English Exam tomorrow! Any tips or advice?

[RedMasta]

So, the first of many begins tomorrow; the almighty, arguably the most difficult and, on average, most stressful exam of them all.
ENGLISH!
I'd really appreciate some general tips and advice about how to tackle it and handle it all, even if it's a little moral support, but the former would be preferred! 
In any case, thanks in advance!

[doomdestroyer]

My teacher gave us a pretty cool strategy to tackle reading time, i was a person that just mentally annotated the language analysis piece throughout the whole of reading time. I'm going to use my teachers strategy in the actual exam as it would probably be a lot more beneficial. The strategy goes:

Start by brainstorming ideas for the Context prompt such as wider world examples and how to link the text that you decide to use with these examples and the prompt

Next decide what prompt for what text you are going to use for TR and brainstorm some ideas

Then mentally annotate the LA

It is set out like so so that when you get to writing time, you are fresh for writing LA and then going on to TR and finally Context, like a reverse order.

[RedMasta]

snip

That's a good idea - our teacher suggested that we mentally annotate the LA, create ideas for Context, then once writing time begins, we focus on LA and Context first and while doing so, attempting to subconsciously generate ideas and a general plan for the TR, thereby leaving it for the end.
The only downside, however, is that I (among many others) need to focus on the task at hand, instead of consciously creating new ideas for the other sections.
So thank you for that - I'll try it out tomorrow.

[AmericanBeauty]

Hope that it is your day. I'm sorry I'm nervous AF about the prompts! LOL!

[EspoirTron]

Just relax and take a breath. In the exam all those great ideas that you wrote on your essays will all come together. At first I was nervous but then after a while it all started feeling natural. I felt like I was sitting at home writing a practise essay (obviously I took it more seriously), but enjoy it. Just take whatever prompts and make them work for you, breath and know that all your hard work is about to pay off.

[indkel]

Before you go in, try not to surround yourself with anyone who is visibly freaking out because stress is infectious. You are more than likely going to feel a bit nervous walking into the exam, but as soon as you start writing it feels like just another practice exam.

Also, keep in mind that the examiners need a bell curve. VCAA aren't trying to trick you and they more than likely won't give you horrible topics for context and text. They will include topics that people who haven't even read the book can handle at a basic level. Don't worry about the topics being bad, just hope they include one that will let you show off your skills!

Good luck guys

[Emie]

A few tips that I have given my tutoring students:
- Adhere to your planned timings; don't get carried away with one essay and let it jeopardise your ability to finish the other parts of the exam.
- If you find one prompt/section really hard, don't let this shatter your confidence for the other sections. Attempt each essay with a fresh focus.
- Mentally prepare all your topic sentences/contentions during reading time.