5.1.7

Paper 2: Reading - Statistics

Test yourself on Paper 2: Reading - Statistics

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Statistics

Statistics are facts which are expressed in numbers. They add credibility to your writing, as they support and prove your ideas, making your writing seem more accurate and believable.

74% of Year 11 students

74% of Year 11 students

  • Last year, 74% of Year 11 students stated that homework was actually preventing them from revising properly for their exams.
    • In this phrase, the statistic ‘74%’ suggests that an actual study has been done, and that an overwhelming majority agreed with the idea that homework was a bad idea. The statistic itself implies that there is proof of the study and adds credibility to the writer’s ideas.
    • The high statistic (74%) is used to support the writer’s argument that homework is a negative thing.
8/10 teenagers

8/10 teenagers

  • 8/10 teenagers currently suffer from mental health issues.
    • In this phrase, the statistic ‘8/10’ suggests that an actual study has been done – this high statistic would also add to the writer’s arguments about the severity of mental health issues.
    • The high statistic (8/10) is used to support the writer’s argument that mental health issues are a big problem amongst teenagers.
13% of people recycle plastic

13% of people recycle plastic

  • Only 13% of people actually recycle all of their plastic waste.
    • In this phrase, the statistic ‘13%’ suggests that an actual study has been done, and that an overwhelming minority of people recycle plastic, suggesting that a lack of recycling is a big problem.
    • The low statistic (13%) is used to support the writer’s argument that a lack of recycling is a huge problem.

Tips for Using Statistics

Statistics are facts which are expressed in numbers. They add credibility to your writing, as they support and prove your ideas, making your writing seem more accurate and believable.

Make up believable statistics

Make up believable statistics

  • You can (and should) make up your statistics, but make them believable! Don’t, for example, claim that 100% of people who are forced to do homework will die horrible deaths – be sensible with your ideas.
Use statistics to support your argument

Use statistics to support your argument

  • Make sure your statistics actually support the points you are making. For example, if you are arguing that school uniform should be abolished, you could say ‘82% of pupils in the school argue that uniform is pointless’ – avoid something like ‘22%’ because it doesn’t support the point strongly enough.
Choose vocabulary carefully

Choose vocabulary carefully

  • Your choice of vocabulary is vital in creating your language devices effectively.
Jump to other topics
1

Key Terms

1.1

Key Terms

1.1.1Nouns1.1.2Verbs1.1.3Sentence Types1.1.4Words1.1.5Sound1.1.6Language1.1.7Images & Symbols1.1.8Phrases1.1.9Mood1.1.10Key Terms - Other Techniques1.1.11End of Topic Test - Key Terms
2

Language Techniques

2.1

Language Devices

2.1.1Metaphors2.1.2Similes2.1.3Metaphors & Similes HyperLearning2.1.4Personification2.1.5Pathetic Fallacy2.1.6Pun2.1.7Oxymoron2.1.8Hyperbole2.1.9Alliteration2.1.10Sibilance2.1.11Onomatopoeia2.1.12Emotive Language2.1.13All Language Devices2.1.14End of Topic Test - Language Devices
2.2

Writing Structure

2.2.1Narrators2.2.2Paragraphs2.2.3Present Tense2.2.4Past Tense2.2.5Future Tense2.2.6Present vs Past vs Future2.2.7Foreshadowing2.2.8Structure2.2.9End of Topic Test - Writing Structure
3

Paper 1: Reading

3.1

Paper 1: Reading - Section A

3.1.1Paper 1: Reading - Overview - Section A3.1.2Paper 1: Reading - Answering Question 13.1.3Paper 1: Reading - Answering Question 23.1.4Exam-Style Questions - Paper 1: Reading3.1.5Paper 1: Reading - Answering Question 33.1.6Paper 1: Reading - Answering Question 43.1.7End of Topic Test - Section A3.1.8Exam-Style Questions - Paper 1: Reading3.1.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q13.1.10Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q23.1.11Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q33.1.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q4 13.1.13Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q4 2
4

