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Non-fiction passages appear regularly in the SET Stage 1 English paper. Unlike fiction, non-fiction is based on real facts, events, and ideas. Learning to read non-fiction effectively is essential for achieving a strong score.
Non-fiction is writing that deals with real life. It includes:
| Type | Example |
|---|---|
| News articles | A report about a scientific discovery |
| Informative texts | An encyclopedia entry about volcanoes |
| Biographical writing | The life story of a famous explorer |
| Persuasive writing | A letter arguing for more green spaces |
| Travel writing | A description of visiting the Amazon rainforest |
| Speeches | A speech about protecting the environment |
| Diary or journal entries | A real person's account of a historical event |
| Instructions or explanations | How something works or how to do something |
In the SET exam, you may encounter any of these types. The key is to identify the purpose and audience of the text.
| Feature | Fiction | Non-Fiction |
|---|---|---|
| Content | Imaginary stories | Real facts and events |
| Purpose | To entertain, explore themes | To inform, persuade, explain, or describe |
| Language | Often descriptive and atmospheric | Often factual, sometimes persuasive |
| Structure | Narrative (beginning, middle, end) | Can be organised by topic, chronology, or argument |
Important: Non-fiction can still use literary devices (similes, metaphors, emotive language) — especially persuasive and descriptive non-fiction.
One of the most important questions to ask about any non-fiction text is: Why was this written?
| Purpose | What the writer is doing | Clue words and features |
|---|---|---|
| Inform | Giving facts and information | Statistics, neutral language, clear structure |
| Persuade | Trying to change the reader's mind | Rhetorical questions, emotive language, "we must", "surely" |
| Explain | Helping the reader understand how or why | Step-by-step structure, cause and effect language |
| Describe | Painting a picture with words | Adjectives, sensory language, imagery |
| Argue | Presenting one side of a debate | Strong opinions, evidence, counter-arguments |
| Advise | Giving guidance or recommendations | "You should", "it is best to", "try to" |
Top tip: Some texts combine purposes. For example, a charity leaflet about endangered animals might inform (give facts about the species) and persuade (encourage the reader to donate).
A crucial skill for non-fiction comprehension is telling the difference between facts and opinions:
| Type | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Fact | Something that can be proved true or false | "The Great Wall of China is over 13,000 miles long." |
| Opinion | A personal belief or judgement | "The Great Wall of China is the most impressive structure ever built." |
How to spot opinions: Look for words like "best", "worst", "should", "I believe", "in my opinion", "surely", and "beautiful".
In the SET exam, you may be asked to identify whether a statement is a fact or an opinion, or to choose a statement from the passage that is factual.
Read this non-fiction passage:
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