PD3 Reading

41 complete exam sittings (2004–2024) — all three sections analysed question by question.

📖 Strategy GuideFIRST 2 FREE

Read this first. These rules and methods apply to every exam sitting from 2004–2024. Understanding the scoring conventions and recurring traps before you work through the archive will prevent avoidable point loss from the start.

§1 How the Scoring Works

All answers must come directly from the text. The official answer key uses these conventions:

Symbol / form	Meaning	Practical rule
(parentheses)	Optional — include or omit, both earn full marks	(De to) energikriser → "energikriser" alone is fine
A / B (slash)	"Or" — either phrasing earns full marks	Write one; writing both is fine but not required
No slash, no parentheses	All listed components required	If key lists two items joined by "and," both must appear — see §2
2 or 0	L2A open questions and L2A multiple choice	All-or-nothing — no partial credit for a half-right answer
1 or 0	L1 questions and L2B cloze gaps	Same rule — one point per question, all or nothing

Copy, don't paraphrase. Use the text's own words. A correct paraphrase can still be marked wrong if a specific term was required.

§2 The "Must Write Both" Trap

Some open-answer questions require two (sometimes three) separate pieces of information joined by "and," not "or." Writing only one correct piece scores zero — PD3 does not award partial credit on these.

How to catch it before you lose the point:

If the question uses hvilke to (which two), to grunde (two reasons), or to betingelser (two conditions) — assume two components are required until confirmed otherwise.
After writing your answer, re-read the relevant paragraph and ask: "Did the text give me more than I wrote?" If yes, you probably missed the second piece.
The dangerous case: the official key lists two items with no slash, or uses explicit wording that both are mandatory.
Distinguish this from a slash (/) in the key, which always means "either is fine."

Classic example — Summer 2010, Reading 1 Q10: The question asks which authorities to contact. The key requires both Arbejdstilsynet and Arbejdsskadestyrelsen — writing only one scores 0.

Three signals that a question requires two pieces:

The question uses hvilke to, to grunde, or nævn begge: "Nævn begge" (name both) is the clearest signal on the exam paper — treat it as a direct instruction to write two items, never just one.
The question asks for types of activities, materials, or names: If the text lists two nouns joined by "og" (and) with no slash between them, both are required. Writing only one, even if correct, scores zero.
The question asks "which two words describe X": Review and evaluation questions often require two adjectives simultaneously — distinguish from the slash (/) case where only one is needed.

Known historical examples (for review): Summer 2010 Q10 (two agency names) / Cultural event double activity (city walks og archaeological excavations) / Craft material double item (glass og ceramics) / Reviewer double adjective — every case shares the same marker: the key lists two items joined by "og" with no slash.

Build the habit: After writing any open answer, ask yourself: "Did the text actually give me two pieces of information here?" This check takes five seconds and catches the most expensive mistakes.

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