Point, proof, fit.
The official NSW information says OC Reading uses different text types, including fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Rather than trying to memorise a response style for each one, practise a three-part check: name the point the question asks about, find proof in the text, then check that the chosen answer fits both.
- Point: restate the question in a few words, such as “Why did the character wait?”
- Proof: locate the phrase or detail that supports an answer.
- Fit: reject an answer that is generally true but does not answer this question.
The NSW Department of Education’s OC test information and its official practice page are the right places to check current test information and access official examples.
Original worked example: a detail is not always the answer.
Short text
“Mina packed her sketchbook before dawn. At the park gate, rain began to tap on the sign. She waited under the awning, watching the puddles widen, until the clouds lifted.”
Question
Why did Mina wait at the park gate?
Use point, proof, fit
Point: the question asks for Mina’s reason. Proof: rain began and Mina watched the puddles until the clouds lifted. Fit: “She wanted to draw the sign” mentions a detail that is not in the text. The supported answer is that she waited for the rain to stop.
Common error: choosing the most familiar word.
A tempting option may repeat a word from the text but change the relationship between ideas. Reading the whole option against the exact question helps a student avoid matching one word and overlooking its meaning.
Self-check after each answer.
Ask: “Which words in the text made this answer the best fit?” If the student cannot point to evidence or explain an inference from it, return to the relevant sentence before deciding.
Continue from a clear reading habit.
The example on this page is original. Official OC format information checked 16 September 2026.