GP comprehension: paraphrasing for marks
GP Paper 2 comprehension rewards one skill above all: paraphrasing. Most questions ask you to explain a writer's point in your own words, and lifting phrases straight from the passage loses marks. The technique is to understand, then re-express precisely.
Key facts
| Paper | 2 (Comprehension) |
| Core skill | paraphrasing in your own words |
| Also tests | inference, vocabulary-in-context |
| Penalty | lifting from the passage |
Answer in your own words
When a question asks what a writer means, you must re-express it, not copy it. Identify the exact part of the passage that answers the question, then rewrite it using different words while keeping the meaning. Examiners explicitly penalise lifting — so changing the key content words is essential, not optional.
Inference and 'why' questions
Some questions ask what the writer implies, or why they use a particular word, image or example. The answer combines a clue from the text with reasoning. Point to the evidence, then explain the implication — the same point-evidence-explanation discipline that serves the essay.
Vocabulary-in-context
You'll be asked the meaning of words as used in the passage. Don't give a dictionary definition in isolation — work out the sense the writer intends from the surrounding sentence, and express it in your own words at the same level of meaning (a verb for a verb, and so on).
Technique and timing
Read the question for exactly what's asked and the marks available (more marks means more distinct points). Use line references to locate the answer fast, paraphrase tightly, and don't pad. Leave time for the Application Question, which carries significant marks at the end.
Frequently asked questions
What's the key skill in GP comprehension?
Paraphrasing — answering in your own words. Lifting phrases from the passage is explicitly penalised, so re-express the meaning.
How do I handle inference questions?
Combine a clue from the text with reasoning: point to the evidence and explain what the writer implies.
How do I answer vocabulary-in-context?
Give the meaning the word carries in that sentence (not an isolated dictionary definition), in your own words and at the same level of meaning.
How should I manage time in Paper 2?
Use line references to find answers fast, paraphrase tightly without padding, and leave enough time for the high-value Application Question.
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