Primary Leaving National Examinations 2022/2023 — English
NESA Revision Quiz · Auto-correcting · All sections
📝 Student Details
Section A — Comprehension & Vocabulary (40 marks)
Speech by Alice Mutoni — New Head Prefect
“Our dear headmaster, teachers and fellow pupils, good afternoon. My name is Alice Mutoni, the new head prefect of this School. First, I would like to thank you for trusting me with this position. Thank you for electing me. I promise to do my best to serve you.
Secondly, I want to welcome you all to the new year and new term. I want to encourage you, my fellow pupils, to work hard. Hard work pays. Most importantly, P6 candidates, remember you’re the light of this school. Your good performance on the national examinations will be our pride.
Thirdly, I would like to encourage all pupils, to be disciplined. We must present a good image of our school. I think everyone is proud of this school. Therefore, as the head prefect, I encourage you to become responsible citizens of our country, Rwanda.
Our school has various computer rooms, science labs and a library. I remind you to take care and full responsibility for these facilities. I would like to end my speech here. Thank you for listening. May God protect us. Good day.”
Part I — Reading Comprehension (15 marks)
1aSuggest a suitable title for the speech.1 mk
💡 The speech is given by Alice Mutoni on being elected head prefect — she thanks the school, encourages hard work and discipline. A title reflecting this: “The new head prefect’s speech of gratitude and encouragement.” → Answer: B.
1bWhat does the speaker say in paragraph one? Start: “In paragraph one…”2 mks
💡 Paragraph one: Alice introduces herself as the new head prefect, thanks the school for trusting and electing her, and promises to do her best. → Answer: C.
1cWhat does the speaker say in paragraph two?2 mks
💡 Paragraph two: “I want to welcome you all to the new year … I want to encourage you … to work hard … P6 candidates, remember you’re the light of this school.” → Answer: B.
1dWhy does the speaker thank the audience? Start: “The reason why…”1 mk
💡 “Thank you for trusting me with this position. Thank you for electing me.” → The reason is that they trusted and elected her. → Answer: C.
1eWhy do you think the P6 candidates need to work harder?2 mks
💡 “P6 candidates, remember you’re the light of this school. Your good performance on the national examinations will be our pride.” → Answer: B.
1fIs Mutoni’s speech educative? Why?2 mks
💡 The speech covers education (hard work, national exams), discipline, responsible citizenship, and care for school facilities — all educative values. → Answer: C.
1gWhat do you understand by the sentence “Hard work pays?”2 mks
💡 “Hard work pays” is a proverb meaning effort brings positive results / success. → Answer: C.
2Which option best summarizes the passage in no more than 3 sentences?3 mks
💡 The speech covers: (1) introduction + gratitude, (2) encouragement to work hard / P6 pride, (3) discipline / citizenship, (4) care for facilities. Option B captures all four points accurately in 3 sentences. → Answer: B.
Part II — Vocabulary (25 marks)
Q3 — Make correct sentences using the words from the text (5 marks — model)
3aMake a sentence using: proud1 mk
💡 Model: He is proud of my achievements this year.
3bMake a sentence using: pride1 mk
💡 Model: Success of children is always the pride of their family.
3cMake a sentence using: trusting1 mk
💡 Model: Trusting in God is what makes us comfortable all the time.
3dMake a sentence using: various1 mk
💡 Model: Students must do various exercises to be prepared for the exams.
3eMake a sentence using: encourage1 mk
💡 Model: I encourage my children to get up early every day.
Q4 — Complete the weather forecast with words from the box (6 marks)
📦 Word box: fall · sunny · viewers · presenter · forecast · cold
4a“Good evening ____________. Welcome to the weather forecast.”1 mk
💡 A TV broadcast begins “Good evening viewers” — addressing the watching audience. → Answer: B — viewers.
4b“I am your ____________ Jane Mutoni.”1 mk
💡 The person introducing themselves on TV is the presenter. → Answer: C — presenter.
4c“The ____________ for tomorrow is as follows.”1 mk
💡 A weather forecast = a prediction of coming weather conditions. → Answer: C — forecast.
