Englang Study Score

[HenzaChan]

Hi guys,
I'm currently in year 12 and I guess the realisation of exams have hit me hard today... Despite doing as many practise exams and essays as I could throughout the term 3 holidays, I'm still really worried how it's going to turn out in the end. Over this whole year, my average SAC mark is probably only around 60% ish (both units 3 and 4), but I was hoping I could at least get above a score of 40 for English Language. I was wondering what kind of standard I would have to achieve on the exam to get that. I know it's a bit vague asking what kind of standard, but like what's the possibility of getting this score with the way my SAC marks are sitting at right now?

[jw12]

for over 40 you'd need an A+ which last year was at least 123/150 or around 82%. So you probably only want to lose something like 10 marks max

[HenzaChan]

Thanks! I see (assuming) that you're graduating this year as well, how do you find trying to achieve losing less than 10 marks on the exam? I've been running through practice exams quite a bit with my teacher and tutor but they've never actually given me an exam mark.

[jw12]

Well personally I've been struggling to finish them in time, but it's gotten better. I usually do the essay first because for the other two sections it's not as important to finish. Then section B then A. Just keep practicing, you can get there! Hoping for a good essay question this year!!

[lzxnl]

Thanks! I see (assuming) that you're graduating this year as well, how do you find trying to achieve losing less than 10 marks on the exam? I've been running through practice exams quite a bit with my teacher and tutor but they've never actually given me an exam mark.

Then ask them to grade your work. I'm sure they'd be ok with it
Time IS a rather large problem in Eng Lang exams. I was lucky last year in that section B didn't have that much to analyse and section C gave me some of the broadest essay questions I'd ever seen, so I finished with 10 minutes spare. Ideally, you'd spend 45 minutes on sections B and C and you'd spend 30 minutes on section A. That's the 'standard' way to allocate your time. As sections B and C are hard to do much faster, I suggest getting better at section A. I could do section As in around 20 minutes come exam time so I knew I'd have a bit of spare time if I needed it.

[Zealous]

Then ask them to grade your work. I'm sure they'd be ok with it
Time IS a rather large problem in Eng Lang exams. I was lucky last year in that section B didn't have that much to analyse and section C gave me some of the broadest essay questions I'd ever seen, so I finished with 10 minutes spare. Ideally, you'd spend 45 minutes on sections B and C and you'd spend 30 minutes on section A. That's the 'standard' way to allocate your time. As sections B and C are hard to do much faster, I suggest getting better at section A. I could do section As in around 20 minutes come exam time so I knew I'd have a bit of spare time if I needed it.

Just out of curiosity lzxnl, in the exam were you prepared to do any of the three topics that were provided? Did you look at all three and have confidence that you could write well in any of them? Or by exam time were you more confident in some of the general themes as opposed to others?

I'm just trying to figure out the best approach to these last few weeks when it comes to essay writing. I'm not sure whether I should try get a good understanding of the range of possible topics, or if I should prioritise only a few themes but get an excellent understanding.

[psyxwar]

Just out of curiosity lzxnl, in the exam were you prepared to do any of the three topics that were provided? Did you look at all three and have confidence that you could write well in any of them? Or by exam time were you more confident in some of the general themes as opposed to others?

I'm just trying to figure out the best approach to these last few weeks when it comes to essay writing. I'm not sure whether I should try get a good understanding of the range of possible topics, or if I should prioritise only a few themes but get an excellent understanding.

I doubt anyone would feel confident with all 3. Topics like "Australian English is playful and inventive" are hard to prepare for because they are so narrow and it's a waste of time finding examples that only apply to this. In 07 they had some topic about speech making lol.

[aqple]

I'm just trying to figure out the best approach to these last few weeks when it comes to essay writing. I'm not sure whether I should try get a good understanding of the range of possible topics, or if I should prioritise only a few themes but get an excellent understanding.

Me too. Over the holidays I really focused on my favourite aspect of the course and only wrote essays on variation in Australia and individual and group identities, thinking that the exam would definitely have an essay question relating to these themes. But I'm not so sure anymore...I think it's probably safer to study a range of broad topics.

I doubt anyone would feel confident with all 3. Topics like "Australian English is playful and inventive" are hard to prepare for because they are so narrow and it's a waste of time finding examples that only apply to this. In 07 they had some topic about speech making lol.

Yeah at times they just throw in a random useless question like that speech making one. Don't think it'll happen again cause that year VCAA received a lot of complaints about it.

[lzxnl]

Just out of curiosity lzxnl, in the exam were you prepared to do any of the three topics that were provided? Did you look at all three and have confidence that you could write well in any of them? Or by exam time were you more confident in some of the general themes as opposed to others?

I'm just trying to figure out the best approach to these last few weeks when it comes to essay writing. I'm not sure whether I should try get a good understanding of the range of possible topics, or if I should prioritise only a few themes but get an excellent understanding.

Yeah, I was only confident for two of the essay topics. Stuff the playful and inventive topic xD
You only need to write one essay anyway

Me too. Over the holidays I really focused on my favourite aspect of the course and only wrote essays on variation in Australia and individual and group identities, thinking that the exam would definitely have an essay question relating to these themes. But I'm not so sure anymore...I think it's probably safer to study a range of broad topics.

Yeah at times they just throw in a random useless question like that speech making one. Don't think it'll happen again cause that year VCAA received a lot of complaints about it.

I made sure I could write an essay on all of the broad topics. Sure, I had favourites, but I could write well (like comfortably 14/15) on identity, Australian varieties and language manipulation/appropriateness in different settings. This way, the chance of being unfamiliar with all three topics was quite low.

[psyxwar]

Yeah, I was only confident for two of the essay topics. Stuff the playful and inventive topic xD
You only need to write one essay anyway

I made sure I could write an essay on all of the broad topics. Sure, I had favourites, but I could write well (like comfortably 14/15) on identity, Australian varieties and language manipulation/appropriateness in different settings. This way, the chance of being unfamiliar with all three topics was quite low.

Also lzxnl how'd you find the company short answer questions? Am I the only one finding them absolutely terrible? o__O

[lzxnl]

Also lzxnl how'd you find the company short answer questions? Am I the only one finding them absolutely terrible? o__O

Those can vary. Admittedly some aren't too friendly. I remember once looking at the amount I had to write and going...wtf is this...

[atom]

for over 40 you'd need an A+ which last year was at least 123/150 or around 82%. So you probably only want to lose something like 10 marks max

Would that mean that a 140/150 is required for a 40 raw study score?

[lzxnl]

Would that mean that a 140/150 is required for a 40 raw study score?

LMAO
On the final exam? I got 141/150 and that got me a 50.

I think he means lose 10 marks out of 75, which is 130/150

[psyxwar]

LMAO
On the final exam? I got 141/150 and that got me a 50.

I think he means lose 10 marks out of 75, which is 130/150

O___O seriously?! someone I know got 148/150 last year woah, I thought you needed that high lol...

[lzxnl]

I keep telling people that all three of my 50s were probably on the low end

That said, my SACs scaled extremely high.