The Exam Time Crunch: Choosing Which Question to Answer
In the external examination, students have 120 minutes to write two essays from a choice of six questions. The questions are grouped into three sections: Section A (Responding to Texts), Section B (Creating Texts), and Section C (Comparative). Students must answer one question from Section A and one from either Section B or C. The recommended time is 60 minutes per essay. Student Alex has prepared two texts for Section A and one for Section B, but he has not prepared any comparative texts for Section C. In the exam, he reads the Section A questions and finds two he could answer, but one is on a text he knows less well. He also sees a Section C question that looks interesting but he has not studied the texts. He has 120 minutes and must decide quickly.
1. What should Alex consider when choosing his Section A question, and why?
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Alex should choose the Section A question on the text he knows better, even if the other question seems more appealing. With 60 minutes per essay, he needs to produce a detailed, well-evidenced response. Choosing a text he knows less well increases the risk of weak textual knowledge, misquotation, and shallow analysis. He should quickly scan both questions: does one allow him to use pre-prepared evidence and interpretations? Does one ask about an aspect he has practised? The safer choice is the question that plays to his strengths, because marks are awarded for depth of analysis and accurate use of textual evidence, not for tackling a harder text. He should not be seduced by an interesting question if he cannot support it with specific, relevant detail.
2. Alex is tempted by the Section C question but has not studied the texts. What are the risks of attempting it, and what should he do?
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Attempting a comparative essay on texts he has not studied is extremely high-risk. Section C requires knowledge of two texts, and the question will demand comparison of themes, techniques, and contexts. Without having read the texts, Alex cannot provide accurate evidence, and he may resort to generalisations or invented details, which will be penalised. He has 60 minutes for the second essay; spending that time on an unprepared text is likely to yield a low mark. Instead, he should choose a Section B question, for which he has prepared one text. Even if the Section B question is less appealing, he can write a competent response based on his knowledge. He should use the remaining time to plan and write the best essay he can on familiar material. The key principle is to maximise marks by playing to his preparation, not to curiosity.