CSSE-Style English Mock 2 (Essex)
The CSSE-Style English Mock 2 (Essex) is a second full practice sitting of the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex's four-section English format: reading comprehension on a fresh source text, vocabulary in context, spelling/punctuation/grammar (SPaG), then a continuous writing task, all within one hour. Sitting a second mock in the same format builds exam pace, since the question types repeat but the source text, vocabulary and writing prompt are new each time.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Treat this as a full timed sitting, not a section-by-section drill: the value of a second CSSE-format mock is practising the transition between comprehension, vocabulary, SPaG and writing under one clock.
- Read the new source text with fresh eyes; do not assume it covers similar ground to a previous mock's passage, since CSSE sets a different topic and genre each time.
- For the vocabulary section, use context clues from the sentence around the word first, then check whether your guessed meaning fits when you reread the whole sentence with it substituted in.
- In the SPaG section, read each sentence aloud in your head; an error that is hard to spot on the page (a missing apostrophe, a wrong homophone) is often easier to hear.
- Plan the writing task in note form for a minute before starting: three or four bullet points covering beginning, middle, end (or opening point, development, counterpoint, conclusion for a discursive prompt).
- Vary sentence openings and lengths in the writing task; starting every sentence the same way is one of the most common ways marks are lost even when spelling and grammar are accurate.
- After the mock, compare your pacing across sections to EP.T3 if you have sat it, and adjust which section you tend to overrun on.
Worked example
Vocabulary-in-context question: 'The negotiations dragged on for weeks, each side unwilling to concede even the smallest point.' What does 'concede' mean in this sentence?
- Look at the surrounding context: the sentence is about negotiations where neither side will give way.
- Notice that 'concede' comes after 'unwilling', suggesting it describes something the sides are refusing to do.
- Test a possible meaning: 'unwilling to concede a point' fits with 'unwilling to admit or give up a point' in an argument.
- Check the fit by substituting the guessed meaning back into the sentence: 'each side unwilling to give up even the smallest point' makes sense in context.
- Final answer: 'concede' means to admit, give up or agree to something, especially reluctantly, as in giving up a point in an argument.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1'The committee's decision was met with widespread indignation.' What does 'indignation' suggest about people's reaction?Show answer
Answer: It suggests people felt angry or resentful, because they thought the decision was unfair.
Q2Give a word that is the opposite of 'reluctant'.Show answer
Answer: eager (or willing)
Q3Correct the error in this sentence: 'Its important that you're book is returned by friday.'Show answer
Answer: It's important that your book is returned by Friday.
Q4Which sentence uses an apostrophe correctly: 'The dog's bone was buried in the garden' or 'The dogs' bone was buried in the garden' (for one dog)?Show answer
Answer: 'The dog's bone was buried in the garden' (the apostrophe before the s shows singular possession)
Q5What is the past tense of 'begin'?Show answer
Answer: began
Q6In the sentence 'The committee deliberated for hours before reaching a verdict', what does 'deliberated' suggest about how the decision was made?Show answer
Answer: It suggests the decision was made carefully and thoughtfully, after a lot of discussion, rather than quickly or carelessly.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Source sentence: 'The committee's chair rapped the table once, and the room, which had buzzed with argument only a moment before, fell into an uneasy quiet.' Explain how the writer creates a sense of tension in this sentence. (4 marks)
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 4 available
Continuous writing task: 'Write a story that begins with the line: The letter had been sitting on the doormat for three days before anyone noticed it.' Write a continuous piece of about 300 to 400 words. (15 marks)
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 15 available
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the csse-style english mock 2 (essex) worksheet pack - 11 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
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