Before an object leaves the repair table
The two sources below were written for this practice question and describe invented community projects.
Text One: An account of a repair session in a village hall.
Before any tools were used, the owner described the fault and any earlier attempts to fix it. A card carrying these details stayed with the object as it moved between volunteers. This prevented a second repairer from repeating work or mistaking an old mark for fresh damage.
Some objects did not reach a repair bench. A desk fan with a split cable was set aside for specialist attention, even though its owner hoped for a quick solution. The organiser said that making an object work briefly was not the same as returning it responsibly.
Owners were consulted before a volunteer fitted a replacement part or made a visible alteration. One person preferred to keep the scratched original casing of a clock instead of replacing it with a newer piece. Another agreed to a different switch after the change had been explained.
A repaired lamp was switched on and off several times before it was returned. An object that could not be completed was reassembled, and its owner received a written explanation of the missing part and the next kind of repairer to approach.
Text Two: A report on a repair event run by another community group.
A reception volunteer first established who owned each object, what help was requested and whether any parts were missing.
| Object or situation | Procedure followed |
|---|---|
| Phone or tablet | Owner remained present; files were opened only with permission |
| Borrowed object | No alteration made without the owner's agreement |
| Object missing a component | Assessment offered, but no improvised substitute fitted |
Tasks were then allocated according to their complexity. New volunteers completed simple fabric repairs under supervision, while experienced repairers handled objects requiring more specialist work. The owner agreed to the likely cost before any replacement part was ordered or fitted.
At the end, every object received one of four recorded outcomes: repaired, partly improved, not attempted or referred elsewhere. Owners tested completed work using the object's ordinary function. The record made clear that success during the session could not guarantee that an older object would never develop another fault.
Synthesise what you learn from both texts about organising a responsible community repair session.
382 exam-style questions on WJEC GCSE English Language 3.1.3 Short and extended response question types. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.