live with a peasant and his wife, which
took away her privileged status. [AP2 + evidence, AP3]
Award 2 marks for either two acceptable points, or one acceptable point with evidence, e.g.
• she turned the princes into birds and sent the princess to live with someone else.
[AP5 + AP2]
• she turned the king against his sons by telling him lies, he eventually believed her
and gave in. [AP4 + evidence]
Award 1 mark for reference to the following one acceptable point.
• she made a potion to hurt Eliza
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