[The Polymath]

25th May 2012, 9:00 AM, Time 1h 30m

Yeah, so.. post advice, questions, concerns about exam technique, course content, revision etc.

Here are a few tips of mine for F581 (all of which are relevant to this module too) which I've just lifted from the Jan thread. Some people said they found these quite useful:

This idea of learning perfect exam technique / golden essay structures is one I just didn't follow. We did two practice papers in class, and I did two at home which didn't get marked, and that's all I did in terms of actual exam practice. The main bulk of my revision was going through the brilliant textbook and making notes. I literally re-wrote the entire book in my own bullet point form.

When writing essays, yes I stick to a rough guideline, but it's really not a strict one for me, and it depends largely on the question. I planned my essay on a blank sheet for about ten minutes before I wrote it, and then the essay was roughly as follows:

Intro (briefly describe the problem - I know some people put in textbook definitions here, but it seems too formulaic for me to do that). Then I started with the first solution, talked about +ve/-ve, and moved onto the second problem using a "however" phrase. e.g. (positive point about sol.1) -> however (negative about sol.1) -> an alternative could be (sol. 2) as this avoids the problem of (-ve sol.1). Make it flow, linking all four ideas, and then at the end comment on which one is the best in your opinion. It doesn't matter if you're right or wrong in terms of your decision as long as you have compared all the pros and cons and written a comparative conclusion at the end.

Throw in a graph whenever you feel it could help the explanation, or if you don't think it will help much anywhere just put a couple in anyway for the marks. I didn't comment on the solutions in the order they were mentioned - rather in the best order for fluency. For example if there are two with similar positives, but one has a huge negative, put that one first and the other second so that you can easily contrast the two.

I got 88%. I think the problem is that so many people are fixated on learning exam technique. Everyone asks how to write a perfect 18 marker, but that's the wrong question. The question should be how to write an answer to a question on pollution, a question on tax etc. It's the content, ideas and arguments which you need to know, not a formula to write an essay.

I think the key thing right now is that people get solid notes and understanding of the key ideas and arguments. I've been doing the same as I did for my Jan exam - just copying out the textbook in my own bullet point form from start to finish (of course this time with the macro content). The textbook is actually amazing - you don't need anything more than it. There was someone last year who didn't go to lessons and got an A using the textbook.

[nm786]

(Original post by Junaid96)
25th May 2012, 9:00 AM, Time 1h 30m

Yeah, so.. post advice, questions, concerns about exam technique, course content, revision etc.

Here are a few tips of mine for F581 (all of which are relevant to this module too) which I've just lifted from the Jan thread. Some people said they found these quite useful:



I think the key thing right now is that people get solid notes and understanding of the key ideas and arguments. I've been doing the same as I did for my Jan exam - just copying out the textbook in my own bullet point form from start to finish (of course this time with the macro content). The textbook is actually amazing - you don't need anything more than it. There was someone last year who didn't go to lessons and got an A using the textbook.

shouldn't the title be "OCR AS economics F581 May 2012"?

[owen1994]

(Original post by Junaid96)
25th May 2012, 9:00 AM, Time 1h 30m

Yeah, so.. post advice, questions, concerns about exam technique, course content, revision etc.

Here are a few tips of mine for F581 (all of which are relevant to this module too) which I've just lifted from the Jan thread. Some people said they found these quite useful:



I think the key thing right now is that people get solid notes and understanding of the key ideas and arguments. I've been doing the same as I did for my Jan exam - just copying out the textbook in my own bullet point form from start to finish (of course this time with the macro content). The textbook is actually amazing - you don't need anything more than it. There was someone last year who didn't go to lessons and got an A using the textbook.

