Hello!
I would just like to wish every year 12 student taking the English exam tomorrow the best of luck. You have all work extremely hard over the course of the year and I am anticipating some outstanding results from VN members.
Hopefully you have been able to take something away from your studies in VCE English. I think it is a unique and interesting subject that teaches you to construct sound, reasoned and logically flowing arguments that will be a valuable asset throughout your life. It is a great opportunity for you to appreciate the English language as well as to recognise the difficulty and beauty in translating complex ideas in to simple words. While some students will invariably just be relieved for the subject to be over, I genuinely believe that what you learn will benefit you in the rest of your life.
My recommendation for all students about to sit the exam is to spend tonight relaxing. Don't overwork yourself this evening and make sure you get plenty of sleep. Remember that your mental performance is crucial in an exam. You want to wake up tomorrow with a fresh mind and an eagerness to perform well. I'm expecting this forum will be a ghost town by 10pm and I will probably not be going over anyone's essays this evening. At this stage, you should be focussing on your mental preparation for the exam.
Some final advice before the exam:
Controlling your nerves and emotions in the exam is extremely important. The exam is 3 hours long, meaning there are plenty of opportunities for panic to set in. Make sure you stay in control of your emotions and recognise when you need to stop and reassess your performance. If you feel you are approaching a question wrong, don't be afraid to take a few moments to breathe and rethink your strategy. Whatever you do, do not allow yourself to fall into the spiral of thinking you've stuffed up or you have ruined your exam.
Try not to focus on anyone else in the exam room. One of the most daunting feelings is watching everyone else scribbling furiously while you are thinking of what to say. Try to mentally block out everyone around you and concentrate purely on your own essay. Remember you do not need to be writing constantly to finish the exam. It is okay to pause and think about what you want to say next. Focus on writing succinct, quality sentences rather than just vomiting out everything on the page.
Following from this, try to write in simple and clear English. Do not try to deliberately use large impressive sounding words to impress your examiner. Unless it feels natural, your writing will become disjointed and difficult to read. Focus on expressing the ideas in your head in a way that is clear and understandable for your reader. Dictate your sentences to yourself to ensure they sound right. Reading a well-written essay should feel like gliding over ice. On the other hand, a poorly written essay will feel like trudging through mud.
Make sure to bring everything you may need into the exam room. I know it sounds obvious but last year I realised I had left my pencil case behind as I was walking into the exam hall. I ended up having to borrow a pen from a friend and I started the exam already stressed out. Make sure you bring enough pens and highlighters in case one runs out in the exam. Bring a dictionary, even if you don't think you will use it. Bring some bottled water as well. Often a few sips of water can help calm you down and think straight.
DO NOT PANIC!!!! I know I've already mentioned this but I cannot stress how important it is. Too many people find themselves in a situation where they are behind time or they get a topic they feel they haven't prepared for and freak out, causing them to stuff up the rest of the exam. Make sure you prepare yourself in case the exam throws you a curve ball and pre-plan your mental response to these situations. You are more likely to think of a creative solution if you are calm and in control of your nerves.
I hope some of this advice helps you out tomorrow. For tonight, please don't stress yourself out or give yourself the jitters. You all are capable of answering the question the exam throws at you. There is no point cramming essays all through the night only to burn out tomorrow morning. Try to feel excited rather than scared, it puts you in a great frame of mind to attack the exam.
GOOD LUCK CLASS OF 2010!!
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