Tips for paper 2
Marjorie Henry, Contributor

You will be writing your first paper in geography, Paper 02, in a few days. This test will be two and a half hours long. By now you should know that you must answer a total of four questions, one from each section of the paper. May I encourage you to manage your time well. This is crucial. Use all the time allotted, but leave enough at the end to read over your answers in order to correct possible mistakes or add something you may have missed.

Here is a possible guideline for managing your time.

• Use the first five minutes to read through the question paper, in particular, sections B, C and D. Section A is compulsory and you will have to do it anyway.
• Select the question from each section for which you are most prepared. Make sure you can answer all parts of the questions you select.
• Question 1, Section A, is allotted the most marks, a total of 28. Try working through this question in 40 minutes.
• For the other questions from the other sections, use 30 minutes for each.
• The remaining 15 minutes can then be used to read over your answers.

When you are ready to write your answers, may I suggest that you:

• Work through question one first; complete all the sections for that question.
• Plan the answers for the other questions; jot down points to the side of the question paper; organise the points.
• Make sure you understand what the question is all about; apply the guidelines for decoding.
• Write clearly using a pen (black or blue ink); draw diagrams in pencil and label them in ink - these should be done neatly and be completed as required.
• Use clear, simple sentences written in good grammar.

The question you are answering must be clearly identified. One way of doing so is to write - Answer for Question 2 (or whatever number question you are answering), at the top of the page. Begin each question on a new page of the answer booklet. You are well aware that each question has different sections and sub-sections. Please note that it is not a new page for each section or sub-section. The format of the question, in terms of the division in sections (a), (b) ,(c), must be adhered to when writing your answers. The sections of the question you are answering must be clear to the examiner. When you have completed your test, please remember to write in the appropriate section on the cover of the booklet, the numbers of the questions you have answered and the order in which you have answered them. This is absolutely important and is often missed by the students.

I trust you have been spending much time studying and preparing for your examinations. It is only when you are prepared that you can do well. Be punctual in arriving at the examination centre. Remember the cliché - to be on time is to be before time. Put that in practice at all times. If you are well prepared and on time for the examination, then there is no need to panic. Try to remain calm, relaxed and focused as you write your paper. Do your very best and good results will undoubtedly be yours.

Quite early in the series of lessons I had indicated that the general proficiency level of the geography examinations, the assessment, comprises three papers, Papers 01, 02 and the SBA or its alternative paper. Having shared with you on the SBA and Paper 02, I must now turn your attention to Paper 01. This I will do in the next lesson.

All the very best to you as you prepare to write Paper 02.

Marjorie Henry is an independent contributor. Send questions and comments to kerry-ann.hepburn@gleanerjm.com