I got 93/100 in F582 and 100/100 in f584 (unit3). I keep posting in these help threads to get good marks in OCR economics because I feel as though I have a system to get the best grade possible. As you have already said, re-writing the book is like the most important thing ever. Other than what I am gunna copy and paste from my other post. I think it's vital you know all the definitions off by heart for the next exam to guarantee your Ao1 marks. To guarantee your Ao2 marks you should look at the "economics in context" pages in the OCR BOOK as it has real life examples that you can use not only for Ao2 but to back up your argument. Watch the news regularly can be helpful. To guarantee A03 marks include every single graph you know that is relevant. E.g. AD/AS graphs, how the value of the pound is made graph e.g. exchange rate graph. consumer surplus if you can. For the Ao4 marks write atleast a page of Ao4 in the exam, preferably page and a half. There is so much Ao4 for every unit, all you need to do is find it in the book in the "the effectiveness of...monetary policy..etc". There is also loads of evaluation on the markschemes. If you still feel like you need more, a google search can often get some great results.



other than that: If you don't have it, get the OCR book http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0...r_1?pf_rd_p=10 3612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=04353 30845&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_ rd_r=18Q8X58E68W407GG32P8 It's either chess or dominos depending on if your AS or A2.

If you are an AS student you can pretty much guarantee a high grade if you re-write the text-book. Everything in the text-book is relevant to the exam, it's also written very well. Although this may sound like a lot of work, it really isn't as long as you do say 5-10pages a day. If your consistent you will finish the required part of the book very rapidly. Your knowledge will instantly be increased on the subject.

The other thing you should do given you have done part 1. You should go through the past papers. Don't be a fool and just answer the questions, use the markscheme as it has the perfect answer word for word for every question almost. If you feel it still isn't enough, you should also use your text book.. Too much bold. Mark schemes and mark schemes....more mark schemes. I cant stress the importance of using them. You will understand what the examiner is asking from you when answering a question. You will also be able to spot trends in the exams. You will become more adaptable to change because you have covered all other possible scenarios.

Finally, a week or night before the exam. Depending on what suits you and your memory. You should do between 4 and 8 questions of what you, your teacher and people on this forum think will come up on the exam. (this forum has been good many times for me, for instance the nerds in the exams section said rail privatization would come up on the unit 3 exam, and guess what?). Once you have done these essays to like a really high quality using your book, notes and mark schemes. You should re-write them the night before. You may ask why? Well because if you re-write them before you go to bed it will be the only thing you are thinking about and thus it will make it much easier to remember what you have learnt. Also on the day of the exam, bring your perfect essays with you and read them over and over and over again prior to entering the exam room. Dont be a dick head and talk to your friends (or your enemies) as it will distract you from completing your objective and may even compromise your exam result.

Cliffs:
1. Buy book. (maybe read). Re-write book, steadily but consistently. Not too little, not too much or brain hurts.
2. Go through mark scheme questions. You mentioned unit 3, I did all the questions from the past 2 years (3 lots of exams i think). I did a lot, I know. I felt that you had to because so many potential questions on unit 3 (I did transport btw)
3. Find the main areas for questions, make potential questions on these areas, make the questions very open so you can include alot of information in these potential areas. (Try keep them 3 sides of A4 or less, otherwise task 4 is hard).
4. Re-write these perfect potential essay answers to your made up questions the night before the exam. (I 'only' re-wrote 4 because I thought questions would only be based upon sustainability, market structures, CBA, road pricing)
5. READ OVER NIGHT BEFORE IF POSS. And make sure you read them before the exams. All of the above is pointless if you remember ****.

Optional: make a revision time table on getrevising.co.uk for when you have a random week/two week off before exam time. If you do some every day, it all adds up. But be realistic in what you can do. What I have done may be impossible for some people because they have a part time job etc or caring for family. (I quit my job).

Result: You have maximised your potential, nothing else could be asked from you. My result 100/100 absolute erection.

[The Polymath]

(Original post by owen1994)
I got 93/100 in F582 and 100/100 in f584 (unit3). I keep posting in these help threads to get good marks in OCR economics because I feel as though I have a system to get the best grade possible. As you have already said, re-writing the book is like the most important thing ever. Other than what I am gunna copy and paste from my other post. I think it's vital you know all the definitions off by heart for the next exam to guarantee your Ao1 marks. To guarantee your Ao2 marks you should look at the "economics in context" pages in the OCR BOOK as it has real life examples that you can use not only for Ao2 but to back up your argument. Watch the news regularly can be helpful. To guarantee A03 marks include every single graph you know that is relevant. E.g. AD/AS graphs, how the value of the pound is made graph e.g. exchange rate graph. consumer surplus if you can. For the Ao4 marks write atleast a page of Ao4 in the exam, preferably page and a half. There is so much Ao4 for every unit, all you need to do is find it in the book in the "the effectiveness of...monetary policy..etc". There is also loads of evaluation on the markschemes. If you still feel like you need more, a google search can often get some great results.



