Welcome to Our Blog!
Welcome to the Learning to Succeed VCE Blog!
Here you will find tips on how to strengthen your analysis, improve your written expression, and master VCE English. We will also delve into specific texts on the study design, as well as break down how to set yourself apart from other students in Text Response, Argument Analysis and Creative Writing.
If you’re a Year 12 student reading this post, then here are my top tips to acing the English exam!
1. Perfect Theme-Based Paragraphs for Section A
Although you don’t know the prompt you’ll receive on the day of the exam, you do know your text and the ideas explored within it. So, take advantage of this by writing out your ideas in theme-based paragraphs, so you’ll be set for anything that VCAA throws at you.
For example, say you have crafted exemplary paragraphs for the themes of Fate, Free Will, Truth, Ignorance, and Pride for Sophocles’ Oedipus the King.
Now, if you receive a prompt that asks you whether ‘Oedipus the King suggests that people have no control over their lives,’ you could use your fate paragraph, your free will paragraph and even your pride paragraph (if you define pride as defying the Gods, and thus living a life governed by chance).
Alternatively, if you are given a prompt, asking if ‘Oedipus is a sympathetic character,’ you could argue he isn’t through exploring his pride and his ignorance. You could then challenge the prompt by suggesting he is sympathetic through discussing that he did not have complete control of his choices due to the existence of fate.
2. Perfect 1-2 Creative Pieces for Section B
Similar to Section B, you can also perfect a couple of creative pieces that you can mould to any title and stimulus that you are given. This way, the time that you would have spent brainstorming ideas, can be spent writing and securing yourself a great mark!
For instance, under the framework of Play, you might choose to write an expository opinion piece, delving into the effects film and tv has on our culture, as well as a persuasive speech, urging parents to do away with beige parenting. Once you’re happy with the two pieces, seek and incorporate feedback from your English teacher/tutor, and make them flawless!!!
Now, all you have to do on the exam is choose the piece that is the most appropriate for the given title, embed the stimulus material, and change up your intro, conclusion and key ideas to reflect the title. While this may seem daunting, after some practice you’ll be an expert at moulding your pieces to all different sorts of prompts.
3. Practice, Practice, Practice for Section C
Unlike Text Response and Creative Writing, you can’t just familiarise yourself with paragraphs or essays to score well on Argument Analysis because you won’t know the article until you open up the exam. So, our main recommendation to improve your marks for Section C is to write as many practice AA essays as humanly possible. But, more importantly, you MUST seek feedback from your teacher or tutor after you complete each practice run as this is the only way you will improve.
A more in-depth blog post on Section C of the exam is coming soon!
Good Luck!
I hope you have gained a few ideas on how to approach your exam preparations and are feeling less stressed about everything! Good luck!!!!
