Pre-A1 Starters Reading & Writing Part 5 — One-Word Story Answers
Reading & Writing Part 5 tells a story in three pictures. Your child answers simple questions about each picture, writing exactly one word per answer. There are five questions, and no sentences are needed at this level.
How Reading & Writing Part 5 works
Your child looks at a story told in three pictures.
Under the pictures are simple printed questions — who, what, where — about what is happening.
They find each answer by looking closely at the right picture.
They write exactly one word per answer, spelt correctly.
Tips for the picture story
The instructions ask for one-word answers, so practise trimming replies down to the single key word — 'garden', not 'in the garden'.
Teach 'look, point, then write': the answer is always visible in the pictures, so pointing at it first prevents guessing.
Practise who, what and where questions on any comic strip or three-picture book spread at home.
Spelling counts across the Reading & Writing paper, and Part 5 answers are core Starters nouns — steady vocabulary spelling practice protects these five marks.
Games that train Part 5
- Story Tower
Picture-supported stories with comprehension questions — the same look, understand, answer loop as the three-picture story in Part 5.
- Spelling Challenge
Part 5 answers must be spelt correctly, so drilling core Starters nouns here protects easy marks.
Frequently asked questions
How long can answers be in Part 5?
Exactly one word. The instructions ask for one-word answers to each of the five questions about the three-picture story, and the answers are simple Starters words visible in the pictures. If your child tends to write phrases, practise trimming every answer down to the single key word.
Does my child need to read a long story text in Part 5?
No — there is no long passage. The story is told through three pictures, with short printed questions about each one. Your child reads a simple question such as 'Where is the boy?', finds the answer by looking at the picture, and writes a single word on the line.
Is spelling marked in Reading & Writing Part 5?
Yes — across the Reading & Writing paper, including Part 5, answers need to be spelt correctly to earn the mark. The good news is that Part 5 answers are high-frequency Starters nouns, so steady spelling practice of core vocabulary is enough to protect all five marks.
How can we practise the three-picture story format at home?
Use any comic strip or picture-book spread: ask who, what and where questions about each frame and require one-word answers, then swap roles and let your child quiz you. Story Tower on FlyersEnglish builds the same picture-plus-question comprehension habit with Starters-level stories and instant feedback.
Last updated: 2026-07-02
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