4d“Temperatures in Musanze are expected to ____________ to 16°C.”1 mk
💡 Temperatures fall (drop/decrease) to a lower level. → Answer: A — fall.
4e“Anyone planning to visit Huye should be prepared for a ____________ welcome.”1 mk
💡 Huye has thunderstorms, so the weather will be cold — “a cold welcome” here is both literal and idiomatic. → Answer: C — cold.
4f“The rest of the country will be ____________ throughout the day.”1 mk
💡 “The rest of the country” with high temperatures in Nyagatare → sunny throughout the day. → Answer: D — sunny.
Q5 — One word for the bold group of words (7 marks)
5aThe man who collects bus fare is rude today.1 mk
💡 A conductor collects fares on a bus/train. → Answer: B — conductor.
5bWe shall visit the place where aeroplanes land and take off.1 mk
💡 An airport is where aeroplanes land and take off. → Answer: C — airport.
5cThe person who flies an aeroplane should always be careful.1 mk
💡 A pilot flies an aeroplane. → Answer: D — pilot.
5dPeople who are travelling in a bus should always take care of their luggage.1 mk
💡 Passengers = people travelling in a vehicle (bus, car, train, plane). → Answer: B — passengers.
5ePeople who walk along the road must be careful.1 mk
💡 Pedestrians = people who travel on foot. → Answer: C — pedestrians.
5fThe place where two roads meet is always busy.1 mk
💡 A junction = a place where two or more roads meet. (The marking guide says “junction.”) → Answer: C — junction.
5gThe government will help the people who can’t read and write.1 mk
💡 The illiterate = people who cannot read or write. → Answer: B — illiterate.
Q6 — Complete sentences with the correct occupation (7 marks)
📦 Word box: janitor · architect · librarian · cobbler · receptionist · hairdresser · lawyer
6aA ____________ works at the front desk of a building and welcomes visitors and answers the phone.1 mk
💡 A receptionist works at the front desk, welcomes visitors and answers the phone. → Answer: B.
6bA ____________ keeps an office, school or hotel clean and tidy.1 mk
💡 A janitor keeps buildings clean and tidy. → Answer: C.
6cAn ____________ designs and builds large buildings or bridges.1 mk
💡 An architect designs and builds large buildings or bridges. → Answer: A.
6dSomeone who cuts and styles your hair to make it look good is called a ____________.1 mk
💡 A hairdresser cuts and styles hair. → Answer: B.
6eA ____________ repairs shoes.1 mk
💡 A cobbler repairs shoes. → Answer: C.
6fA ____________ is always found in a place where people go for reading and borrowing books.1 mk
💡 A librarian works in a library where people read and borrow books. → Answer: D.
6gA person who works in a court and can help people on trial is called a ____________.1 mk
💡 A lawyer works in courts and helps people on trial. → Answer: B.
Section B — Language Use (45 marks)
Q7 — Rearrange jumbled sentences to make a good story (5 marks)
The 10 sentences below can be rearranged into a logical story. Choose the correct order from the options.
7Which option shows the correct order for the Dubai holiday story?
Sentences: a) We were taken to a five-star hotel. b) Apart from being the best, it is very expensive. c) Last holiday, we travelled to Dubai. d) Each night was five hundred dirhams. e) When we reached there, f) Our company leader paid the money for the four days. g) Where we could spend four nights. h) Which is one of the best hotels in Dubai. i) And we enjoyed ourselves until the day we returned. j) We looked for a hotel.5 mks
Sentences: a) We were taken to a five-star hotel. b) Apart from being the best, it is very expensive. c) Last holiday, we travelled to Dubai. d) Each night was five hundred dirhams. e) When we reached there, f) Our company leader paid the money for the four days. g) Where we could spend four nights. h) Which is one of the best hotels in Dubai. i) And we enjoyed ourselves until the day we returned. j) We looked for a hotel.5 mks
💡 Correct order (marking guide): c → e → j → a → h → g → b → d → f → i
c. Last holiday we travelled to Dubai. e. When we reached there, j. We looked for a hotel, a. We were taken to a five-star hotel, h. Which is one of the best hotels in Dubai, g. Where we could spend four nights, b. Apart from being the best, it is very expensive, d. Each night was five hundred dirhams, f. Our company leader paid the money for the four days, i. And we enjoyed ourselves until the day we returned. → Answer: A.
