How to Pass Grade 10 English First Additional Language with a Distinction (2025 Guide)

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Subject: English First Additional Language (FAL) Grade: 10 Focus: Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing, and Language Structures

Introduction

Grade 10 English FAL is not just about knowing words; it’s about using them correctly. You need to master comprehension, visual literacy, literature, and grammar.

This guide breaks down the Via Afrika Study Guide into manageable sections to help you ace your exams.

1. The 4 Main Sections

The curriculum is divided into four key skills. You need to be good at all of them.

A. Listening & Speaking (Section 1)

This is often done as oral assessments.

  • Listening: Learn to listen for specific information (dates, names) vs. listening for the main idea. Practice taking notes while listening.
  • Speaking:
    • Informal: Conversations with friends. Know the difference between slang and colloquial language.
    • Formal: Prepared speeches, debates, and interviews. Focus on body language, tone, and eye contact.

B. Reading & Viewing (Section 2)

This is the core of Paper 1 and Paper 2.

  • Literary Texts (Paper 2): You must understand the setworks (Novels, Dramas, Short Stories, Poetry).
    • Key Elements: Plot, Setting, Character, Theme.
    • Poetry: Know your figures of speech (Metaphor, Simile, Personification, Alliteration).
  • Non-Literary Texts (Paper 1): Comprehension passages.
    • Tip: Read the questions before you read the passage so you know what to look for.
  • Visual Literacy (Paper 1): Analyzing cartoons and advertisements.
    • Cartoons: Look at body language, facial expressions, and speech bubbles to find the humor or message.
    • Advertisements: Identify the target audience and the persuasive technique (AIDA principle – Attention, Interest, Desire, Action).

C. Writing & Presenting (Section 3)

This is Paper 3. You need to write different types of texts.

  • Essays:
    • Narrative: Telling a story.
    • Descriptive: Describing a person, place, or object using 5 senses.
    • Discursive/Argumentative: Discussing a topic (pros/cons) or arguing a specific side.
  • Longer Transactional Writing: Friendly/Formal letters, Reports, Reviews, Newspaper articles.
    • Format: Marks are given for the correct format (e.g., addresses in a formal letter). Memorize these formats!
  • Shorter Transactional Writing: Advertisements, Diary entries, Postcards, Instructions.

D. Language Structures & Conventions (Section 4)

This is the “Grammar” section in Paper 1.

  • Parts of Speech: Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs, Pronouns, Prepositions, Conjunctions.
  • Tenses: Past, Present, Future (Simple, Continuous, Perfect).
  • Punctuation: Commas, colons, semi-colons, apostrophes.
  • Sentence Structures: Simple, Compound, Complex sentences.
  • Active vs. Passive Voice: “The boy kicked the ball” (Active) vs. “The ball was kicked by the boy” (Passive).
  • Direct vs. Indirect Speech: Quoting someone vs. reporting what they said.

2. Exam Breakdown

Paper 1: Language in Context (2 Hours – 80 Marks)

  • Section A: Comprehension (30 marks)
  • Section B: Summary (10 marks)
  • Section C: Language Structures and Conventions (40 marks) – This includes visual literacy!

Paper 2: Literature (2 Hours – 70 Marks)

  • Section A: Novel (e.g., Finders Keepers) OR Drama
  • Section B: Short Stories
  • Section C: Poetry (Seen and Unseen poems)

Paper 3: Writing (2 Hours – 100 Marks)

  • Section A: Essay (50 marks)
  • Section B: Longer Transactional Text (30 marks)
  • Section C: Shorter Transactional Text (20 marks)

3. Study Tips for Distinction

Tip 1: The “Summary” Question (Paper 1)

This is the easiest 10 marks you will ever get.

  • Follow instructions: Usually “List 7 points”.
  • Number your points: 1 to 7.
  • Use your own words: Don’t just copy sentences; rewrite them simply.
  • Word Count: Stick to the limit (usually 70 words) and write the word count at the end.

Tip 2: Visual Literacy (Cartoons)

  • Irony: Look for the difference between what is said and what is meant (or what happens).
  • Stereotypes: Be able to identify if a character represents a stereotype (e.g., “the angry boss”).

Tip 3: Past Papers are Key

English papers follow a very specific pattern. If you practice with past papers from 2021-2024, you will see the same types of questions appearing (e.g., “Change this sentence to passive voice” or “Identify the figure of speech”).

Conclusion

English FAL is about practice. You cannot “cram” a language. Read widely, practice writing essays (and get your teacher to mark them!), and learn your grammar rules.

Good luck!

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