How You Can Help Your Child Prepare for the ELA 30-1 Part B 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

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

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 government. The most recent one I have found is linked here.

The more practice your child gets, the better. Over the past seven years, I have spent many hours locating released diploma exams and their answer keys. In my Part B handbook, I provide links to eight different diploma exams along with their keys, making it easy for students to access valuable practice materials in one place.

Alberta ELA 30-1 Part B Diploma Study Guide | Reading Comprehension Strategies

CA$15.00

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I hope that you found this article helpful! If you have any questions, please comment below and I will do my best to get back to you.