other than that: If you don't have it, get the OCR book http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0...r_1?pf_rd_p=10 3612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=04353 30845&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_ rd_r=18Q8X58E68W407GG32P8 It's either chess or dominos depending on if your AS or A2.

If you are an AS student you can pretty much guarantee a high grade if you re-write the text-book. Everything in the text-book is relevant to the exam, it's also written very well. Although this may sound like a lot of work, it really isn't as long as you do say 5-10pages a day. If your consistent you will finish the required part of the book very rapidly. Your knowledge will instantly be increased on the subject.

The other thing you should do given you have done part 1. You should go through the past papers. Don't be a fool and just answer the questions, use the markscheme as it has the perfect answer word for word for every question almost. If you feel it still isn't enough, you should also use your text book.. Too much bold. Mark schemes and mark schemes....more mark schemes. I cant stress the importance of using them. You will understand what the examiner is asking from you when answering a question. You will also be able to spot trends in the exams. You will become more adaptable to change because you have covered all other possible scenarios.

Finally, a week or night before the exam. Depending on what suits you and your memory. You should do between 4 and 8 questions of what you, your teacher and people on this forum think will come up on the exam. (this forum has been good many times for me, for instance the nerds in the exams section said rail privatization would come up on the unit 3 exam, and guess what?). Once you have done these essays to like a really high quality using your book, notes and mark schemes. You should re-write them the night before. You may ask why? Well because if you re-write them before you go to bed it will be the only thing you are thinking about and thus it will make it much easier to remember what you have learnt. Also on the day of the exam, bring your perfect essays with you and read them over and over and over again prior to entering the exam room. Dont be a dick head and talk to your friends (or your enemies) as it will distract you from completing your objective and may even compromise your exam result.

Cliffs:
1. Buy book. (maybe read). Re-write book, steadily but consistently. Not too little, not too much or brain hurts.
2. Go through mark scheme questions. You mentioned unit 3, I did all the questions from the past 2 years (3 lots of exams i think). I did a lot, I know. I felt that you had to because so many potential questions on unit 3 (I did transport btw)
3. Find the main areas for questions, make potential questions on these areas, make the questions very open so you can include alot of information in these potential areas. (Try keep them 3 sides of A4 or less, otherwise task 4 is hard).
4. Re-write these perfect potential essay answers to your made up questions the night before the exam. (I 'only' re-wrote 4 because I thought questions would only be based upon sustainability, market structures, CBA, road pricing)
5. READ OVER NIGHT BEFORE IF POSS. And make sure you read them before the exams. All of the above is pointless if you remember ****.

Optional: make a revision time table on getrevising.co.uk for when you have a random week/two week off before exam time. If you do some every day, it all adds up. But be realistic in what you can do. What I have done may be impossible for some people because they have a part time job etc or caring for family. (I quit my job).

Result: You have maximised your potential, nothing else could be asked from you. My result 100/100 absolute erection.

Great advice. I'll bear in mind your tips on preparing for possible questions, although it seems a little risky to put all your eggs in one basket (or four baskets in this case). I will probably do something similar but answering brief questions such as "advantages of a low interest rate" etc. Thanks again though

[Kravez]

(Original post by owen1994)
-

Helpful post.

I'm currently self-teaching AS Economics, and have both F581 and F582 in May (covered all of F581 and in the process of covering F582)

[The Polymath]

(Original post by Kravez)
Helpful post.

I'm currently self-teaching AS Economics, and have both F581 and F582 in May (covered all of F581 and in the process of covering F582)

Be careful not to mix things up and mention macro policies in the micro

[Bonganp01]

Does anyone know when the F581 resit is? Thank you Junaid96! I've been given the OCR textbook but never looked at it because in my college we're taught through booklets which are very similar. Since that hasn't worked for me, I will deffo learn the textbook off by heart. Thanks again!