c. Last holiday we travelled to Dubai. e. When we reached there, j. We looked for a hotel, a. We were taken to a five-star hotel, h. Which is one of the best hotels in Dubai, g. Where we could spend four nights, b. Apart from being the best, it is very expensive, d. Each night was five hundred dirhams, f. Our company leader paid the money for the four days, i. And we enjoyed ourselves until the day we returned. → Answer: A.
Q8 — Use the correct time word (4 marks)
📦 sometimes · last week · now · next month
8aShe ____________ walks to school.1 mk
💡 “She ___ walks to school” — not every day but occasionally = sometimes (present simple). → Answer: A.
8bThey will sit for exams ____________.1 mk
💡 “Will sit” = future → next month (future time reference). → Answer: D.
8cCan’t we be revising our notes ____________?1 mk
💡 “Can’t we be revising” = present continuous suggestion = at this moment = now. → Answer: C.
8dWe ended the unit ____________.1 mk
💡 “Ended” = past simple → last week (past time reference). → Answer: B.
Q9 — Complete with the correct family term (8 marks)
9aThe parents of my parents are my ____________.1 mk
💡 Parents of my parents = grandparents. → Answer: C.
9bMy mother’s legal husband is my ____________.1 mk
💡 My mother’s legal husband = my father. → Answer: B.
9cThe sister of my father is my ____________.1 mk
💡 Father’s sister = my aunt. → Answer: C.
9dThe brother of my mother is my ____________.1 mk
💡 Mother’s brother = my uncle. → Answer: D.
9eThe daughter of my aunt is my ____________.1 mk
💡 Aunt’s daughter = my cousin. → Answer: B.
9fThe son of my brother is my ____________.1 mk
💡 Brother’s son = my nephew. → Answer: A.
9gThe daughter of my son is my ____________.1 mk
💡 Son’s daughter = my granddaughter. → Answer: B.
9hThe father of my husband is my ____________.1 mk
💡 Husband’s father = my father-in-law. → Answer: C.
Q10 — Fill in the right prepositions (6 marks)
10aThey were in Kigali ____________ ten o’clock.1 mk
💡 Specific clock times use at: “at ten o’clock.” → Answer: B — at.
10bIt has been raining ____________ three hours.1 mk
💡 Duration of time = for: “for three hours.” (“Since” needs a starting point in time.) → Answer: C — for.
10cThe other doctor died ____________ cancer.1 mk
💡 “Die of a disease” is the fixed collocation: “died of cancer.” → Answer: B — of.
10dThis school opened ____________ 1980.1 mk
💡 Years use in: “in 1980.” → Answer: C — in.
10eHe is interested ____________ reading novels.1 mk
💡 Fixed collocation: “interested in something.” → Answer: B — in.
10fI prefer peas ____________ beans.1 mk
💡 “Prefer X to Y” — “to” not “than” (that’s a common error): “I prefer peas to beans.” → Answer: C — to.
Q11 — One word for the bold group of words (4 marks)
11aKanyana held a glass without any care and broke it.1 mk
💡 “Without any care” = carelessly. → Answer: B — carelessly.
11bHe killed the wild cat without any mercy.1 mk
💡 “Without any mercy” = mercilessly. → Answer: C — mercilessly.
11cMy uncle owns a place where vehicles are repaired.1 mk
💡 A garage = a place where vehicles are repaired or stored. → Answer: C — garage.
11dThat hospital has a vehicle which takes sick people for emergency.1 mk
💡 An ambulance = a vehicle that transports sick or injured people in emergencies. → Answer: B — ambulance.
Q12 — Rewrite sentences as instructed (10 marks)
12aJoin using …than…: “My stick is long. Her stick is longer.”1 mk
💡 “Her stick is longer” than mine → “Her stick is longer than mine.” (marking guide: “Her stick is longer than mine.”) → Answer: C.
