[chaz89]

Hi i am panicing bout my 3 exxams because i just cnt remember dates and events. when i did the mock i did bad and i reckon i am going to do it again. I can do the questions with 3marks and 5marks but when it comes to the 15 and 10 marks i am scared i havent writtern enough,
is there any advice i can take with me in the exam to stop freeking out.
thanx

[Mr Field]

Hi - you haven't given us enough information about which topics and which exam board you are studing for.

However, what you are basically worried about are the extended answers.

What you need to to is to try and make sure you have earned enough marks. Don't worry about the amount you write, but rather what you write. Look carefully at the question - what is it actually asking you? For example - if you are looking at sources and being asked to compare them, make sure you explain your views about the source, developing your ideas backed up with evidence from the source.

If you build up your answers in this way, you will be more successful about the extended questions.

So - earn your marks. Make sure you focus on the question. Make you points, explain what you mean and provide evidence.

For more specific advice, please let us know which topics you are studying and which exam board it is.

[chaz89]

Thank-you for your help. I am taking the AQA exam board and i am doing 3 exams. because we didnt do any course work. Doing my mock made me realise i could not do the extended questions and i have been worrying becuase thats were u get the most marks from.
Thank you very much

[Mr Field]

chaz89, on Jun 2 2005, 08:10 AM, said:

Thank-you for your help. I am taking the AQA exam board and i am doing 3 exams. because we didnt do any course work. Doing my mock made me realise i could not do the extended questions and i have been worrying becuase thats were u get the most marks from.
Thank you very much

OK - well the advice I gave you stands. The best thing to do is to give yourself practice questions. Set yourself a question and give yourself 20 minutes to answer it.

Then look through (using your textbook and / or revision notes) and see how many marks you would give yourself - give yourself a mark for each correct point, and additional marks when you explain the point using evidence.

Try to practice building up your answers in this way - linking paragraphs together with strong links back to the question.

[chaz89]

Thank you for your advice.

[MrJohnDClare]

Extended answers.
You can get a C answering an extended answer in four paragraphs.

FIRST, look at the question.
Think about it for a while.
What is it actually ASKING?

NEXT, think of THREE things you could say which would answer the question - three points you would like to make.
(Eg, if it were asking why something happened, three causes)
Write them down at the top of your answer sheet.
These will become the three paragraphs of your answer.

THEN, start off your first paragraph: 'The first thing which explains [what the question is asking] is [your first point]'. Try to explain HOW this point answers the question. Shove down a couple of relevant facts.

REPEAT THIS for points/paragraphs 2 and 3. It is OK to start the paragraphs: The second thing...' and 'The third thing...', but why not try other starts such as 'The most important thing...' or 'One short-term cause was...' etc.
At the end of each paragraph, ask yourself: 'Am I still answering the question I was asked?'

FINALLY, write the word 'Therefore...' and summarise the general idea of what you have been trying to get at. If you can, show how your three points interacted (worked together) to produce the result mentioned in the question.
If you have anything clever to add, say it here.


The KEY to an extended answer is in the explanations-as-you-go-along. You do not need very sophisticated explanations to get a C, but if they are non-existent or weak (eg merely repeating the point in a different way) you will get a D at best.
The trick of a good explanation is to
explain how the point you are making answers the question you were asked.


Remember that your answer will be marked by 'levels of response':
L1 - random facts
L2 - points which address the question
L3 - explained points which answer the question
L4 - explained points which progress in a logical argument towards a reasoned judgement.