The Student Room Group

My huge english HL paper 2 mistake

I've already asked this in metaphysical's P2 thread, but I suppose I kind of want a definitive answer to this. I chose an inappropriate topic for my essay (a topic from prose: other than novel and short story) while I wrote about two novels. What can I do about it and what will happen?

I would really appreciate it if someone knew of a similar situation happening and what happened in consequence.

I have accepted my error, but I'm getting different answers from different sources as to the consequences (I've asked my coordinator, teacher, fellow students, and TSR). I'd very much like to what will happen and not have to deal with all this depressing uncertainty.

Thanks, TSR, you're always here to help!:wink:

Regards,
Pyg

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Reply 1
From what we were told you get a 0. but maybe that was just to scare us?
(so i'm of little help)
From what I've been told you get 0. :afraid:
Reply 3
hp this is not the case :frown:
Well this happened last year at my school. One candidate got a 2, the other got a 3. And they were both students who would typically get 6's and 7's :/

I'm sorry :frown:
Reply 5
HMSChocolate
From what I've been told you get 0. :afraid:

damn you!!!!
don't scare the poor little guy, he is not gonna get 0,
IB never give 0s:biggrin:
Reply 6
i think they'd understand
im pretty sure u'll get AT LEAST 3 or 4
they can't be that rude and inconsiderate
Nour123
i think they'd understand
im pretty sure u'll get AT LEAST 3 or 4
they can't be that rude and inconsiderate


It all depends on HOW well you handled what you did. THEN they will penalize you for not following instructions. BUT, they will take into consideration how well you handled your answer.
Nour123
i think they'd understand
im pretty sure u'll get AT LEAST 3 or 4
they can't be that rude and inconsiderate


No. Like I said, a student in my school who normally gets 7's only got a 2 on his paper.. because he chose from the "Novel" section instead of the "Drama" section. So they can be harsh.
IB-betterthanyou
No. Like I said, a student in my school who normally gets 7's only got a 2 on his paper.. because he chose from the "Novel" section instead of the "Drama" section. So they can be harsh.


I think you're right. But at the same time, "novel or short story" and "other than novel or short story" are a lot more similar than "novel" and "drama".

I stand by my point, it depends how you handled your question.

Do however let us know how it turns out.
Reply 10
It says in the markscheme (you can check on this yourself) for the english past papers that candidates will be penalised under all criteria (A-E) if they answer a question without meeting the criteria.

I guess they penalise you for not knowing enough english to read the question :biggrin:
This means what exactly??? That they get 0 in everything?
Even if he did, you'd still have Paper 1 and the other 50% (World Lits, Oral, Presentation) to get your grade up.....but thats worst case scenario.....0 seems way too harsh for such a mistake.
Reply 13
HMSChocolate
This means what exactly??? That they get 0 in everything?



I doubt it, i think they get -1 or -2 in everything. Let me see if they're any more specific..
Reply 14
It should be noted that candidates will be penalized under all criteria (see Examiner Manual, Part
5, Language A1 HL/SL paper 2) if, having studied texts in a specific category, they then answer a
question from a different category. However, candidates are free to answer any of the General
Questions on Literature, using the part 3 works studied.


From May 2004 markscheme. The newer ones don't have this in them, but I presume they still do the same thing. I don't have an examiners handbook unfortunately.
Reply 15
SunderX
From May 2004 markscheme. The newer ones don't have this in them, but I presume they still do the same thing. I don't have an examiners handbook unfortunately.


IB-betterthanyou
Well this happened last year at my school. One candidate got a 2, the other got a 3. And they were both students who would typically get 6's and 7's :/

I'm sorry :frown:


Thanks guys:redface:

I'll let you know what happens.

I'm considering retaking this exam in november, so it's not exactly the end of the world...
I was going through some IB documentation... can't remember what it was at the moment... but I saw that if you did your Paper 2 on the wrong topic, that they would take 2 Points off... so all is not lost if you wrote a good essay :smile: If I come across it again I will post the link here. Don't worry too much about it and focus on the millions of exams that are left :wink:
Reply 17
magnamack100
I was going through some IB documentation... can't remember what it was at the moment... but I saw that if you did your Paper 2 on the wrong topic, that they would take 2 Points off... so all is not lost if you wrote a good essay :smile: If I come across it again I will post the link here. Don't worry too much about it and focus on the millions of exams that are left :wink:


okay, that would help:smile:

Thanks!
Reply 18
yea this also happened previously @ our school. According to our enlgish teacher...the person was getting a predicted 7 but she ended up getting a 3... Don't worry about it, you pretty much had control of 50% of your english grade anyways you'll be fine.
Mate, you're not going to get zero - that's insane. Everyone thinks that IB markers are awful when in reality the reason why so many people do badly is because they spend so much time moaning about the work. Btw, in reality, although it's true the IB is much more difficult than doing 4 A levels, it is a reasonable means of assessment. of course its unfair that in the UK that its not fully appreciated.

neway you will lose quite a few marks - perhaps you might lose two from each criterion except language. then they'll mark it from there. they're not going to just give you zero because u chose the wrong question by mistake (although admittedly it is a bit of a cock-up - what were u thinking?!?)