Classnotes: 9th March 2007: Past exam paper

In today's lesson we looked at a past question from 2003. It was Paper 3 (Foundation) and 4 (Higher).

We considered these things as useful when sitting these exams:
1. Look through the resource booklet before you look at the questions. It will make you look at all the resources and see the 'big picture' rather than a narrow focus on the resource asked for in the question.
2. Look at the exam. On the first page it will tell you about what the three sections involve (A, B, and C). You MUST answer ALL the questions on this paper. In the box that tells you about what you will be doing, look carefully at the final section. Remember that everything in this paper will be helpful when you come to make your final decision.
3. Do the questions. This isn't quite as straight forward as it seems. There are a couple of things to remember when doing the questions.
a) Underline the command word - that's the one that tells you what to do. For example, it might be 'circle' in which case you circle your answer, not underline, scribble out, draw a hat on it etc.
b) Look at the number of marks you have available. If you have 2 marks, don't write a 5 mark answer. Imagine you are marking it as you go along. When have you got your marks? As soon as possible, move on - if you have more to write, come back to it at the end.
c) It might ask you to use a resource. If so, make sure you do - don't guess, or look at the wrong one.
d) If it asks you to use a map, it's a good idea to add on 'N E S W' in the right places on the map. It will save you having to think about which way is east or west, something that is easy to get wrong if you are in a pressured exam situation.
4. The final section, section C, will start of with a couple of easier questions then ask you to complete a table (they call it a 'matrix') and write an essay of some kind - it might be a letter, or a report, or whatever. There are some things to remember here:
a) Fill in the table. You can get marks in the table for stuff you leave out of the final essay section. Higher Tier - watch this space over the next few weeks for some more advice about this.
b) When you fill in the table, be specific - add in groups of people affected (e.g. local residents, commuters, disabled, elderly, families with young children, unemployed people) etc. as these will be important to remember in your essay
c) Also fill in the table with specific facts and figures. Again, these will become important in the report.
d) When you write your report, remember that the table is there to help you organise your ideas. I like to use this format for the essay/report/letter: (1) What my choice is (2) Why my choice is so great (3) What is so rubbish about the others (4) What isn't great about my choice, but why it is still better than the others (5) A concluding paragraph
e) In your report, remember that COMPARATIVE WRITING is the best way to go. Here is an example: I like chocolate more than strawberry. The flavour is more full, with better overall texture. The seeds in the strawberries get in my teeth while the chocolate doesn't. Of course, strawberries are better for your health than chocolate which can cause more health problems than strawberries.

Hmmmm... ok maybe a better idea needed than chocolate or strawberry but you get my point. Notice how BOTH the choices are mentioned in the same sentence, rather than having two sentences, one for chocolate and then one for strawberry.

Need more help? See me in H3 on Wednesday lunchtimes.