Writing an Essay and getting A* with Miss Jackie

How to get a top grade in the Exam!! omg! with Miss Jackie!! yeeeeey!

Hundreds of people are taking the same exam as you. Each examiner marks about 350 exams (remember, you are not special).

Only around 20% of people can get the top mark (A*). so you have to be in the top 20% to get an A*. It is all graded by comparison. So if in your generation, everybody around the world your age suddenly become stupid, you may get into the top 20%. But if everybody turns out to be genius... You are screwed... It is veeeeeery unusual for somebody to not get a passing grade. But it is possible. Not probable, but possible.

The exam includes reading and writing, and listening and speaking... well... at least in the 3rd and 2nd language English.

Most people in the UK struggle in the reading bit. So you have to read normally to get better and better at the reading bit. You have to give answers that allow the examiner to give you points. ie. If the question is worth 10 points, you have got to make sure you can put 10 ticks in your answer.

NOBODY TAKES MARKS AWAY!!

Exams are marked through POSITIVE MARKING!!

Examiners have to reward you for what is there, not punish for what is NOT there.

YOU DO NOT LOSE MARKS FOR BAD HANDWRITING!!!

EXAMINERS ARE FIRED FOR MARKING DOWN FOR HANDWRITING!!!

Don't worry... Be happy! It has to be readable though.

Miss Jackie has only had 3 unreadable exams in ALL HER YEARS OF MARKING AS AN EXAMINER! Mostly when that happens is because the student has a motor problem like a broken arm or a permanent motor problem. So better get going and break an arm before the exam. Just kidding... not. Buuuuut, if you have a beautifull handwriting, the examiner will looove you and be more generous with you. So available options are: improve handwriting or break an arm and get a teacher to write for you. No. Don't do that. It's evil!!

In Miss Jackie's words: "don't worry about not taking the book into the exam, I´ve failed more people with books than people without books"

Answer the Q'!!

Anything you know about the book IS NOT IMPORTANT if the Q' does not ask for it!!

If the Q' says why does Simon die, don't go on writing everything you know about Simon, say why does Simon die!! And that's it.

Everybody hates planning, but you gotta get used to planning your answers. The reason people don't like planning is fear. They rather write stuff randomly, than face the fact that they pretty much don't know ANYTHING about the book.

Write RELEVANTLY!! If your quote is not exactly how it is written, it's ok, if you paraphrase, it's ok, if you merely refer to an episode, it is OK!

Use PEE or, as miss jackie knows it, the doughnut.

Sooooo practice! yeeey! get A*!! wooohoo!!

Written by
Santiago Quintana yr 11B