Tips for sitting the exam
Dahlia Bartley, Contributor

Remember:

1. English A is as much a reading exam as a writing exam, so take a good look at the front of Paper 2- 21/2 hours plus 10 minutes reading time. Make use of that reading time to go through the paper. Notice that the paper is divided into four sections and that each section has a suggested time allocated to it. Try to stick to that time when working so that your last question isn't rushed.

2. You do not have to follow the order of the paper as long as the questions are clearly numbered. So if you think of a great short story when you are reading through, start with the short story, or wherever you feel comfortable.

3. As you read each question, underline the task words and the key words: e.g., summarise the problems the students found with the examination.

4. Remember to number your questions clearly, write neatly and start each section on a fresh page. Your examiner will be much more willing to look for all the marks on a tidy page. Also, use dark blue or black ink, it is easier on the eyes.

5. Try to leave a few minutes at the end to read over the paper. Remember, you are marked for punctuation and grammar as well as expression.

Now let us look at Paper 2, section by section.

Section I: Expository Writing

Expository means factual, so in this section, you are writing summaries, reports or letters dealing with facts:

1. You will need to pick out the main or important ideas and express them in your own words. Please follow the format asked for - remember the difference between a letter, a report or a summary. You are given most marks for the points but the format is counted.

2. Leave out examples, literary devices, analogies, descriptions or opinions.

3. If the report is statistical, know the meaning of trends, significant figures and totals. Know the adjectives to use with rise, fall and fluctuate.

Section II: Comprehension

1. The trick here is to read the questions first, then you know what you are looking for when you read the passage. As you read, underline the answers.

2. Answer in complete sentences unless you are otherwise asked, e.g., quote a phrase - remember to use quotation marks and that phrases are approximately four to five words.

3. Leave one line between each answer.

Section III: Short Story

In this section, you have three choices - a picture, a topic and a descriptive essay. Be sure you write a description which should be full of sensory phrases [sight, sound, touch, etc, but is not a story. On the other hand, do not describe the picture, it should suggest a story.

1. Think outside the box - try to come up with an idea that would not be the usual interpretation of the topic.

2. Plan your story remembering that in 400-450 words, you can only deal with a brief incident.

3. Limit the number of characters - no more than two.

4. Grab the reader's attention right at the beginning by getting right into the action; don't spend most of the story on background and one paragraph on the incident.

5. Too much conversation is worse than none.

6. Bring your story to a climax and end - do not drag on.

Section IV: Persuasion

You will have two choices of topics which can take the form of a friendly letter, a formal letter to the editor, etc, a speech or an essay.

1. You will be asked to have an opinion and at least two good ideas to support it.

2. Your response should be organised:

a) Introduction of the idea with a thesis statement and back-up points in the opening paragraph.

b) A paragraph to develop each point with evidence, anecdotes, figures, examples, etc.

c) A conclusion rephrasing the introduction.

d) Linking phrases between the paragraphs so it is a coherent essay.

e) The pronoun can only be used in direct address, so use it in your friendly letter or speech only.

Paper One - Multiple Choice - 11/2 hours

I. This paper is divided into two sections -

a) about 20 items dealing with:

1. vocabulary - sentence completion, synonyms, antonyms.

2. equivalent sentences - a master sentence, you must find the match.

3. construction shift - where one element of a sentence is changed - e.g., tenses - and the rest of the sentence has to be reconstructed to fit.

4. usage one - identify the error.

5. usage two - identify the error and name the type.

II (b) about 40 comprehension items based on passages which are:

1. expository

2. narrative

3. descriptive

4. persuasive

5. literary - a poem

The trick here is to:

1. Work quickly through all the items you can do easily.

2. Go back over the ones giving you trouble and try to eliminate at least two choices so that you have a 50% chance of being right if you have to guess. Do not leave blank answers.

Good luck!

Students listen attentively as mathematics teacher, Clement Radcliffe (not in photo), goes through a problem during the Gleaner's 'Youthlink' Caribbean Secondary Education Council seminar in Westmoreland, last year.-File

Dahlia Bartley teaches at Glenmuir High School.