Unfamiliar Text Exam


Unfamiliar Text Exam Basics
What is the official name for my 'Unfamiliar Text' exam?
Here are the names for each year level. They differ slightly as each year level adds more complexities to the skills required to pass the 'Unfamiliar Text' exam:
NCEA English Level One: (AS91927) Demonstrate understanding of significant aspects of unfamiliar texts.
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NCEA English Level Two: (AS91100) Analyse significant aspects of unfamiliar written text(s) through close reading, supported by evidence.
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NCEA English Level Three: (AS91474) Respond critically to significant aspects of unfamiliar written texts through close reading, supported by evidence​.
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You can view more about all NCEA English assessment specifications from the NZQA official website, here.
What does 'Unfamiliar Text' mean?
Let's break down the words:
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'Unfamiliar' means something unknown or likely something you haven't studied in the classroom
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'Text' can be various types of literature such as a short story, poem, academic article, informative blog, advertisement etc.
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For the NCEA English 'Unfamiliar Text' exam, you will need to analyse a piece of writing (or visual image) that you haven't studied in the classroom. It should be, in theory, a text that is unfamiliar to you. This way you can analyse something from your own point of view, without any assistance from your teacher. The skills your teacher will teach you for this assessment will be how to analyse a text, rather than how to analyse and make meaning of a specific text.
What is the difference between internal assessments and external assessments?
The word internal means 'inside', therefore an internal assessment means an assessment delivered and marked by a teacher inside or within the school you attend. The word external means 'outside', therefore an external assessment, such as this Unfamiliar Text exam, is assessed outside of NCEA scheduled school times (which is usually during your exam leave). An NZQA approved assessor is employed from outside of your school to mark your exam. You would usually receive your grades in January of the following year. Where in an internal assessment, you would usually, at your teacher's discretion, receive your grades within a few weeks of completing the assessment (within the same school year that you completed the assessment).
How many credits can I receive from achieving the 'Unfamiliar Text' exam?
NCEA English Level One: 5 credits
NCEA English Level Two: 4 credits
NCEA English Level Three: 4 credits

Unfamiliar Text Exam Aspects
What do I need to do for the 'Unfamiliar text' exam?
By NCEA English Level Three, you will need to know how to:
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Read a variety of different types of unfamiliar text e.g. short stories, excerpts, academic articles, news articles etc.
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Identify and explain what the purpose, style, structure, and audience demographic is for different types of texts
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Identify, justify and explain what language features are used and why they are used
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Interpret and link perspectives and opinions to the text. You'll need to find quotes, and analyse and discuss them from various points of view (from the author's, the wider world or your own perspective)
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Become a critic and analyse writing decisions and influences within the text from a critical point of view (or imagery and advertising if analysing a visual text). This can include historical and social influences, reasons for expression, symbolism, writing abilities, writing qualities, and underlying messages.
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It is important to note that the NCEA English Level One Unfamiliar Text exam is focused on seeing if you can demonstrate you know how to look at text and understand the meanings and messages in unfamiliar texts.
By NCEA English Level Two you should have the skills to analyse text and look at deliberate writing choices. By NCEA English Level Three you should have embodied the skills of a critic and will interpret text from a critical point of view.
All three NCEA English levels require you to support your answers with evidence from each text that you analyse.
Where can I view the NCEA English 'Unfamiliar Text' Assessment Specifications?
You can obtain these from your teacher or the NZQA official website. Some teachers make this resource accessible within your course outlines so you can return to it at your own leisure.
I can also help you interpret the specifications within our one-on-one NCEA English exam prep tutorials. The NCEA English 'Unfamiliar Text' exam specifications have been written to support teachers with a framework to teach these skills, therefore the terms and manner in which they are written are very formal and can sometimes be hard for students to comprehend on their own. It is designed with many colloquialisms (teacher lingo) appropriate for teachers to understand, and as I am a qualified English teacher, I can read through them with you, so you feel more confident about the NCEA English 'Unfamiliar text' exam.​
What if I am feeling anxious about the NCEA English exams?
NCEA students may feel anxiety over their NCEA external exams, so it is comforting for them to practice the process of sitting exams with our expert tutors. Our NCEA expert tutors know how to alleviate the pressures of sitting exams. We do this by practising answering typical NCEA external questions and talk about the process.

Unfamiliar Text Anxiety Friendly Notes
How can I ease my anxiety about sitting the NCEA English 'Unfamiliar Text' exam?
1.) Practise using the skills with one of our NCEA expert tutors.
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I find practising aspects of the 'Unfamiliar Text' exam is a great way to ease anxiety. When you attend our NCEA expert tutoring sessions you will read through various NCEA approved texts, analyse them with our NCEA expert tutors, learn how to structure answers, and learn what is required to receive excellence grades.
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2.) Prepare for the NCEA English 'Unfamiliar Text' exam experience.
Not only does this mean practising answering questions and using the skills used in the 'Unfamiliar Text' exam, but it also means practising being in an exam.
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A way to achieve this is by learning how your school runs your NCEA exams. Knowing where the venue will be, how long it takes you to arrive, and practising going to the venue may help. You can also request to visit the venue prior to see what the layout of the examination looks like.
In most cases, desks are transferred to the hall and placed in singular lines. Your NCEA exam booklets are placed on your desk and signs are clearly posted at the front of the aisles so you know whereabouts you will find the right NCEA English exam booklets. It is common for various NCEA exams to occur at the same time in the same venue so the signs will assist you with knowing where to find the booklets.
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3.) Have a look at what the 'Unfamiliar Text' exam papers look like.
Having a look at what an NCEA exam booklet looks like and its layout can ease anxiety. You can view previous exam booklets on the NZQA official website. However, it is important to note that the 'Unfamiliar Text' green booklets which are the booklets that have the texts to analyse in them have redactions (black marks to hide writing from the viewer) within them to align with Copyright laws. You wouldn't normally see redaction in an official NCEA exam booklet.
Unfamiliar Text Anxiety Strategies
What is a strategy I can use if I am in my 'Unfamiliar text' exam and I experience anxiety?*
Mindfulness techniques are great tools to ease anxiety. There are many mindfulness techniques available, and you can research this further online. Mindfulness techniques are designed to ground your thinking to ease anxiety. One of my favourite mindfulness techniques include counting and identifying specific items around the room in my head. e.g. There is a clock, there is a white board, there are three blue pens on my desk.​ You can try this one if you feel overwhelmed in your NCEA English 'Unfamiliar text' exam. If one mindfulness technique doesn't work, try another one. We are all different and you may find one that best suits you.
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Why am I nervous about the 'Unfamiliar Text' exam?
​Many teenagers experience nervousness when sitting their NCEA exams. It is important to know that a reason for being nervous is because you care about the outcome of the experience. It is really great to know you care about your learning and what the future brings for you.
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Our expert tutors know how to support students with anxiety. Book in your tutoring sessions with us if you are after warm, friendly and knowledgeable tutors who know how to support students with anxiety.
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​​*Tovah, her staff, and Tovah's Tutoring Company Ltd are not liable for the repercussions of exam anxiety and the use of mindfulness techniques during the NCEA examinations. We are not qualified medical practitioners, and these ideas are designed to support students in good faith. We believe student wellbeing matters and recommend seeking professional advice if this is needed (prior and after examinations), from an appropriate relevant practitioner, such as a medical practitioner and/or your official teacher. This is at the discretion of your caregivers.