Grade 10 — Term 2
5 study notes · 35 practice questions · Aligned with NIE syllabus
Counted in the Idasara Academy app, which you open with a free account. The free notes, revision, practice and library pages for each lesson are linked below.
This term in the Idasara Academy app has 5 lessons (NIE Units 6, 7, 8, 9, 10). For each lesson, this page gives you the points you must know and one exam-style question with its answer. None of it needs an account.
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Lessons in This Term
Information
What you must know
- Paper 1 Test 11 transfer of information rule: Never write personal opinions (e.g., 'I think students like tea because it is tasty'); only report data visible in the chart.
- Preposition precision with statistics: 'increased BY 15%' (the margin of change) vs 'increased TO 85%' (the final reached value).
- Ensure correct word count (approximately 100 words in O/L Paper 2 Test 11) with clear three-part structure (Introduction, Body Comparison, Conclusion).
Try one question
Read the following notice excerpt: 'The school library will remain closed from 15th to 18th October for the annual stock verification. Normal book lending resumes on Monday, 19th October at 8:00 a.m.' Which statement is true based on the notice?
- A. The library is closed because the librarian is on leave.
- B. The library reopens on 18th October in the afternoon.
- C. Students can borrow books on 19th October from 8:00 a.m.
- D. Books cannot be borrowed after 19th October.
Show the answer
Answer: C. Students can borrow books on 19th October from 8:00 a.m.. The notice explicitly states that 'Normal book lending resumes on Monday, 19th October at 8:00 a.m.', confirming that students can borrow books from that time.
A model question written by Idasara on the exam pattern. It is not from a past paper.
Learning is Fun
What you must know
- The double conjunction error: Never use 'Although' and 'but' in the same sentence (e.g., 'Although he studied, but he failed' is INVALID; write 'Although he studied, he failed').
- 'Due to' vs 'Because of': 'Due to' functions adjectivally after 'be' verbs ('The delay was due to rain'); 'because of' functions adverbially ('The match was postponed because of rain').
- Essay writing coherence (Paper 2 Test 14/16): Use at least three distinct cohesive linkers to ensure smooth transitions between arguments.
Try one question
Add the correct suffix to the root word 'achieve' to form a noun that completes the sentence: 'Passing the examination with nine distinctions is a remarkable ______ for any student.'
- A. achievement
- B. achieving
- C. achievable
- D. achiever
Show the answer
Answer: A. achievement. The suffix '-ment' is added to the verb 'achieve' to form the abstract noun 'achievement', which fits grammatically after the adjective 'remarkable'.
A model question written by Idasara on the exam pattern. It is not from a past paper.
Healthy Food
What you must know
- The 'fewer' vs 'less' trap: Use 'fewer' with plural count nouns ('eat fewer sweets') and 'less' with mass uncountable nouns ('consume less sugar').
- 'A few' / 'A little' (positive nuance = some) vs 'Few' / 'Little' (negative nuance = almost none, insufficient).
- Recipe and process writing tasks (Paper 1 Test 8): Always maintain consistent imperative mood without shifting into passive or first-person narrative.
Try one question
Choose the correct quantifier to complete the sentence: 'Nutritionists recommend drinking ______ water throughout the day, but consuming only a ______ sugar.'
- A. many / few
- B. much / few
- C. plenty of / little
- D. a few / lot of
Show the answer
Answer: C. plenty of / little. 'Water' and 'sugar' are both uncountable nouns. 'Plenty of' expresses an abundant quantity with uncountable nouns, and 'a little' denotes a small amount of an uncountable noun ('a little sugar'). 'Few' and 'many' are only used with countable nouns.
A model question written by Idasara on the exam pattern. It is not from a past paper.
Nature
What you must know
- Passive subject-verb agreement: Ensure 'was' is used with singular subjects and 'were' with plural subjects (e.g., 'Three forest reserves were established', NOT 'was established').
- Irregular past participle forms: Memorize irregular verb forms common in nature contexts (e.g., blow -> blown, grow -> grown, destroy -> destroyed).
- Environmental essay prompts (Paper 2 Test 14/16): Support arguments with concrete conservation solutions rather than purely descriptive lamentations.
Try one question
Select the correct conditional sentence form: 'If we ______ our mangrove ecosystems, coastal communities ______ more vulnerable to storm surges.'
- A. destroy / will become
- B. destroyed / will become
- C. will destroy / become
- D. destroy / would have become
Show the answer
Answer: A. destroy / will become. This is a First Conditional sentence describing a real, probable future consequence: If + simple present ('destroy'), will + bare infinitive ('will become').
A model question written by Idasara on the exam pattern. It is not from a past paper.
Personality
What you must know
- The non-defining 'that' trap: Writing 'My mother, that is a teacher, helped me' is a serious grammatical error; write 'My mother, who is a teacher, helped me'.
- Relative clause comma requirement: Omitting commas around non-defining clauses alters grammatical meaning and loses marks.
- Character sketch questions (Paper 1 Test 6 & Paper 2 Test 14): Blend personality traits with specific supporting anecdotes.
Try one question
Complete the sentence with the appropriate relative pronoun: 'Dr. C.W.W. Kannangara, ______ dedication to free education transformed Sri Lanka, is revered as the Father of Free Education.'
- A. which
- B. who
- C. whose
- D. whom
Show the answer
Answer: C. whose. 'Whose' is the possessive relative pronoun used to indicate that the dedication belongs to Dr. C.W.W. Kannangara ('whose dedication'). 'Who' is a subject pronoun, and 'whom' is an object pronoun.
A model question written by Idasara on the exam pattern. It is not from a past paper.
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