12bJoin using …as…as…: “River Nyabarongo is wide. River Akagera is also wide.”1 mk
💡 Equal comparison: as + adjective + as: “River Nyabarongo is as wide as River Akagera.” → Answer: A.
12cBegin with What…?: “How long is this river?”1 mk
💡 “How long?” → noun form = “length”: “What is the length of this river?” → Answer: B.
12dJoin using …so…that…: “The mountain is very steep. We can’t climb it.”1 mk
💡 so…that: “The mountain is so steep that we can’t climb it.” → Answer: B.
12eJoin using …because…: “Most tourists like visiting Rwanda. It is beautiful and clean.”1 mk
💡 “Most tourists like visiting Rwanda because it is beautiful and clean.” → Answer: B.
12fJoin using …if…: “I would see gorillas. I went to Volcano national park.”1 mk
💡 2nd conditional: “If + past simple, would + base verb”: “If I went to Volcano national park, I would see gorillas.” → Answer: B.
12gJoin using …prefer…: “I like chicken more than beef.”1 mk
💡 “Prefer X to Y”: “I prefer chicken to beef.” → Answer: C.
12hJoin using Neither…nor…: “Keza will not sell her mats. Beza will not sell her mats.”1 mk
💡 “Neither A nor B + verb”: “Neither Keza nor Beza will sell their mats.” → Answer: A.
12iJoin using …enough to…: “Allen is very old. She can go to the market alone.”1 mk
💡 Structure: adjective + enough to + infinitive: “Allen is old enough to go to the market alone.” → Answer: C.
12jBegin: Nice pots…: “Potters are making nice pots.”1 mk
💡 Passive of present continuous: “are making” → “are being made”: “Nice pots are being made by potters.” → Answer: B.
Q13 — Opposite form of the bold words (4 marks)
13aDinosaurs had sharp teeth. — Opposite of sharp:1 mk
💡 Opposite of sharp (having a fine cutting edge) = blunt. → Answer: B — blunt.
13bSome dinosaurs looked similar to modern birds. — Opposite of modern:1 mk
💡 Opposite of modern in this context = ancient (very old, from long ago). → Answer: C — ancient.
13cOur cat is very old. — Opposite of old:1 mk
💡 For living things: opposite of old = young. → Answer: C — young.
13dA lion hunts during the night. — Opposite of the night:1 mk
💡 Opposite of the night = the day. → Answer: C — the day.
Q14 — Choose the correct word from the brackets (4 marks)
14aThe pupils told ____________ teacher to mark them. (their / there)1 mk
💡 “The pupils told ___ teacher” — possessive adjective before “teacher”: their. “There” = a place. → Answer: A — their.
14bWe went to ____________ on Sunday. (pray / prey)1 mk
💡 Going to church on Sunday to worship = pray (verb). “Prey” = an animal hunted for food. → Answer: A — pray.
14cWe spent an ____________ outside the class. (our / hour)1 mk
💡 “Spent an ___” — “an” signals a noun starting with a vowel sound: hour (60 minutes). “Our” is a possessive pronoun. → Answer: B — hour.
14dGive me a ____________ of chalk. (peace / piece)1 mk
💡 “A ___ of chalk” — a portion or fragment = piece. “Peace” = absence of war/conflict. → Answer: B — piece.
Section C — Composition (15 marks)
Choose ONE topic and write a composition of about 150 words. This section is marked by your teacher. NB: Do NOT use your real name in the letter.
✍️ Choose ONE composition topic:
Topic a) — Letter to a Friend about Favourite Food
Write a letter to your friend inviting him/her to share your favourite food and explain why you like that type of food. (Do NOT use your real name.)
Topic b) — Protecting Our Environment
Write a composition explaining how we should protect our environment.
📌 Marking rubric (15 marks): Format — heading, greetings, intro, body, conclusion, signature (3 mks) · Margins & neatness (2 mks) · Content — introduction (1), body ideas (6), conclusion (1) · Grammar & language (1) · Coherence (1). Add your composition mark to the MCQ score for your total out of 100.