Paper 1: Writing

4.1

Paper 1: Writing - Structuring Your Answer

4.1.1Paper 1: Writing - Overview - Section B4.1.2Paper 1: Writing - Descriptive Writing4.1.3Paper 1: Writing - Narrative Writing4.1.4Paper 1: Writing - Answering Section B (option 1)4.1.5Paper 1: Writing - Answering Section B (option 2)4.1.6Paper 1: Writing - Answering Section B - Checklist4.1.7End of Topic Test - Writing Section4.1.8Exam-Style Questions - Paper 1: Writing4.1.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q5 14.1.10Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q5 2
5

Paper 2: Reading

5.1

Paper 2: Reading - DAFORESTER

5.1.1Paper 2: Reading - Direct Address5.1.2Paper 2: Reading - Alliteration5.1.3Paper 2: Reading - Facts5.1.4Paper 2: Reading - Opinions5.1.5Paper 2: Reading - Repetition5.1.6Paper 2: Reading - Exaggeration (Hyperbole)5.1.7Paper 2: Reading - Statistics5.1.8Paper 2: Reading - Triples (Rule of 3)5.1.9Paper 2: Reading - Emotive Language5.1.10Paper 2: Reading - Rhetorical Questions5.1.11End of Topic Test - DAFORESTER
5.2

Paper 2: Reading - Structuring Your Answer

5.2.1Paper 2: Reading - Overview - Section A5.2.2Paper 2: Reading - Answering Question 15.2.3Paper 2: Reading - Answering Question 25.2.4Paper 2: Reading - Answering Question 35.2.5Exam-Style Questions - Paper 2: Reading5.2.6Paper 2: Reading - Answering Question 45.2.7End of Topic Test - Section A5.2.8Exam-Style Questions - Paper 2: Reading5.2.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - P2 Q15.2.10Diagnostic Misconceptions - P2 Q2 15.2.11Diagnostic Misconceptions - P2 Q2 25.2.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - P2 Q4
6

Paper 2: Writing

6.1

Paper 2: Writing - Structuring Your Answer

6.1.1Paper 2: Writing - Overview - Section B6.1.2Paper 2: Writing - Answering Section B6.1.3Diagnostic Misconceptions - P2 Q5 16.1.4Diagnostic Misconceptions - P2 Q5 26.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - P2 Q5 3
6.2

Types of Writing

6.2.1Paper 2: Writing - Article6.2.2Paper 2: Writing - Essay6.2.3Paper 2: Writing - Leaflet6.2.4Paper 2: Writing - Letter6.2.5Paper 2: Writing - Speech6.2.6Paper 2: Writing - Review6.2.7Paper 2: Writing - Travel Writing6.2.8Paper 2: Writing - Diaries & Journals6.2.9End of Topic Test - Types of Writing
6.3

Writing to...

6.3.1Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Inform6.3.2Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Inform - Example6.3.3Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Explain6.3.4Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Explain - Example6.3.5Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Persuade6.3.6Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Persuade - Example6.3.7Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Argue6.3.8Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Argue - Example6.3.9Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Persuade vs Writing6.3.10Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Advise6.3.11Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Advise - Example6.3.12End of Topic Test - Writing to...6.3.13Exam-Style Questions - Paper 2: Writing

Practice questions on Paper 2: Reading - Statistics

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    What are statistics?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What is the statistic in this sentence?<br><br><b>I think that it is appalling that around 100 people choke to death on ballpoint pens every year.Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Should you ever make up statistics in your English Language writing?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    Which of these are believable statistics?True / false
  5. 5
    You want to argue that cars are bad for the environment. Which statistic would support your argument?Multiple choice
Answer all questions on Paper 2: Reading - Statistics

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Paper 2: Reading - Exaggeration (Hyperbole)

Paper 2: Reading - Triples (Rule of 3)