SLC: Responding
SLC: Responding Revision
Responding
You will need to know how to respond in a thoughtful, detailed and relevant way to questions.
You should also know how to expand and go into more detail when prompted.
Make sure you are happy with the following topics before continuing:
- SLC: Extracting Information
- SLC: Line of Argument and Narratives
- SLC: Language in Context
- SLC: Your Turn!
- SLC: Communicating
Struggling with Responding?
Take our functional skills English level 2 assessment and see how you would score in the real exam.
Responding
Make sure that you remain polite (say ‘please‘, ‘thank you‘ etc.)
When you are asked a question, think about what you have already said, and then think about what could be relevant to the question.
Look out for key words in the question to help guide your response.
Does the question ask for a fact or an opinion?
For example:
‘To what extent do you agree with the government’s decision?’
is asking for your own thoughts and opinion on the matter.
However, the question:
‘What did the government decide to do?’
is asking for facts and the specific details.
Question Words
What each main question word is asking for:
Where – a location
- Q: Where did you go on holiday?
- A: Barbados.
How – a method
- Q: How did you travel to work today?
- A: I took the train.
Why – a reason
- Q: Why did you go to the shops?
- A: I needed to buy some eggs.
Who – a person/organisation
- Q: Who painted this picture?
- A:Â The man with the paintbrush did.
What – all of the above!
Location:
- Q: What is the address?
- A: 10 Downing Street.
Method:
- Q: What is the quickest way to the station?
- A: Turn right, then left at the next junction.
Reason:
- Q: What was your thought process behind that?
- A: I thought it was the most efficient way.
Person/Organisation:
- Q: What brand of shoes are you wearing?
- A: Nike.
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Note:
Remember your answers to questions should be much more detailed than these examples!
Think about what relevant information will answer the question fully and provide evidence.
Examples: Opinion
‘Think‘, ‘feel‘, ‘agree‘, ‘disagree‘, and question marks.
All of these are key indicators of opinion.
There are many phrases which will help you to identify if you are being asked for your opinion.
Here are a few main ones that you should look out for…
- ‘Why do you think…’
- ‘What are your thoughts on…’
- ‘What do you prefer ‘
- ‘Is it acceptable to…’
Examples: Fact
‘Found‘, ‘shows‘, ‘know‘, ‘causes‘, and quotation marks.
All of these are key indicators of fact.
There are many phrases which will help you to identify if you are being asked for a fact.
Here are a few main ones that you should look out for…
- ‘How many…’
- ‘When did this…’
- ‘What evidence…’
- ‘Please could you explain…’
Revision Products
Functional Skills English Level 2 Practice Papers
This comprehensive set of 10 Functional Skills English Level 2 Practice Papers (5 reading papers + 5 writing) is a great way to revise for your upcoming reading and writing exams. These papers have been specifically tailored to match the structure, format and question types used by each of the main exam boards for functional skills English.
Functional Skills English Level 2 Pocket Revision Guide
Revise and practice for your functional skills English level 2 exam. All topics covered in this compact revision guide.
Functional Skills English Level 2 Revision Cards
Revise for functional skills English level 2, with these English level 2 fundamentals revision cards. Covering the building blocks of the essential areas of the level 2 exam.
