This pack builds technical accuracy for the ISEB Common Entrance English paper. Short spelling and punctuation questions come first, building to grammar, sentence construction and Standard English, and finishing with two questions on the effect of punctuation choices and a longer editing task. Write your answers clearly, using full sentences where asked.
1
For each pair, circle the word that is spelled correctly.
(a)recieve / receive(1)
A) recieve
B) receive
(b)wich / which(1)
A) wich
B) which
(c)seperate / separate(1)
A) seperate
B) separate
(Total for Question 1 is 3 marks)
2
Complete each sentence with the correct word from the brackets.
(a)The classroom is just along _____ the corridor. (their / there / they're)(1)
(b)_____ bringing packed lunches on the trip. (Their / There / They're)(1)
(c)We arrived _____ early for registration. (to / too / two)(1)
(d)_____ coming on the minibus to the sports hall? (Whose / Who's)(1)
(Total for Question 2 is 4 marks)
3
Each word below is misspelled. Write the correct spelling.
(a)definately(1)
(b)occured(1)
(c)goverment(1)
(d)embarass(1)
(e)particuarly(1)
(Total for Question 3 is 5 marks)
4
Rewrite each phrase using an apostrophe to show the missing letters.
(a)should not(1)
(b)they are(1)
(c)should have(1)
(Total for Question 4 is 3 marks)
5
Add the missing commas to this sentence: For the school fete we need cakes drinks games and a raffle.
(Total for Question 5 is 2 marks)
6
Add an apostrophe in the correct place in each sentence.
(a)The dogs lead was hanging by the door.(1)
(b)The boys changing room was being repainted.(1)
(c)James rucksack was left on the coach.(1)
(Total for Question 6 is 3 marks)
7
In this sentence, identify the word class (noun, verb, adjective or adverb) of each word shown in asterisks: 'The *exhausted* hikers *walked* *slowly* towards the distant *summit*.'
(a)exhausted(1)
(b)walked(1)
(c)slowly(1)
(d)summit(1)
(Total for Question 7 is 4 marks)
8
Circle the correct word in each sentence.
(a)The heavy rain had a big (affect / effect) on the match.(1)
A) affect
B) effect
(b)Our netball (practice / practise) has been moved to Thursday.(1)
A) practice
B) practise
(c)Please remember to (practice / practise) your spellings every night.(1)
A) practice
B) practise
(d)I couldn't find any (stationary / stationery) in my pencil case.(1)
A) stationary
B) stationery
(Total for Question 8 is 4 marks)
9
Add the missing punctuation to this sentence: well done everyone shouted freya as the whistle blew
(Total for Question 9 is 3 marks)
10
Identify whether each sentence is simple, compound or complex.
(a)The coach arrived at nine o'clock.(1)
(b)We packed our bags and we checked the noticeboard.(1)
(c)Although the rain had stopped, the pitch was still too wet to play on.(1)
(Total for Question 10 is 3 marks)
11
Each sentence below contains a comma splice (two main clauses wrongly joined by a comma). Correct the punctuation and, in one sentence, explain why your correction is needed.
(a)The match was cancelled, the pitch was flooded.(2)
(b)I wanted to join the choir, I was too nervous to audition.(2)
(Total for Question 11 is 4 marks)
12
Add the suffix '-able' to each word, spelling the new word correctly.
(a)comfort + able(1)
(b)notice + able(1)
(c)forget + able(1)
(d)rely + able(1)
(Total for Question 12 is 4 marks)
13
Add the missing capital letters and punctuation to this passage: last tuesday our class went on a trip to windsor castle we saw the state apartments the changing of the guard and st georges chapel my friend amara said it was the best trip shed ever been on
(Total for Question 13 is 6 marks)
14
Complete each sentence using a colon correctly.
(a)Remember to bring the following items wellies a waterproof coat and a torch.(2)
(b)There was only one explanation for the mess the dog had got into the bin.(2)
(Total for Question 14 is 4 marks)
15
The extra information below needs to be added into the sentence as parenthesis. Rewrite the sentence three times, using (a) a pair of commas, (b) a pair of brackets, and (c) a pair of dashes. Base sentence: 'My cousin Tomasz plays for the county cricket team.' Extra information to insert: who is only twelve
(a)Using a pair of commas.(1)
(b)Using a pair of brackets.(1)
(c)Using a pair of dashes.(1)
(Total for Question 15 is 3 marks)
16
Circle the correct verb in each sentence.
