[djay x-pro]

Is anyone taking this paper? i need tips.....in my school, we haven't got a teacher yet.......... i'd really appreciate some help.....what is it about? how much preparation is required? what are the necessary things to know? etc.

[Claire888]

I'm taking it in the summer too. What exam board are you on? At AS we had one double period a week lesson wise, but I can't say I think that helped much. Just occasionally we did essays in the style of the exam which helped us to know what to expect. But this year we get no lessons like you, so I am wondering how this will go. Anyone know if the A2 is significantly more difficult than AS.

I really doubt you need to know much as it is a random choice of subject. Just watch the news as much as you can to get a better general knowledge, I think doing science and a humanity also helped me, but it won't always. I did just some occasional listening to the Today programme on radio 4, yes I know it sounds boring but it did help with my arguements in the essays. Otherwise I did literally no preparation for AS, and came out with a good mark so I'm hoping for the best this year as it really counts now.

[djay x-pro]

(Original post by Claire888)
I'm taking it in the summer too. What exam board are you on? At AS we had one double period a week lesson wise, but I can't say I think that helped much. Just occasionally we did essays in the style of the exam which helped us to know what to expect. But this year we get no lessons like you, so I am wondering how this will go. Anyone know if the A2 is significantly more difficult than AS.

I really doubt you need to know much as it is a random choice of subject. Just watch the news as much as you can to get a better general knowledge, I think doing science and a humanity also helped me, but it won't always. I did just some occasional listening to the Today programme on radio 4, yes I know it sounds boring but it did help with my arguements in the essays. Otherwise I did literally no preparation for AS, and came out with a good mark so I'm hoping for the best this year as it really counts now.

i'm on CIE. Hmmmph!! i'm gonna PM you....thanks for the reply, though

[Azland]

(Original post by djay x-pro)
i'm on CIE. Hmmmph!! i'm gonna PM you....thanks for the reply, though

Isn't general paper only AS for CIE?

[Lilium]

Yes, it's only an AS-Level under CIE.

Do yourself a favour and read the flippin' examiners' reports. I wrote two essays over two years, went to a handful of classes, and came out with an 'a'. Good exam technique takes you a loooong way.

[djay x-pro]

(Original post by Lilium)
Yes, it's only an AS-Level under CIE.

Do yourself a favour and read the flippin' examiners' reports. I wrote two essays over two years, went to a handful of classes, and came out with an 'a'. Good exam technique takes you a loooong way.

...you attended classes that's the imp. thing......you had teachers to guide you too.

[Lilium]

(Original post by djay x-pro)
...you attended classes that's the imp. thing......you had teachers to guide you too.

My teachers were bad, for the most part. The good piece of advice I got from them was to use a more formal tone when writing.

I understand that the syllabus has changed. As a general rule, I think that one should *always* stay within the walls set up by the question they're answering.
If the question asks one to answer in their own words, one better use one's own god-damned words. When writing essays, you should avoid making statements that are not properly backed up. Merely stating things won't get one anywhere. There should always be good argument(s) to support one's thesis/theses.

You might also want to consider writing properly whenever you get the chance. That applies for internet forums or Facebook as well. You don't want write that many fullstops "......" or "imp." instead of "important" in an essay. Of course, you knew that already but my point is that anyone who wants to improve their English or score well on an English exam, should try take any opportunity to keep their skills sharp.

Do look for the examiner's reports. What they have to say will be more pertinent and accurate. It's these people - or at least, people who use the same guidelines as them - who'll be marking your exams and you don't want to piss them off. Try not to be offended by what you see in the reports and try to make the best of what they have to say, even if they make it sound like the students are a bunch of monkeys they do experiments on every year.

That's about all the help I can offer. Good luck.

[djay x-pro]

(Original post by Lilium)
My teachers were bad, for the most part. The good piece of advice I got from them was to use a more formal tone when writing.

I understand that the syllabus has changed. As a general rule, I think that one should *always* stay within the walls set up by the question they're answering.
If the question asks one to answer in their own words, one better use one's own god-damned words. When writing essays, you should avoid making statements that are not properly backed up. Merely stating things won't get one anywhere. There should always be good argument(s) to support one's thesis/theses.

You might also want to consider writing properly whenever you get the chance. That applies for internet forums or Facebook as well. You don't want write that many fullstops "......" or "imp." instead of "important" in an essay. Of course, you knew that already but my point is that anyone who wants to improve their English or score well on an English exam, should try take any opportunity to keep their skills sharp.

Do look for the examiner's reports. What they have to say will be more pertinent and accurate. It's these people - or at least, people who use the same guidelines as them - who'll be marking your exams and you don't want to piss them off. Try not to be offended by what you see in the reports and try to make the best of what they have to say, even if they make it sound like the students are a bunch of monkeys they do experiments on every year.

That's about all the help I can offer. Good luck.

lol! very funny! thanks anyway!