S6 English Practice Paper: Grammar, Sentence Rewriting, Editing, Paragraph Organisation And Practical Writing (100 Marks)

S6 English Practice Paper: Grammar, Sentence Rewriting, Editing, Paragraph Organisation and Practical Writing (100 marks)

2026-11-13

S6 English – language use

S6 English practice paper, 24 items, 100 marks in 75 minutes, on grammar, rewriting, editing and practical writing, with answers.

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Paper details　S6 English practice paper with 6 sections and 24 items on grammar, collocation, sentence rewriting, editing, paragraph organisation and practical writing, with full answers.

Section A: Grammar and Sentence Structure (20 marks)

Choose the best answer and write its letter in the answer box.

#	Question	Answer and marking notes
1	Neither the teacher nor the students ____ aware of the change to the timetable. Choose the correct form of the verb be.	Answer: B. With neither … nor …, the verb agrees with the nearer subject, and here that subject is the plural students, so were is correct. (Marking: choice 3, rule explained 2)
2	Turn the direct speech into reported speech: May said, “I will finish the report tomorrow.” Choose the best version.	Answer: A. Reported speech shifts will to would, I to she, and tomorrow to the following day. The distractors keep will, keep I, or shift the tense one step too far. (Marking: tense 2, pronoun 2, time word 1)
3	Rewrite using the third conditional: She did not study, so she failed the test. Choose the correct sentence.	Answer: A. An unreal past condition needs if + had + past participle in the if-clause and would have + past participle in the main clause; both halves must refer to the past. (Marking: if-clause 3, main clause 2)
4	Change into the passive voice: The committee will announce the results next week. Choose the correct sentence.	Answer: A. The passive is will be + past participle announced, the doer follows by, and the time phrase stays at the end. (Marking: be + participle 3, by phrase 1, word order 1)

Section B: Vocabulary and Collocation (16 marks)

Write the correct word form or preposition; one word per answer.

#	Question	Answer and marking notes
5	Complete with the correct form of decide: Their ____ to close the branch was widely criticised.	Answer: decision. The possessive their requires a noun, so the noun form decision is used. (Marking: word class 2, spelling 2)
6	Which collocation is natural in English for very intense rainfall?	Answer: A. English uses heavy with rain; strong, big and hard do not collocate with rain. (Marking: choice 3, collocation explained 1)
7	Complete with the correct preposition: Residents complained ____ the noise from the construction site.	Answer: about. Complain about is a fixed collocation meaning to express dissatisfaction with something. (Marking: preposition 3, explanation 1)
8	Complete with the correct form of succeed: The ____ of the campaign surprised even its organisers.	Answer: success. The definite article the requires a noun, so the noun success is used. (Marking: word class 2, spelling 2)

Section C: Rewriting and Combining (16 marks)

Rewrite as instructed; the meaning must stay the same.

#	Question	Answer and marking notes
9	Combine with not only … but also: The team finished the task early. It also checked every figure. Choose the correct sentence.	Answer: A. When not only opens the sentence the first clause inverts to did the team finish; the but also clause keeps normal order. (Marking: inversion 2, but also 1, word order 1)
10	Combine with a relative clause: The student won the prize. Her essay was about air pollution. Choose the correct sentence.	Answer: A. Possession is expressed with whose plus a noun; whose replaces her and the rest of the main clause stays unchanged. (Marking: relative word 2, sentence integrity 2)
11	Rewrite as a cleft sentence focusing on the manager: The manager approved the budget last Friday. Choose the correct sentence.	Answer: A. The cleft uses It was plus the focused element plus who for a person, and the past tense keeps was. (Marking: It was 2, who 1, tense and content 1)
12	Rewrite with despite: Although the weather was bad, the event went ahead. Choose the correct sentence.	Answer: A. Despite is a preposition followed by the noun phrase the bad weather; no of, no full clause and no extra but. (Marking: despite 2, noun phrase 1, no extra connector 1)

Section D: Editing and Proofreading (16 marks)

Each sentence contains exactly one error; identify and correct it.

#	Question	Answer and marking notes
13	Correct the single error: The number of applicants have increased sharply this year.	Answer: change have to has. The subject is the singular the number; of applicants only modifies it, so the verb is singular. (Marking: error found 2, correction 2)
14	Correct the single error: He suggested to postpone the meeting until Monday.	Answer: change suggested to postpone to suggested postponing. Suggest takes a gerund or a that clause, never a to-infinitive. (Marking: error found 2, correction 2)
15	Correct the single error: Each of the students were given a booklet.	Answer: change were to was. The head of the subject after each of is the singular each, so the verb is was. (Marking: error found 2, correction 2)
16	Correct the single error: She is used to work late during examination periods.	Answer: change used to work to used to working. Be used to is followed by a noun or gerund to describe a habit. (Marking: error found 2, correction 2)

Section E: Paragraph Organisation (16 marks)

Choose the most suitable sentence or linking word.

#	Question	Answer and marking notes
17	Which sentence works best as the topic sentence of a paragraph arguing for more fruit at the school tuck shop?	Answer: A. A topic sentence states the position and signals the structure; for three practical reasons does both, while the distractors are vague, off topic or a conclusion. (Marking: choice 3, reason 1)
18	Arrange the paragraph logically: State the problem in one sentence. Give two supporting examples from the survey. Explain what the school can do about it. Choose the best order.	Answer: A. The paragraph states the problem, supports it with survey examples and ends with a practical proposal, so it moves from problem to evidence to action. (Marking: order 3, logic 1)
19	Choose the best linking word: The new system saves paper. ____, it takes staff longer to file each form.	Answer: A. The two sentences contrast a benefit with a cost, so a contrastive linker is needed; Therefore marks result, Moreover adds, In other words restates. (Marking: choice 3, reason 1)
20	Which sentence is the best conclusion for a paragraph that has weighed both sides of a proposal?	Answer: A. A conclusion sums up the argument and states a judgement, which the evidence therefore supports answers directly. (Marking: choice 3, reason 1)

Section F: Practical Writing (16 marks)

Answer questions 3 to 6 as instructed, watching register and format.

#	Question	Answer and marking notes
21	You are writing a formal letter to a company whose manager name you do not know. Choose the correct salutation.	Answer: A. When the name is unknown, Dear Sir or Madam is the standard formal salutation; Dear friend and Hi there are too casual. (Marking: choice 3, register 1)
22	Which sentence keeps a formal register in a written proposal?	Answer: A. Formal writing prefers would appreciate with a clear deadline; ASAP, like and or else are informal or pushy. (Marking: choice 3, register 1)
23	In a short school report, which section normally follows the introduction immediately?	Answer: A. A report moves from introduction to findings, then discussion, conclusion and recommendations; references and appendices come last. (Marking: choice 3, structure 1)
24	Write a proposal of about 120 words to your principal suggesting one change that would make the school library more useful, giving two reasons and one practical step.	Answer: a proposal of about 120 words with a heading, a purpose statement, two reasons, one practical step, a closing request and a signature. Content 2 marks, language 1 mark, organisation 1 mark.

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