Score on exam

[vceendpls]

Guys, just generally, how hard is to get a 7 or a 8 out of 10 in the exam for all three pieces? I mean, for someone like me averaging around 85% in English for the year, how hard would it be to achieve a 7 or an 8 out of ten?

Thanks

[Orson]

Guys, just generally, how hard is to get a 7 or a 8 out of 10 in the exam for all three pieces? I mean, for someone like me averaging around 85% in English for the year, how hard would it be to achieve a 7 or an 8 out of ten?

Thanks

Well...if you are already scoring those, I don't see it being any harder. Unless your teacher is a really lenient marker, in that case I'd get someone else to mark it. 85% is pretty nice (I'm around 65%), that's like really top end. I don't think you have much to worry about, just keep going the way you are going...

[pi]

From memory, the assessors reports usually have some examples of essays. I think if you're close to top-quality essay, then you should be fine. I remember being told that the top essay usually isn't a 10/0 but is more likely to be a 8-9/10, but that could be wrong.

[Orson]

From memory, the assessors reports usually have some examples of essays. I think if you're close to top-quality essay, then you should be fine. I remember being told that the top essay usually isn't a 10/0 but is more likely to be a 8-9/10, but that could be wrong.

Yeah, those essays aren't perfect (what essay is?). They are really good though, don't get me wrong. I was reading one on Stasiland, and the writer didn't even know who the author was...

[vceendpls]

I don't know I guess I'm just scared that the examiners are going to be REALLY picky and that kids who get 8/10 in exams are really high end students (averaging 90-95% in sacs)

And is it true that examiners have the preconvinced idea that expository essays are boring and that's why they get low marks? I'm really not that creative and I love expository essays because I like essays which have some sort of structure.

[heids]

I don't know I guess I'm just scared that the examiners are going to be REALLY picky and that kids who get 8/10 in exams are really high end students (averaging 90-95% in sacs)

And is it true that examiners have the preconvinced idea that expository essays are boring and that's why they get low marks? I'm really not that creative and I love expository essays because I like essays which have some sort of structure.

I averaged low 80s in my SACs, and I wouldn't say we had a very strong cohort.  I then didn't do much extra work between the end of SACs and the exam due to panic, and yet got a 43, which would imply probably ~8-8.5s across the exam.  Not saying that you shouldn't work or are certain to get 8s, but that you really do have a chance if you keep up the good work.  Just keep getting feedback and trying to constantly improve

No; if you hit the criteria (good ideas, good writing, and good examples), an expository can definitely get 10.  If you're concerned about boring the assessor, then focus on ways to make an expository more interesting, like:

- more interesting/varied (but NOT pretentious) vocab
- more interesting or unusual examples, i.e. don't talk about Hitler
- deeper discussion of the topic rather than shallow surface-level stuff
- creative twists, for instance, a creative intro that starts with a monologue of a character or describing a historical example in an interesting way

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