Timing Problems

[DavidSheena]

Hey guys,

I have a huge problem with timing and have no idea how to improve on it. I can write about 650 words (Intro and two bodies) in 55 minutes, but the problem is I focus too much on stringing together nice sentences and this costs me a lot of time. I'm not seeing the positive effects of practising under timed conditions yet. I feel a good essay takes at least a couple of hours to complete. And it's so hard to think and write at the same time that fast.

How can I improve? I know I'm not the only one with this issue. But need some urgent help. Is it more so memorising sentences and examples which are flexible for a range of topics so you can chuck them into your essay without any thought?

[dilks]

Is it possible that you might be over-editing?

[DavidSheena]

I'm not sure to be honest. The last time I wrote for 55 minutes straight, only editing and stopping to think for about five to ten minutes. I have no idea how I'm going to get to 1000+ words by the exam and am so scared about it.

[Lolly]

I guess you would already have the general gist of what you would like to say before writing, yeah? Like a prepared idea?   I know how you feel: I've had trouble with time, too, (although I've improved a bit since) and I found just having a strategy really helps. Not a memorised essay as such: just a one size fits all idea accommodating most prompts. I started out planning the topic sentences and signposts to the enth degree, but after a while as you get to know the topic/text/essay type better you can nearly do it on autopilot. Be kind to yourself: it's ok if a word isn't placed in the right way here or there. Find the flow. You'll get there!

[DavidSheena]

Thanks man 

Not so much a prepared idea but I try to plan before writing (about five minutes). This takes away more time from the allocated fifty-five minutes >< It's just that unwavering feeling that the essay is complete crap, for lack of a better term, that beats in my head constantly. In SACS, I manage but that's more than double the time!

[Surgeon]

Perhaps it would be beneficial if you were willing and able to post up an example of what you can produce in 1 hour? That way, perhaps some of the English whizzes around here could tell you what you could do differently etc

[DavidSheena]

I would love to but I don't like posting work openly online. :| I'd be willing to pm some of the English whizzes on here if they're willing. You're a whiz from what I can infer

Would anyone be willing?

[Surgeon]

I would love to but I don't like posting work openly online. :| I'd be willing to pm some of the English whizzes on here if they're willing. You're a whiz from what I can infer

Would anyone be willing?

I'm honored to hear that you think I'm that good, I'm really not though, there are many people that are many times better than me.

I would be willing to take a look at it for you and help you out to the best of my ability if nobody else agrees to take a look at it so PM me if you like

[Jenny_2108]

I would love to but I don't like posting work openly online. :| I'd be willing to pm some of the English whizzes on here if they're willing. You're a whiz from what I can infer

Would anyone be willing?

I'm willing too if you need any help 

[DavidSheena]

Thanks guys. I feel past students might be more beneficial seeing as they've been through the whole exam process. Anyone else able to add anything to my timing woes. ><

[werdna]

Have a 'plan of attack' to stick by for the exam, practise plenty of essays under timed conditions (preferably in the morning as well, since the exam is held in the morning), write the essays in an order you're comfortable with, set out a timeline for each of your paragraphs which sets out how long you have. For example, I timed myself 5 mins for the intro, 15 mins each for the 3 body paragraphs and 5 mins for the conclusion when writing the text response (55 mins total). Hope this helps!

[Yacoubb]

I am in an accelerated yr 10 class for English (Enhanced) and we have plenty of timed essays because we unofficially do a yr 11 curriculum - planning; this is an essential component of writing essays that many people dismiss. Don't plan your paragraph completely (i.e. don't write down your whole b. paragraph in dot points). Another thing is that you MUST not spend more than 7 mins on your plan. Practice writing essays to improve your vocab and general structure, as this will assist you enormously. Good luck.


P.S. Text response is one of my strengths in English, so I have a p. good idea of what I'm saying