Section 1 of the WACE English exam, Comprehending, is the section many students find most difficult. You’re asked to respond to unseen questions about two unseen texts, all under strict time. But here’s the good news: once you understand what markers are looking for and how to structure your responses, this section becomes one of the most manageable parts of the exam. This article breaks down exactly how to approach Section 1 with confidence and clarity to guarantee you top marks!
Table of Contents
- How to structure your response
- How to craft a strong thesis
- How to analyse the text
- How to Integrate Quotes
- How to deal with Visual or Multimodal texts
- How to deal with Comparative Questions
How to structure your response
Each response in the Comprehending section should be around 300–350 words, roughly one handwritten page. Because of this short length, you are not writing a full essay. Instead, your response should follow a streamlined structure:
1. Thesis Statement
This is your one‑sentence answer to the question. It must:
- Directly address the question
- Use key words from the question
- Present a specific argument (not just a reworded question)
💡 Tip: Leave a blank line after your thesis to clearly separate it from your body.
2. Body Paragraphs
📌 1-3 body paragraphs (I would recommend 2)
These paragraphs should follow a P‑E‑E structure:
- Point – Your main idea. Clearly state the technique(s) and what they do.
- Example – Evidence from the text (short, integrated quotes and paraphrasing).
- Explain – Analyse how the example answers the question.
Repeat the example-explain part at least 2-3 times per paragraph to ensure you have enough examples to back up your argument.
3. Linking Sentence
Instead of a full conclusion, finish with one sentence that links back to your thesis and reinforces your argument.
How to craft a strong thesis
Your thesis statement should be specific, arguable, and use the key words of the question. For example:
Question: How has the author used language features to construct a representation of the setting in Text 1?
Strong thesis: In Text 1, the author uses figurative language and imagery to represent the town of Maycomb as dull and lifeless.
This thesis is strong because it clearly defines the language features used (figurative language and imagery) and the representation constructed (dull and lifeless).
It also provides a couple of clear options on how to split up the 2 body paragraphs: they could be split up via technique (e.g. one paragraph on figurative language and one on imagery), or via aspects of the representations (e.g. one paragraph of Maycomb being dull and one on it being lifeless).
Do not write a vague regurgitation of the question, for example:
The writer of Text 1 uses narrative conventions to encourage a reader response.
You need to be specific! Name the exact techniques used and the specific effect/purpose it achieves. For example:
The writer of Text 1 employs narrative conventions such as first‑person point of view and characterisation to encourage the audience to feel sadness and sympathy for the narrator.
How to analyse the text
When reading the unseen text, look for course concepts and techniques. These may include:
Visual Features (for images/multimodal texts)
- Camera angle (high, low, eye‑level)
- Shot type (close‑up, long shot)
- Colour symbolism
- Typography (font, size, colour)
- Composition (salient point, leading lines, rule of thirds)
- Symbolism
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- Figurative language (metaphor, simile, personification)
- Syntax
- Diction/word choice
- Punctuation
- Imagery (visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, gustatory)
- Tone, mood, voice
- Colloquial language, jargon, descriptive language
- Sound patterns (alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia)
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- Repetition
- Symbolism
- Asyndeton/polysyndeton
Narrative Conventions (for prose fiction)
- Setting (temporal and spatial)
- Narrative point of view
- Characterisation
- Plot structure (linear, flashbacks, etc.)
How to Integrate Quotes
Avoid dropping quotes in isolation. Weave them into your own sentences to show you are dissecting and analysing the text rather than just describing or listing it.
What not to do:
Isabella is described as shy. This is seen in the line, “Isabella was a timid girl, she had nervous eyes like a twitchy mouse.”
Much better:
The author employs simile to describe Isabella as reminiscent of a “twitchy mouse.” This aligns her with a small, meek prey animal which suggests she is vulnerable and “timid.”
This integrates the quote, labels the technique and explains its significance.
How to deal with Visual or Multimodal texts
For visual texts such as print ads, discuss how visual and textual elements work together. Do not separate them into different paragraphs.
Example:
The bold red typography of “WARNING: WORLD IS WARMING” creates a tone of urgency, with red symbolising danger and emergency. This is supported by the word choice of “warning” and “warming”, which directly associates global warning with a connotation of emergency. The alliteration and near‑rhyme of “warning” and “warming” makes this proclamation feel sharper and more pressing, reinforcing the idea that climate change is an immediate crisis.
This shows interplay between colour and typography – visual elements – with word choice and sound devices – written elements.
How to deal with Comparative Questions
Some questions may require comparing the two unseen two texts. Strong responses make explicit, purposeful connections rather than treating the texts separately.
Example Question:
Compare how stylistic choices are used to construct different representations of immigrants in Text 1 and Text 2.
Successful responses are expected to:
- Identify how immigrants are represented differently in each text.
- Identify and analyse how stylistic choices have been purposefully employed by each writer to construct the representations.
- Compare the use of stylistic choices, highlighting similarities and/or differences in their selection and use to construct representations of immigrants
Example Strong Thesis:
While both texts construct representations of immigrants, Text 1 uses a hopeful tone and personal anecdotes to portray them as resilient and hopeful, whereas Text 2 employs a sombre tone and figurative language to depict them as marginalised and disillusioned.
If you're preparing for your WACE English exam and want expert feedback on your comprehending responses, KIS Academics' WACE English tutors can work through your work with you and show you exactly how top-band analysis is constructed. We've helped more than 6,600 Australian students improve their marks across every curriculum.
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FAQs
How long should each WACE comprehending response be?
Around 300–350 words.
Do I need an introduction and conclusion for my WACE Comprehending responses?
No, just a thesis statement at the start and then a linking sentence at the end.
How many examples/quotes should I include in my WACE comprehending response
Aim for at least 5-6 across the response.
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Written by Poppy Bell, who received a 99.95 ATAR and WACE Subject Certificate of Excellence in English, and studies Arts/Law at the University of Melbourne (Chancellor’s Scholar).
