[Miracle Day]

Everytime I've gone to attempt one I've given up because they're so boring.

If you already know the technique do you need to? Or should I just ingrain the content into my head my way?

This is for subjects like History, English Lit*, Psychology and Sociology.

[xxm]

(Original post by Miracle Day)
Everytime I've gone to attempt one I've given up because they're so boring.

If you already know the technique do you need to? Or should I just ingrain the content into my head my way?

This is for subjects like History, English Sh-it Lit*, Psychology and Sociology.

I do for History. However, only after I have learnt all the content otherwise, I don't see the point.

[Pthaos]

For A Level, I did. But not strictly. I took a few of the longer questions and wrote the answers out without the help of text/notes but not under timed conditions. Honestly, unless you have major time problems in an exam then doing timed papers won't help you as you're only revising the bits you remember, rather than taking the time to review a wider topic area. I did this for History, Politics and English.

Even if you don't write the questions, at least look at them and try and spot patterns or common themes. But I'd write a few out, not timed, take as long as you need, do it while listening to music or something and treat it as more of an extended revision session on that topic.

[Silent--ly]

For history I make essay plans and consider how I would answer the question, but don't actually write the essays up in full.

[Miracle Day]

(Original post by xxm)
I do for History. However, only after I have learnt all the content otherwise, I don't see the point.

Yeah exactly. I don't get it on TSR when people are like "I'm going to start revision by doing a few past papers" but you haven't even learned the content yet so what's the point?

[minimarshmallow]

Similarly to Silent--ly I would think about how I would answer the questions, I also got together with my friends and we devised a bunch of possible essay topics and planned how to answer them as well.
However, I have also written the essay on at least one occasion for each exam, to make sure I could write the essay in the time.

[Silent--ly]

(Original post by Miracle Day)
Yeah exactly. I don't get it on TSR when people are like "I'm going to start revision by doing a few past papers" but you haven't even learned the content yet so what's the point?

I suppose it comes down to individual learning styles - for subjects like maths I learn by doing

[xxm]

(Original post by Miracle Day)
Yeah exactly. I don't get it on TSR when people are like "I'm going to start revision by doing a few past papers" but you haven't even learned the content yet so what's the point?

Agreed. I've never understood the need to do past papers, sure they'd help with technique. But there's no use in having technique if you don't know the content.

Imo past papers are very useful for subjects like Economics.

[mr tim]

I think when I did GCSEs for English and History, the only essay-based subjects, I just looked at the bitesite exam techniques rather than practise past papers. I don't think I've ever written an essay during revision period, just when I had to do it as a mock or coursework.

I didn't care about AS level Gen studies so I think I just didn't take it seriously.

I agree with xxm - practising past papers are for science subjects and maths, so basically non-essay subjects.

[The Hedonist]

Writing out essay plans is a good way to revise for essay writing subjects.

[politics_student]

Yes. I either plan or write an answer.

It's the only way I can get an A-A*.

[aysha.19]

Every time you write an essay on the same topic again, you improve your structure/style/vocab/argument etc.

[JulietheCat]

I have essay plans all memorised to tackle any essay but you need feedback from a teacher in every essay which you write. It's not like, say Maths, where you have the mark scheme and it says the right answer.

But with subjects like economics, there is no right or wrong answer. You're tested on your ability to make judgments on stuff you revised.

[GeneralOJB]

No, I just revise the topic content and practise exam technique by answering exam questions/writing essays etc. I don't actually download a full paper, do it, mark it, grade it etc. as I feel it's pretty useless. I do that for Science though.

[Harriet : )]

Yeah but not writing out full answers. I'll bullet point things I want to put in my answers and stuff like cases and acts of parliament for Law
Then I'll check what bullet points I've written against the mark scheme

[Rascacielos]

I tend to look at the mark scheme and examiners reports to get an idea of what they want, rather than going through all the past papers. Trying a few is a good idea to get a feel for the paper and I guess the same questions do tend to come up again and again (just with a slightly different angle on them) so it's worth looking through them at least.

[Still_Water]

(Original post by Miracle Day)
Yeah exactly. I don't get it on TSR when people are like "I'm going to start revision by doing a few past papers" but you haven't even learned the content yet so what's the point?

It's a fair point. On the other hand, you often end up revising in a vacuum and it's incredibly boring. Better to have something to give an aim and context to your reading.

Basically: read a past paper question --> make a brief answer plan from memory --> go away and read up anything you can't remember --> try and answer the question in full. Repeat ad nauseum.