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Approaching the examination
Yvonne
Harvey, Contributor
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Students from various schools
join in a peace song at a Track
Meet Peace Meeting at Mandela
Park, Half-Way Tree, on March
24.
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Junior Dowie Photo |
IT
SEEMS just like yesterday that the lessons
began. Now you are all facing the examination
in a few weeks.
It is time to think about the process
of revision and how you will approach
the final examination.
Before
I get into all of that though, as promised,
I will give you the answers to last
week's multiple choice questions:
| 1.c |
2.d |
3.a |
4.d |
| 5.d |
6.d |
7.d |
8.d |
| 9.c
|
10.d |
11.b |
12.c |
| 13.b |
14.a |
15.c |
16.a |
| 17.b
|
18.b
|
19.a
|
20.b. |
I
hope you got full marks.
STUDY
AND EXAMINATION TIPS
My first advice to you is to begin
revising early. In fact, you should
have already started. Early revision
will help eliminate the stress that
usually results from last-minute revision.
Remember, 'the early bird catches
the best worms.'
Have a definite place to study, and
never do anything except study at
that place.
Arm yourselves with the relevant revision
'tools' - these include your note books,
text books, syllabus, past paper questions,
writing paper, and index cards for those
of you who may chose to use them.
Don't try to learn all of your lesson
material at one sitting.
Many candidates make the mistake of
continually revising the topics they
know well and like. You should begin
with the topics on which the syllabus
places emphasis, and those topics
you find the most difficult. Also
do not change from one subject to
another or one topic to another without
taking a rest. In changing from one
topic to another, choose one that
is as different as possible from the
first one.
Get adequate sleep and exercise are
important to doing well in the examination.
In
the principles of business examination,
for paper 1 (multiple choice), you
will be required to answer 60 questions
in 1 1/4 hours. These questions are
spread right across the syllabus.
Paper 2 (essay) has two sections.
For section 1 you are required to
answer all three questions. Normally,
there is one question from each profile
and for the general proficiency, the
profile 3 question is worth 20 marks
while the profile 1 and two questions
are worth 10 marks each.
Section
2 has six questions, two from each
profile. You will be instructed to
answer one question from each profile.
For the general proficiency examination
all questions in this section are
worth 20 marks each.
The
tables below indicate for the basic
and general proficiencies respectively
and the marks allocation under each
of the profile headings.
BASIC
PROFICIENCY
| PROFILES |
PAPER
1
Multiple
Choice
|
PAPER
2
Essay
|
PAPER
3A*
|
TOTAL
|
%
|
| Profile
1 |
18
|
18
|
9
|
45
|
30
|
| Profile
2 |
18
|
18
|
9
|
45
|
30
|
| Profile
3 |
24
|
24
|
12
|
60
|
40
|
| Total |
60
|
60
|
30
|
150
|
100
|
| % |
40
|
40
|
20
|
--
|
--
|
GENERAL
PROFICIENCY
| PROFILES |
PAPER
1
Multiple
Choice
|
PAPER
2
Essay
|
PAPER
3A*
|
TOTAL
|
%
|
| Profile
1 |
18
|
30
|
12
|
60
|
30
|
| Profile
2 |
18
|
30
|
12
|
60
|
30
|
| Profile
3 |
24
|
40
|
16
|
80
|
40
|
| Total |
60
|
100
|
40
|
200
|
100
|
| % |
30
|
50
|
20
|
--
|
--
|
Private
candidates will sit paper 3B in lieu
of the School-Based Assessment component.
The allocation of marks will be the
same as for the SBA (Paper 3A).
For
both proficiencies and for all papers,
it can be seen that the greatest emphasis
is placed on profile 3 - finance and
introduction to economics. Why not
begin your revision with the topics
that fall under this profile?
In
addition, each unit has a number of
specific objectives relating to its
content. Before you begin to revise,
you should ensure that you know these
objectives, as they indicate what
you need to be able to do for each
area. These objectives can be found
in your syllabuses.
During
the year, you should have written
comprehensive notes on the various
topics. Begin by studying the information
in your notes and then expand your
knowledge through information from
your texts, and of course, this series.
Before
you begin to answer questions, ensure
that you understand what you are asked
to do. For example, some questions
ask you to list. Others ask you to
define. Still others ask you to discuss
etc. Such terms are also used in the
specific objectives of the syllabus.
You should find out the meanings of
these terms.
Some
candidates find it useful to be a
part of a study group. This can be
rewarding. However, you are cautioned
to choose the members of your group
carefully. Avoid persons who only
seek to receive, and have nothing
useful to contribute. If this is what
is happening in your study group,
quit. You will be better off in another
group, or perhaps by yourself.
Finally,
see examinations for what they are
and approach them as calmly as you
can. It is my sincere hope that you
will all do well, not only in principles
of business, but also in all your
examinations. 'Walk good' my friends.
*
Yvonne Harvey teaches at Glenmuir
High School.
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