(a)The football team (is / are) training every evening this week.(1)
A) is
B) are
(b)Neither of the boys (was / were) ready in time.(1)
A) was
B) were
(c)The committee (has / have) decided to cancel the trip.(1)
A) has
B) have
(Total for Question 16 is 3 marks)
17
Rewrite each sentence in Standard English.
(a)We was late because of the traffic.(1)
(b)I should of brought my kit.(1)
(c)Me and Priya finished the project early.(1)
(Total for Question 17 is 3 marks)
18
Each sentence contains one error. Name the type of error and correct the sentence.
(a)I don't know nothing about the trip.(1)
(b)Yesterday, I go to the library after school.(1)
(c)The dogs bowl was empty.(1)
(d)Its raining outside so bring a coat.(1)
(Total for Question 18 is 4 marks)
19
Read this sentence from a student's account of an expedition: 'The final climb tested every skill we had - patience, teamwork and sheer stubbornness.' Explain why the writer has chosen to use a dash rather than a comma before the list.
(Total for Question 19 is 2 marks)
20
The paragraph below contains eight errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar. Find and correct all eight errors: 'On saturday me and my freind Rhys begun our Duke of Edinburgh expedition. The weather were terrible and we didnt have proper waterproofs. By the time we reached the campsite, we was both soaked threw and exausted, but we still had a brilliant time.'
(Total for Question 20 is 8 marks)
Mark scheme · CE.E4 Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar
Question 1
(a) B1 receive circled
(a) Answer: receive
(b) B1 which circled
(b) Answer: which
(c) B1 separate circled
(c) Answer: separate
Question 2
(a) B1 there
(a) Answer: there
(b) B1 They're
(b) Answer: They're
(c) B1 too
(c) Answer: too
(d) B1 Who's
(d) Answer: Who's
Question 3
(a) B1 definitely, exact spelling required
(a) Answer: definitely
(b) B1 occurred, exact spelling required
(b) Answer: occurred
(c) B1 government, exact spelling required
(c) Answer: government
(d) B1 embarrass, exact spelling required
(d) Answer: embarrass
(e) B1 particularly, exact spelling required
(e) Answer: particularly
Question 4
(a) B1 shouldn't, apostrophe replacing the o in not
(a) Answer: shouldn't
(b) B1 they're, apostrophe replacing the a in are
(b) Answer: they're
(c) B1 should've, apostrophe replacing ha in have
(c) Answer: should've
Question 5
B1 comma after the fronted phrase: 'For the school fete,'
B1 commas correctly separating the list items cakes, drinks, games (comma before 'and' optional)
Answer: For the school fete, we need cakes, drinks, games and a raffle.
Question 6
(a) B1 dog's (single dog possessing the lead)
(a) Answer: The dog's lead was hanging by the door.
(b) B1 boys' (plural noun already ending in s)
(b) Answer: The boys' changing room was being repainted.
(c) B1 James's (singular name ending in s takes 's)
(c) Answer: James's rucksack was left on the coach.
Question 7
(a) B1 adjective
(a) Answer: adjective
(b) B1 verb
(b) Answer: verb
(c) B1 adverb
(c) Answer: adverb
(d) B1 noun
(d) Answer: noun
Question 8
(a) B1 effect circled
(a) Answer: effect
(b) B1 practice circled
(b) Answer: practice
(c) B1 practise circled
(c) Answer: practise
(d) B1 stationery circled
(d) Answer: stationery
Question 9
B1 opening speech mark and capital letter starting the spoken words: 'Well
B1 exclamation mark and closing speech mark correctly placed before the reporting clause, with a comma after the reporting verb
B1 capital letter for the name Freya and a full stop at the end of the whole sentence
Answer: 'Well done, everyone!' shouted Freya, as the whistle blew.
Question 10
(a) B1 simple
(a) Answer: simple
(b) B1 compound
(b) Answer: compound
(c) B1 complex
(c) Answer: complex
Question 11
(a) B1 valid correction, e.g. semicolon ('cancelled; the pitch') or a full stop and capital letter or a conjunction such as because
(a) B1 reason given: a comma alone cannot join two complete main clauses / sentences (independent clauses need a semicolon, full stop or conjunction)
(a) Answer: The match was cancelled; the pitch was flooded.
