how are you studying for the eoy exam?

[pfftlah]

hey guys
im just wondering how you will be studying for the end of year exam?
are you going to make notes or write lots of essays?
i didn't do units 1 and 2 of EL, so i feel as if it is my weakest subject. i think my knowledge of the subject is quite shallow compared to those of my fellow classmates. despite this i have been getting 80% and above for my sacs, but i think this is only because my teacher tells us the actual essay topic [for example, we had to record our own dialogue, and write an analysis essay on it] and so, i am able to prepare for it [i pre-wrote the essay]. obviously, i can't really do this for the eoy exam, since i don't know what the exact essay topics will be, though i wish i did! do you have any suggestions for improving my knowledge?
also, do we have the know the IPA for the eoy exam? and what dative markers are and how they work?
thanks for any advice ^^ 

[Mao]

i didn't do 1/2 either, and it currently is my weakest subject.

the best way to study for exams is to do practice papers. There are two companies who produce commercial practice papers (Insight and VATE), ask your teacher to order some if it has not already been done
VCAA past papers are absolute musts (06 and 07)

as for essay topics, you will find that there will always be a question on a particular theme (my favourite is Language Change in contemporary Australia) When you've done a few papers you'll recognise the pattern.

if you really need, Insight has a exam guide for this subject. There's plenty of practice for all sections of the exam.

[cara.mel]

NEAP also does practise exams
You don't need to know the IPA but this doesn't mean you can't use it in your essay (if you don't get it, just put / around consonant sounds as most of them are the same eg /b/ for b sound and now you are talking in IPA and sounding 10% more impressive )

no idea what dative marker is any more, I can dig through my notes at home but its not ringing any bells
(I have forgotten most of this subject by now)

[Mao]

NEAP also does practise exams

=O THEY DO?!
it's probably too late to order now....

[AppleThief]

The study design says we should know the IPA, but I can't see them asking us to write something out in it (everyone pronounces things differently, especially if they don't have an Australian accent), but I've found it comes in handy to know it. You may need it on the essay.

I'll spend a lot of my time doing practise essays, I suppose. I know most of everything else, and I'm guessing the essay will be my weakest area on the exam.

[Mao]

IPA is not essential, but it does look very impressive if used in an essay
this also goes for quotes not given in the stimulus.

[pfftlah]

thanks for the replies guys!
mao: your saying that EL is your weakest subject doesnt much comfort me, cos you seem like such a smart person!
are the guides still for sale? cos i know the specialist ones have sold out [according to my friend..luckily i got mine early  ] is it worthwhile going through the whole course again and writing notes for every topic as revision before i start writing essays?

[Mao]

pfftlah: nah, don't do notes... its a little late for that [hence why i know NOTHING right now... practice exams are like, me trying to run through a brick wall]

the guides should still be around~