[nm786]

(Original post by Bonganp01)
Does anyone know when the F581 resit is? Thank you Junaid96! I've been given the OCR textbook but never looked at it because in my college we're taught through booklets which are very similar. Since that hasn't worked for me, I will deffo learn the textbook off by heart. Thanks again!

resit is on: 18th may 2012,
... and if you want to make your own exam timetable, click: http://www.education.gov.uk/comptimetable/

[Bonganp01]

(Original post by nm786)
resit is on: 18th may 2012, if you want to make your own exam timetable, click: http://www.education.gov.uk/comptimetable/

Thanks, is anyone else resitting?

[The Polymath]

(Original post by nm786)
resit is on: 18th may 2012,
... and if you want to make your own exam timetable, click: http://www.education.gov.uk/comptimetable/

Yep, that site is awesome. I was so shocked when I saw it "What?! The government.. has made an efficient, working, helpful website... something's wrong.." Only 8 weeks till exams :O btw what do you guys do after your exams? We do a week of work experience / "Personal Development" and then start on A2 stuff and break up at normal time for summer :\

[nm786]

(Original post by Junaid96)
Yep, that site is awesome. I was so shocked when I saw it "What?! The government.. has made an efficient, working, helpful website... something's wrong.." Only 8 weeks till exams :O btw what do you guys do after your exams? We do a week of work experience / "Personal Development" and then start on A2 stuff and break up at normal time for summer :\

lol, thanks,
yeah my school does the same, takes the piss

[nm786]

(Original post by Bonganp01)
Thanks, is anyone else resitting?

i am

[The Polymath]

(Original post by nm786)
lol, thanks,
yeah my school does the same, takes the piss

It's not too bad for me because I'm taking two weeks off, and I'll have covered all the A2 Maths/ F. Maths stuff. In Physics they're just doing random projects, so that only leaves two subjects

[Bonganp01]

(Original post by nm786)
lol, thanks,
yeah my school does the same, takes the piss

same, its callled "enhancement week" in our college- what a load of bull unless you think Zumba is useful LOL. Luckily for me, I'm spending most of that week at summer university to get a taste of Uni life lol. On my last day I'm doing work experience. Whats everyone doing?

[The Polymath]

(Original post by Bonganp01)
same, its callled "enhancement week" in our college- what a load of bull unless you think Zumba is useful LOL. Luckily for me, I'm spending most of that week at summer university to get a taste of Uni life lol. On my last day I'm doing work experience. Whats everyone doing?

Well, for our designated "Personal Development Week" I'm not doing anything, as I'll be revising for an exam the week after. After my exam though, I may be getting a placement at Freshfields! XD although I'll have to go to London and work long hours for no pay

Haha Zumba. There's probably an A-level in it these days

[Bonganp01]

Yes, unfortunately that's what for offer, its that or a day at alton towers.
Freshfield-that's very impressive! Just curious, what subjects are you currently taking?

[nm786]

has anyone found the question paper and mark scheme for f581 paper, anywhere?

[The Polymath]

(Original post by Bonganp01)
Yes, unfortunately that's what for offer, its that or a day at alton towers.
Freshfield-that's very impressive! Just curious, what subjects are you currently taking?

It's not yet certain but it look likely - I need to send a CV
I'm taking Maths, Economics, German, Physics and Further Maths, you?

(Original post by nm786)
has anyone found the question paper and mark scheme for f581 paper, anywhere?

Sorry, I don't know. Try looking through the old thread http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show....php?t=1868624 Your teacher might be able to grab you a sneaky copy from somewhere :P

[Bonganp01]

My teacher has the Jan 2012 paper and its mark scheme, I'll request it. I'm studying French, Economics, English Literature and Biology. Best of luck with your application!

[nm786]

(Original post by Bonganp01)
My teacher has the Jan 2012 paper and its mark scheme, I'll request it. I'm studying French, Economics, English Literature and Biology. Best of luck with your application!

upload both as soon as you can please,
thank you very much.