(b) B1 valid correction, e.g. adding a conjunction ('choir, but I was') or a semicolon
(b) B1 reason given: the comma alone cannot join two independent clauses; a conjunction, semicolon or full stop is needed to link or separate them correctly
(b) Answer: I wanted to join the choir, but I was too nervous to audition.
Question 12
(a) B1 comfortable, no change to the root
(a) Answer: comfortable
(b) B1 noticeable, e kept to preserve the soft c sound
(b) Answer: noticeable
(c) B1 forgettable, final consonant doubled
(c) Answer: forgettable
(d) B1 reliable, y changed to i
(d) Answer: reliable
Question 13
B1 capital letters for the proper noun Windsor Castle
B1 full stop after Windsor Castle and capital letter starting We
B1 commas correctly separating the three list items: State Apartments, Changing of the Guard and St George's Chapel
B1 capital letters and apostrophe in the proper noun St George's Chapel
B1 full stop after Chapel and capital letter starting My, plus capital letter for the name Amara
B1 apostrophe correctly inserted in she'd
Answer: Last Tuesday, our class went on a trip to Windsor Castle. We saw the State Apartments, the Changing of the Guard and St George's Chapel. My friend Amara said it was the best trip she'd ever been on.
Question 14
(a) B1 colon placed correctly after 'items' to introduce the list
(a) B1 commas correctly placed between the list items: wellies, a waterproof coat and a torch
(a) Answer: Remember to bring the following items: wellies, a waterproof coat and a torch.
(b) B1 colon inserted correctly after 'mess' to introduce the explanation
(b) B1 no capital letter needed after the colon, since the second part is not a new proper sentence topic
(b) Answer: There was only one explanation for the mess: the dog had got into the bin.
Question 15
(a) B1 a comma correctly placed both before and after the inserted clause
(a) Answer: My cousin Tomasz, who is only twelve, plays for the county cricket team.
(b) B1 an opening and a closing bracket correctly placed around the inserted clause
(b) Answer: My cousin Tomasz (who is only twelve) plays for the county cricket team.
(c) B1 a dash correctly placed both before and after the inserted clause
(c) Answer: My cousin Tomasz - who is only twelve - plays for the county cricket team.
Question 16
(a) B1 is circled
(a) Answer: is
(b) B1 was circled
(b) Answer: was
(c) B1 has circled
(c) Answer: has
Question 17
(a) B1 were, correct subject-verb agreement with we
(a) Answer: We were late because of the traffic.
(b) B1 should have, correcting the non-standard 'should of'
(b) Answer: I should have brought my kit.
(c) B1 Priya and I, correct subject pronoun and conventional order
(c) Answer: Priya and I finished the project early.
Question 18
(a) B1 double negative identified; corrected to 'I don't know anything about the trip.'
(a) Answer: I don't know anything about the trip.
(b) B1 incorrect tense identified; corrected to 'Yesterday, I went to the library after school.'
(b) Answer: Yesterday, I went to the library after school.
(c) B1 missing possessive apostrophe identified; corrected to 'The dog's bowl was empty.'
(c) Answer: The dog's bowl was empty.
(d) B1 incorrect homophone identified; corrected to 'It's raining outside, so bring a coat.'
(d) Answer: It's raining outside, so bring a coat.
Question 19
B1 identifies that the dash creates a longer, more dramatic pause than a comma, signalling that something important is about to follow
B1 developed comment linking this to effect on the reader, e.g. the pause builds anticipation and gives extra emphasis to the qualities the writer is proud of, making the list stand out more than a comma would allow
Answer: The dash creates a stronger, more deliberate pause than a comma, building anticipation before the list and giving the three qualities greater emphasis and impact for the reader.
Question 20
B1 capital letter for the day: Saturday
B1 spelling correction: friend
B1 pronoun order and case corrected: 'my friend Rhys and I' in place of 'me and my freind Rhys'
B1 correct past tense verb: began in place of begun
B1 subject-verb agreement corrected: was in place of were (the weather was terrible)
B1 apostrophe inserted: didn't in place of didnt
B1 subject-verb agreement and homophone both corrected: were both soaked through in place of was both soaked threw
B1 spelling correction: exhausted
Answer: On Saturday, my friend Rhys and I began our Duke of Edinburgh expedition. The weather was terrible and we didn't have proper waterproofs. By the time we reached the campsite, we were both soaked through and exhausted, but we still had a brilliant time.