A look at Paper 3B
Yvonne Harvey, Contributor

Action in the second-round Manning Cup encounter between Waterford High School and STATHS, at the Constant Spring playing field on Tuesday, November 8. - Ricardo Makyn Photo

GREETINGS TO everyone.
In the last three weeks, our lessons have concentrated on the School-Based Assessment for those of you in the formal school system.

Today's lesson is for those of you who will sit Principles of Business as private candidates. You are required to sit Papers 01 & 02 in common with other candidates. However, in addition to these two papers, you will also sit Paper 3B. This paper is often referred to as the 'alternate paper' and is for private candidates ONLY. Paper 3B is done instead of the SBA (School Based Assessment) Paper 3A.

The 'alternate paper' consists of a case study and approximately 14 compulsory questions relating to the Case Study. Please note that you will NOT be required to submit a project. For the General paper, you will be awarded a mark out of 40 and for the Basic paper, you will be awarded a mark out of 30. The weighting of Paper 3B is the same as the SBA, i.e., 20 per cent of the overall final mark for Basic and General proficiencies.

FOLLOW GUIDELINES

The key to this paper is to follow closely any guidelines that you may be given in preparation for the exam and then to practise, practise, practise past paper questions in order to develop competency in answering the questions on this paper.

As you work through past paper 3B, you will realise that the questions do not vary much from one year to the next. However, the answers that you are expected to give should be in line with the case study presented and information related to it.

Candidates are instructed to answer ALL questions and to write in the space provided on the question paper. You are given a total of one hour and 15 minutes, inclusive of reading time. Writing may begin in the 15 minutes given for reading.

Read the case study carefully. If you are a quick reader, endeavour to read it twice before looking at the questions and read the case study again, this time with the questions in mind. Use your pen to underline any parts of the case study that will assist you in answering any of the questions. Be sure to put the number of the question beside the section you have underlined.

Do ALL parts of ALL questions so that you can have a greater opportunity to score highly. However, do not spend time on questions that pose difficulty for you. Move on to other questions that you can answer more readily, then, at the end, go back to the questions that challenged you.

You will notice that the questions fall under proflie headings just like Paper 02 and the SBA. Before you begin to write your answers in the spaces provided, think carefully about what you will write and use the marks in brackets to guide you as to the number of points required and/or the depth expected.

SPACE RESTRICTIONS

You should endeavour to restrict your answers to the space provided and you should write legibly. Also, your answers should make sense and be clear to the examiner. Where you feel that it will enhance your answer, you may draw diagrams, graphs, charts, etc.

You will not need to cover any additional topics for Paper 3B. The questions are based on the areas of the syllabus. Therefore, once you adequately cover your syllabus, you should be able to cope with Paper 3B, using the case study also as a guide to your answers. In addition, I am suggesting that you have a look at the sub-headings in each profile of the SBA, as you will be asked questions on these same areas. The difference is that you will have a business to consider that is presented to you in the case study.

As with all examinations, ensure that you read the instructions carefully and manage your time properly so as to avoid panic as the end of the examination draws near.

In next week's lesson, I will look at the activities you should be able to perform in order to master this paper. In addition, I will present a past paper question and discuss some of the questions asked. In the following week, I will present other case studies for your consideration.

See you next week. Keep safe until then.

* Yvonne Harvey teaches at Glenmuir High School.