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AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY EXAMINATION BOARD
SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE
CLASS IX
MODEL EXAMINATION PAPER 2026 AND ONWARDS
English Compulsory Paper II
Time: 2 hours Marks: 45
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INSTRUCTIONS:
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1. Check your name and school information above. Sign if the information is correct.
I agree that this is my name and school.
Candidate’s Signature
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2. Read each question carefully.
3. There are THREE questions. Answer ALL questions. Question 2 offers TWO choices and
Question 3 offers THREE choices. Attempt any ONE of the options given in Questions 2 and 3.
4. When answering the questions:
• Use a black pen/ pointer to write your answers. DO NOT write your answers in pencil.
• Use a black pencil for diagrams and drawings. DO NOT use coloured pencils, markers or
highlighters.
• DO NOT use staples, paper clips, glue, correcting fluid, or ink erasers.
If you make a mistake, cross it out neatly and write the correct answer beside it.
• Write your answers ONLY in the allocated space provided for each question.
• DO NOT write outside the answer space. Answers written outside the allocated space will
not be marked.
5. The marks for each question are shown in brackets ( ) next to the question number. Use this
information to manage your time efficiently.
6. DO NOT mention your name or school name anywhere inside the paper.
English Compulsory Model Paper IX
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Q.1. (Total 20 Marks)
Read the passage carefully and answer all the questions that follow. Do NOT write the entire passage in
your answers.
When I woke up, there was only one thing on my mind: what to wear. A billion thoughts raced
through my brain as wooden hangers shuffled back and forth in the cramped hotel closet…Not
only was it my first day of high school, but it was my first day of school in a new state; first
impressions are everything, and it was imperative for me to impress the people who I would spend
5 the next four years with. For the first time in my life, I thought about how convenient it would be
to wear the horrendous matching plaid skirts that private schools enforce…
This was my third time [changing schools]. Moving so many times does something to a child’s
development…I struggled finding friends that I could trust would be there for me if I picked up
and left again. But this time was different because my dad’s company ensured that I would start
10 and finish high school in the same place…This time mattered, and that made me nervous.
After raiding my closet, I emerged proudly in a patterned dress...The soft cotton was
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comfortable…Yes, this outfit was the one. An hour later, I felt just as powerful as I stepped off the
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bus and headed towards [my classroom]. But as I turned the corner into my first class, my jaw
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15 Sitting at her desk was Mrs Hutfilz, my English teacher, sporting the exact same dress as I. I kept
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my head down and tiptoed to my seat, but the first day meant introductions in front of the whole
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class, and soon enough it was my turn. I made it through my speech unscathed, until Mrs Hutfilz
stood up, jokingly adding that she liked my style. Although this was the moment, I had been
dreading from the moment I walked in, all the anxiety that had accumulated throughout the
20 morning surprisingly melted away…My smile grew as I giggled with my peers, ending my speech
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with “and I am very stylish, much like my first period teacher.” After class, I stayed behind and
talked to Mrs Hutfilz…
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This incident reminded me that it’s only high school; these are the times to have fun, work hard,
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and make memories, not stress about the trivial details. Looking back four years later, the ten
25 minutes I spent dreading my speech were really not worth it…
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Source: Adapted from ‘First Impressions’ by Isabel Hui, a student in an American high school
English Compulsory Model Paper IX
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a.
i. Infer the theme of the given passage. (2 Marks)
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ii. Discuss how the theme in part (i) is relevant to your life as a student.
Give THREE points to support your answer. (3 Marks)
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b. The author’s life before her current school can be described as challenging.
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Provide THREE textual references from the given passage to support the given statement.
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English Compulsory Model Paper IX
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c. The author wore a dress to her class.
Describe the significance of this dress for the author in TWO points. (4 Marks)
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d. Summarise the given passage in no more than 100 words.
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Note: Use your OWN words in the summary. Copying entire sentences/ lines from the passage
will lead to a deduction of ONE mark. (5 Marks)
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English Compulsory Model Paper IX
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e. Explain the use of cohesive (transitional) devices in the given passage. Provide a textual
reference to support your explanation. (3 Marks)
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PLEASE TURN OVER THE PAGE
English Compulsory Model Paper IX
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Q.2. (Total 10 Marks)
Compose a response of about 200-250 words on any ONE of the options a or b.
EITHER
a. Assume you recently saw an online advertisement about a spelling bee competition for secondary
school students held by another school in which you want to participate.
Write an email to your school principal. In your email,
- request your school principal to allow you to participate in the event.
- elaborate on the event’s details (venue, requirements, last day of entry).
- discuss TWO reasons why you wish to participate.
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b. Your school holds a science exhibition each year. However, there is no exhibition for students of
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commerce and humanities. This year, you want your school to hold a combined exhibition
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representing all subjects.
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Compose a letter to your principal. In your letter, convince him/ her by giving at least THREE
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ways in which a combined exhibition will benefit everyone, including students, teachers, and the
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institution.
Make your notes below or on the page given for rough work. Write your final draft on pages 7 and 8.
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English Compulsory Model Paper IX
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Option _________________
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English Compulsory Model Paper IX
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English Compulsory Model Paper IX
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Q.3. (Total 15 Marks)
Write a composition of about 200-300 words on any ONE of the options a, b or c.
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a. ‘Rags to riches’ refers to any situation in which a person rises from poverty to extreme wealth.
For example, the author of Harry Potter, J. K. Rowling was struggling to find work and make a
living. After publishing her ‘Harry Potter’ series, she became a wealthy woman.
Compose a story on the theme of rags to riches. In your story,
- describe the pitiful condition of the protagonist.
- explain the moment of crisis that makes the protagonist determined to bring about a change.
- elaborate the moment of realisation by the protagonist that victory has been achieved.
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b. Suppose that you are living in a time when other planets in the universe are found to be inhabited
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by people and travelling between the planets has become a reality.
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Compose a story about the time you had gone to another planet for holidays from the Earth.
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Include the following points in your story:
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- TWO features of the planet
- Any TWO differences observed between the planet and the Earth
- Your experience on the planet
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OR
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c. Nowadays, people are addicted to smartphones and spend most of their time scrolling through
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social media.
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Write an essay on the given topic. In your essay,
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- discuss TWO reasons why addiction to smartphones is unhealthy.
- explain TWO ways in which people can use smartphones smartly.
- mention an alternative way or activity people can engage in to limit smartphone usage.
Make your notes below or on the page given for rough work. Write your final draft on pages 10 and 11.
PLEASE TURN OVER THE PAGE
English Compulsory Model Paper IX
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Option _______________
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English Compulsory Model Paper IX
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END OF PAPER
English Compulsory Model Paper IX
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English Compulsory Model Paper IX
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