How You Can Help Your Child Prepare for the ELA 30-1 Part B Diploma Exam
Reading comprehension can be challenging for many students. Although many students and parents believe there is little preparation that can be done for the Part B ELA 30-1 Diploma exam, there are actually several strategies that can help students feel more confident on exam day. Let’s take a look.
Ensure That Your Child Has a Strong Understanding of Literary Devices
Many questions on the ELA 30-1 diploma require students to recognize and understand literary devices. Some of the most common devices that appear on diploma exams include:
Irony (situational, verbal and dramatic)
Contrast
Paradox
Symbolism
Metaphor
Allusion
Repetition
For a full list of literary devices, check out my blog post here.
Work on Expanding Your Child's Vocabulary Prior to the ELA 30-1 Part B Diploma
Encourage your child to look up any words they do not recognize. These could be words they encounter in school readings, words they hear in conversation, or even words they notice while watching TV. The more intentional they are about expanding their vocabulary, the more confident they will feel when approaching unfamiliar texts on the exam.
I would recommend creating a simple system to document these words. This could include cue cards, a running list in a notebook, or a mind map. Encourage your child to review these words periodically to reinforce their understanding. A stronger vocabulary can also benefit students on the ELA 30-1 Part A exam.
My Part B Handbook includes definitions of key literary and analytical terms that appear frequently on diploma exams. This can be a great starting point for students preparing for the exam.
Prioritize Practice for the ELA 30-1 Diploma
Practice is one of the best ways to prepare for the diploma exam. Encourage your child to try the released diploma exams available online so they can become familiar with the format and types of questions they will encounter.
A few ELA 30-1 Part B exams with answer keys have been released by the Alberta government. The most recent one I have found is linked here.
I hope that you found this article helpful! If you have any questions, please comment below, or reach out here, and I will get back to you.
Comments