AJKPSC Test English (Precis & Composition) Syllabus

English (Precis & Composition) syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for English (Precis & Composition) in AJKPSC Test, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Precis Writing

   4 topics

   • Reading and Comprehending the Passage
   • Condensing to One-Third Length
   • Suggesting an Appropriate Title
   • Common Errors in Precis Writing
2. 2

   Composition and Letter Writing

   3 topics

   • Formal and Official Letters
   • Office Memoranda and Notices
   • Paragraph Writing
3. 3

   Comprehension

   3 topics

   • Answering Questions from a Passage
   • Inference and Interpretation
   • Vocabulary from Context
4. 4

   Grammar and Usage

   5 topics

   • Parts of Speech and Tenses
   • Punctuation and Capitalization
   • Active and Passive Voice
   • Direct and Indirect Narration
   • Correction of Sentences
5. 5

   Vocabulary

   4 topics

   • Synonyms and Antonyms
   • Idioms and Phrases
   • One-Word Substitutions
   • Pairs of Words

English (Precis & Composition) flashcards for AJKPSC Test

25 of 50 cards from the English (Precis & Composition) deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is a precis?

   A precis is a clear, concise summary of a passage that restates its essential meaning in the writer's own words, omitting all illustrations, examples, and unnecessary detail while keeping the original sense, tone, and order of ideas.

2. To what length should a precis normally be condensed relative to the original passage?

   About one-third (1/3) of the length of the original passage.

3. If a passage contains 360 words, what is the approximate target word count for its precis?

   About 120 words (one-third of 360).

4. In which grammatical person and tense is a precis normally written?

   In the third person and, generally, in the past tense (reported form), regardless of the person/tense of the original.

5. List the main steps in the process of writing a precis.

   1) Read the passage carefully (more than once) to grasp the central idea; 2) Note/underline the key points; 3) Find a suitable title; 4) Write a rough draft in your own words at about one-third length; 5) Revise for accuracy, grammar, and word count; 6) Write the fair (final) copy.

6. Should a precis include your own opinions, comments, or new ideas not in the passage?

   No. A precis must contain only the ideas of the original passage; the writer must not add personal opinions, comments, criticism, or extra information.

7. What qualities make a good title for a precis or passage?

   A good title is short, relevant, and striking; it captures the central theme or main idea of the passage in a few words (often a phrase rather than a full sentence).

8. List four common errors students make in precis writing.

   Copying sentences directly from the passage; exceeding or falling short of the one-third length; including examples/illustrations/details; adding personal opinions; using direct speech instead of indirect; and missing the central idea.

9. Why should direct (quoted) speech in a passage be converted when writing a precis?

   Because a precis is written in reported (indirect) speech in the third person; direct quotations must be changed to indirect narration to keep the summary impersonal and condensed.

10. What are the essential parts (structure) of a formal/official letter?

    Sender's address, date, recipient's address/designation, salutation, subject line, body, complimentary close, and signature (with name and designation).

11. Give an appropriate salutation and complimentary close for a formal letter to an official whose name you do not know.

    Salutation: 'Dear Sir/Madam' (or 'Sir'); Complimentary close: 'Yours faithfully'.

12. What complimentary close is used when a formal letter begins with the recipient's name (e.g., 'Dear Mr. Khan')?

    'Yours sincerely'.

13. What is an office memorandum (memo)?

    An office memorandum is a brief, formal written communication used within an organization to convey information, instructions, decisions, or requests between officers/departments; it typically has To, From, Date, Subject headings and no salutation or complimentary close.

14. How does a notice differ from a memorandum?

    A notice is a short formal announcement displayed publicly to inform many people about an event, rule, or instruction, usually with a heading, date, and the issuing authority's name; a memo is directed to specific person(s) within an organization for internal communication.

15. What are the essential elements that a notice must contain?

    Name of the organization/heading, the word 'NOTICE', date of issue, a clear subject/heading, the body (what, when, where, why), and the name/designation of the issuing authority.

16. What is a paragraph, and what is its basic structure?

    A paragraph is a group of related sentences that develop a single main idea. Its basic structure is a topic sentence (states the main idea), supporting sentences (explain/illustrate it), and a concluding sentence (summarizes or rounds off the idea).

17. What is a topic sentence in a paragraph?

    The sentence that states the central idea or main point of the paragraph, usually placed at the beginning, around which the other sentences are organized.

18. Name three qualities of a well-written paragraph.

    Unity (one main idea), coherence (logical, connected flow of sentences), and adequate development with relevant supporting details. Good paragraphs also use appropriate transitions.

19. When answering comprehension questions from a passage, should you copy the passage verbatim or use your own words?

    Generally answer in your own words in complete sentences based on the passage; copy exact phrasing only when the question specifically asks for a quotation or a precise term from the text.

20. What is the difference between a literal (factual) question and an inferential question in comprehension?

    A literal/factual question has an answer stated directly in the passage; an inferential question requires the reader to deduce the answer from clues, implications, and reasoning, as it is not stated explicitly.

21. What does it mean to 'infer' something from a passage?

    To infer is to reach a logical conclusion or understand an implied meaning based on evidence and reasoning in the text, rather than from information stated directly.

22. What is the difference between inference and interpretation?

    Inference is a logical conclusion drawn from textual evidence (reading 'between the lines'); interpretation is explaining the meaning or significance of the text, including the author's tone, purpose, or intent ('beyond the lines').

23. What does 'vocabulary from context' (contextual meaning) mean?

    It means working out the meaning of an unfamiliar word from the surrounding words, sentence, and overall sense of the passage rather than from a dictionary.

24. What are the eight parts of speech in English?

    Noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection.

25. What is the function of a conjunction, and give two examples?

    A conjunction joins words, phrases, or clauses together. Examples: 'and', 'but', 'or', 'because', 'although', 'while'.

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