Exam Revision
If you've done the work throughout the year, you're already well on your way towards a good result in this subject. As you have completed the SACs and other tasks assigned by your teacher, you will have most of the skills necessary to do well in the exam. So think of the exam as your chance to 'show off' all that you do know, NOT as a test designed to catch you out on the things you don't know. Studying for exams is like preparing for a major race - you need to train regularly and consistently. Your goal is to be at peak performance on the day of the exam - which means much planning and revision from Term 3 on as English is one of your first exams. Two sections of the English exam require close knowledge of several selected texts - your novels, plays, film and so on - so reading and re-reading these texts will be an important and major part of your preparation. The third section also requires close reading, but of an unseen text or texts. This nevertheless also requires much practice in reading persuasive texts. As the English exam is assessed on your written work only, you will need to practise how to write quality responses in time limits. You need to be very familiar with the exam format, the details of each section and how they will be assessed.
Revision strategies • Make a revision timetable for English. Cover the three sections of the exam, allowing extra revision time for any section you need to do more work on. Revise your timetable if you have been too ambitious. Be realistic. • Start re-reading your texts from the beginning of Term 4. • Practise handwriting all your notes and essays from Term 1 onwards so that you can write quickly and clearly in the exam. Remember, you will be writing for three hours without a break. • Study in 45-60 minute blocks - the amount of time the mind can effectively concentrate - then take a short break of 10-15 minutes. Don't stay at the computer or go on the net. Have a snack, a drink or a short walk - do something different to refresh your mind. • Practise writing under timed exam conditions. This is absolutely essential. Start writing one complete answer in the time limit, then build up to doing two responses; finally practise doing a complete exam paper in the three hours. • Use colour in all revision notes - you remember the material better. • Create acronyms to help you remember information or steps in a process. • Memorise quotations - put them on the wall where you see them often. • Use concept maps to capture information - again with colour. • Make and listen to audiotapes of summaries and other important information -this helps you to absorb information in another way.
In the exam: suggestions and advice 1. Read the whole paper carefully and make sure that you fully understand what you are being asked to do. 2. Use the 15 minutes reading time wisely. It is suggested that you read through the piece set for analysis in Section C in reading time, and some students like to begin with this section when it is time to write. 3. Make sure that you clearly indicate which topic you are writing on, which text and which Context. 4. Use your dictionary to check spellings and meanings.
VCE ENGLISH UNIT 1&2
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Exam Revision
5. Plan each piece well, but remember that the plan is for you, not the assessor. Use the blank pages on the left of the booklet for notes and plans. 6. Aim for a Section A text response essay of 600 to 800 words. 7. The word length of the piece for Section B depends on the type of writing you have chosen, but aim for 500 to 800 words. 8. English students should aim for a Section C language analysis piece of about 500 to 800 words. ESL students should aim for a Part 2 analysis piece of about 250 to 350 words. 9. Clear, legible handwriting is most important. (See 'Be kind to the assessors'.) 10. Watch the clock. Stick strictly to the time limit of one hour per section. You must complete every section of the exam. 11. Here is a suggested time strategy: • planning: 5 minutes • writing: 50 minutes • proofreading: 5 minutes. 12. Use the 15-minute reading time at the start of the exam wisely. Use most of it to read through the material given for Section C. 13. Follow your teacher's advice as to which section to begin with. Some teachers suggest beginning with Section C as you will have time to read the material during reading time and it will be fresh in your mind. Other teachers suggest that you begin with the section you feel most confident about, as this will get your writing flowing well. 14. Write plans, but keep them short. Assessors won't look at them, so use them just to organise your own ideas.
Be kind to the assessors. Remember that the exam assessors are marking hundreds of papers, so it is in your best interest to make your essays as easy as possible to read and understand. The following are some suggested approaches that might keep the assessors happy. 1. The legibility of your handwriting is really very important. Be kind to the assessor who is marking your work and write neatly. 2. If you cannot write legibly in a limited time, and/or if you are someone who tends to make a lot of corrections and changes at the proofreading stage, perhaps you should write on every second line. 3. Especially for the Section A and Section C pieces, write in clearly indicated paragraphs and 'signpost' your points through topic sentences and/or linking words and phrases such as 'firstly', 'on the other hand', and so on. 4. In your text response essay, make sure that your opening clearly indicates your opinion of the topic and the direction your discussion will take, and try to draw the discussion together in your conclusion. 5. In Section B, write a piece that obviously draws on the ideas from the text you have nominated. Don't make it hard work for the assessors to see a connection. (You do not need to write a Written Explanation for Section B in your Exam.) 6. Be kind to the assessors and use dark-coloured ink - preferably black or dark blue pen. Do not use pencil. Get a good night's sleep before the exam. Don't stay up late—last-minute cramming will not help at all. Be sure to have a good breakfast on the morning of the exam, and check that you have your dictionary, pens, highlighters, etc. ready.
Do your best! Good luck!
VCE ENGLISH UNIT 1&2
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