Summary
Highlights
Rory introduces a non-educational video to help students with the Leaving Cert English exams, particularly focusing on Paper One. This advice is aimed at students on the borderline of passing or failing, or those who want to improve their grade by about 10%, especially if they haven't studied consistently. Paper One has tricks that can make the exam smoother, unlike Paper Two which requires more studying.
The first and most crucial tip is to manage time effectively. Students often run out of time in English exams. It's recommended to decide on time allocation for each section before entering the exam. For Paper One, the story section (100 marks) should get a significant portion of time, like an hour to an hour and a half. If you find yourself repeating points in a section, stop and move on to avoid losing marks for redundant content.
Use a thesaurus to find synonyms for key words to avoid repetition and improve language marks. For example, instead of repeatedly using 'sadness', use words like 'grief', 'misery', or 'melancholy'. This demonstrates a broader vocabulary and enhances the quality of writing, without necessarily changing the core meaning presented in the theme.
To warm up your mind for analysis and comprehension, read something before the exam. This could be a book, short story, or even movie reviews, which can help in understanding how to break down and analyze text. This practice helps with comprehension skills for Paper One, where analysis of texts is key. Reading even a little can boost your grade by a few percentage points.
Writing speed is crucial as every minute counts. If you're a slow writer, practice writing more to improve speed. While neat handwriting is good, legibility is more important than perfect penmanship in an exam where time is limited. This is a basic skill that can significantly improve performance.
For Paper One, if you only study one thing, focus on the five languages: argument, information, persuasion, narrative, and aesthetic. You don't need to master them all, but be able to identify them. The most important one to understand in detail is narrative. When choosing a writing task, pick options that offer flexibility and don't restrict you to a specific style you're not comfortable with. For example, choose a story over a highly technical article.
The composing section, particularly writing a story, is 100 marks, accounting for 25% of the entire exam. If you can do this section well, you're likely to pass the whole exam. Learn how to write a good story, even if it means spending a whole day on it. A story is often the easiest option because it offers flexibility. Look for prompts that allow for a broad narrative, like 'a short story in which young characters eager to leave home,' as this allows for diverse interpretations and established character tropes.
To create a functional story for the exam, develop a flexible, somewhat bland character who can fit into various scenarios. Place them in a situation that matches the prompt, like needing to leave home, and then develop a simple plot (e.g., building a boat, sailing, crashing on an island, and resolving the conflict). This provides a basic framework that can be adapted to many story prompts. The key is to keep your options open with your prepared story idea.
To sum up Paper One: learn the language of narrative really well, manage your time effectively, and master writing a story. By focusing on these three areas, students should be well-equipped to pass the exam. The video ends with an apology for rambling and promises a Paper Two video soon.