Not long to go, so here are some final tips to help with your exam preparation for the English exam on Tuesday the 29th of October.
Section A – Text Response
- Answer the question on the paper, not the question that you want it to be
- Structure your arguments around themes linking to the topic
- Include analysis throughout with structural elements and language features
- Include the views, values and concerns that the author is conveying in linking sentences, throughout your analysis and in the conclusion
- Choose two examples per paragraph, and discuss them well and you only need three paragraphs.
- Resolve the topic in the conclusion
- Spell the author’s/characters’ names correctly
- Acknowledge the title of the text
- Do not use first person perspective ‘I agree’ ‘I will be talking about’ etc.
Section B – Creating Texts
- You must make connections to the title throughout your response, not just as a title of your piece.
- Choose a stimulus or two or all three and unpack the meaning of the ideas concerning it throughout your piece
- Be implicit, but also be explicit
- Ensure that you make connections to your framework that you studied about either country, play, personal journeys or protest.
- Provide specific examples connecting to the framework and avoid being too vague
- Ensure that the purpose is clear – express, reflect, argue, explain
- Remember that the purpose can be a hybrid
- Have an authentic voice
- Don’t memorise a piece and not engage with title and stimulus
- Use paragraphs and write in the correct form
Section C – Analysing Argument
- Read the background information!
- Understand that this has been specifically put together for the exam, there will be a specific audience and purpose and this is usually identified in the background information
- Understand who the author is and what is their vested interest in writing/presenting this piece.
- You don’t need to include the images or persuasive techniques in your introduction, save these for the analysis
- Discuss the image where it complements the argument and explain how it does this. Don’t analyse the images separately
- Break up the arguments into opening, body, closing and consider how they are developed and use the what/how/why approach when analysing
- Don’t just list persuasive techniques and define them. How does the language add values to the argument.
- You don’t need to write a conclusion, analyse the closing and use conclusive language to close off your essay.
Overall
- There’s no point writing countless essays at the moment, revise what you have already written and go over the feedback that you have received.
- Write plans for the text response
- Consider plans for the creating texts and how to best implement the title, stimulus and ideas from the framework
- Read practice Section C material and annotate quickly
- Go to bed at a normal time and get 8 hours sleep tonight and on Monday night
- Write in blue or black pen only, not pencil or erasable pen
- Shade in the correct question and stimulus that you’re writing about on the exam paper
- Bring and use a dictionary
- Have a couple of spare pens, just in case
- Stretch your fingers and hands between writing. 3 hours can be a long time
- Get to the exam on time. This isn’t a SAC there are no second chances
- Eat a nutritious breakfast before. You can’t have a snack during the exam.
- Once the exam is over, don’t discuss it with everyone. Nothing can be changed, but also it’s English, everyone would approach the questions differently and there is no clear right or wrong way.
- Thank your English teacher. They have worked hard for you and want to see you achieve your best.
Good luck and most of all, keep it zesty! Watch my TikToks below for advice for each section of the exam. (Sorry they’re long, but I ramble, it’s what I do)
Ronnie 🙂
Ronnie's Ramblings 