To be awarded an ATAR, English is a requirement, so it is imperative to do well if you want a high ATAR. This is the ultimate guide to acing the QCAA English external exam. We will break down the assessment, and give you specific tips to help you write the best essays.
- How does QCAA assess the English Exam?
- How to Analyse the Text?
- How to Write a Top English Essay?
- How to Breakdown Mock Exam Results?
- Final Tips and Tricks
- FAQs
How does QCAA Assess the English Exam?
The exam is an analytical response to a certain literary text from a prescribed list, one is chosen by your school and is explored in class.
- Your response is in the form of an analytical essay for an audience with a deep understanding of the text. The purpose of your essay is to communicate a well-informed perspective in response to an unseen question/task about the studied text.
- You are given 2 hours of working time and 15 minutes of planning time.
- Your essay length is between 800 to 1000 words.
- For the exam, you are not allowed to bring in any notes, quotes or extra materials outside of your pens.
Manoj Arachige
How to Analyse the Text?
It is important to understand the text inside-out and back-to-front. During the term, your teacher will go through the text one section at a time, so pay attention and take notes in class so when it comes time to study, you have got adequate information.
Thereâs a variety of ways you can analyse your text:
1. Character-by-Character Analysis
Analyse characters, their roles in the story, and what they represent:
- How they may (or may not) have changed or evolved.
- Their connection to the main plot.
- The ideology they represent and/or their purpose.
- List of âimportantâ quotes (this will be very helpful when writing your essay too).
- Potential exam questions that can be asked surrounding a character.
Manoj Arachige
2. Section-by-Section Analysis
Analyse the storyline scene-by-scene or chapter-by-chapter:
- How a section adds to the entire story (its purpose to the plot).
- The sectionâs main arc (character occurrences â basically what happens).
- Where in the story it is (orientation, complication, resolution, etc)?
3. Theme-by-Theme Analysis
- Where specific themes are highlighted (loyalty, guilt, etc)?
- What steps were taken to showcase these to the reader (what characters were involved and what actions did they take)?
- Potential exam questions that can be asked surrounding a theme.
- How does the audience react/feel to these themes being shown?
Above are just three examples of a method to break down your text and help you fully understand what has happened. I recommend creating a list of quotes categorized by your method of revising (could be one of the three above).
How to Write a Top English Essay?
In your younger years, you may have learnt a strict structure to write an essay. However, this time round, your structure can be a bit more âflimsyâ and creative.
1. Introduction (125-175 words)
- General statements (2-3 sentences) about the background surrounding your text (author, title, historical context, brief description/overview of the text).
- Thesis statement (maximum 2 sentences) that answers the essay question and includes a very short preview of your arguments:
- Specific moments in the play.
- Evidence, impact on the audience and the authorâs purpose.
Here is a tip: you can memorise your introduction. The basic structure of the introduction does not change much, especially the general statements. Memorizing your general statements provides you with an easy âlean/rhythmâ into the essay, instead of being overwhelmed with a blank sheet of paper.
If you are not confident with your essay writing skills, a private tutor from KIS Academics can guide you to an A!
2. Body Paragraphs (600 â 700 words)
This section is worth most of your marks. Here is a basic way of structuring your paragraph:
- Topic Sentence:
- Includes your argument, characters and/or events involved.
- This can be further explored in an elaboration if extra context is needed.
- Evidence:
- If itâs a quote, set it up and explain it. Try integrating it naturally instead of dumping it in. Should flow well in the paragraph.
- If itâs a situation, explain what has happened, build on the previously stated context and be specific for the audience.
- Analysis:
- Analyse what this means and its connection to your argument.
- Connect back to your thesis too (this may include characters and their purpose).
- Impact on the audience (how does the reader feel because of this?)
- Concluding statements:
- How does all the evidence relate to the argument and overall thesis?
I recommend having 2 or 3 body paragraphs. Four or more paragraphs would be hard to link back to the thesis, making it very tough to have a deep analysis for each argument. It is also not viable in the time and words allowed.
When practising for your essay, I recommend writing âpracticeâ body paragraphs using a wide range of quotes for different topics. This practices your writing skills, so when it comes to the exam, you will have an almost âmuscle memoryâ to writing a body paragraph.
Dylan Kay
3. Conclusion (75 â 125 words)
- Summarise your 2 or 3 arguments including events and/or characters that were involved.
- This normally 1 or 2 sentences depending on your arguments.
- Reinforce your thesis.
- Try not to repeat it word for word, instead try paraphrasing it to an extent.
- The âSo Whatâ â Make connections to bigger ideas.
- The relevance of the texts and their themes/messages in daily life
- OR relevance to humanity (has it changed or stayed the same and how)
- OR specific situations or people to the theme/text may be relevant.
The conclusion should be succinct, and summarises the main arguments in your essay. It is more of a writing convention, and can give you some bonus marks.
How to Breakdown Mock Exam Results?
The actual mark you receive on your mock exam does not matter, and comparing to others wonât help either. However, it is still important; it help you prepare for the exams, and also shows you how a marker might assess your work.
Your mock exam will also help you with:
- The format of the exam (choosing your text, writing in the lines, etc).
- Writing within the time limit.
- The pressure of sitting in the hall.
- Getting comfortable with seeing a question you may not know how to formulate arguments for straight away.
After receiving your mock exam results, it is important to:
- Identify what specific writing skills you may have had trouble with, and then work on them through targeted writing practice.
- This could include practice integrating quotes into a sentence, analysing different evidence, and/or explaining the impact on the audience.
- Review it with your teacher, and use their feedback!
Manoj Arachige
Final Tips and Tricks
1. Memorise quotes to a specific system
- Allocate your quotes into specific categories. This could range from characters, events or themes.
- This best allows you to memorise your quotes, enables you to use them to the best of your ability, and you will be able to cover a range of arguments and topics.
Manoj Arachige
2. Plan out your essay (use the 15 minutes)
- This provides you with a clear vision of what your essay looks like and allows you to ensure that it all links back to a thesis.
- During this time, write a thesis statement, and ensure it is clear and concise. Then dot point out your 2 or 3 arguments, and write out the appropriate quotes and/or situations they are tailored for each argument.
- You can then plan your topic sentences if you still have time.
- I also like to take a few deep breaths just before writing time commences. This helps keep me calm, which allows me to think clearly.
3. Edit your work
- My KIS Academics tutor once told me âgreat writing starts with great editingâ.
- Choose the best word for the best place in your essay.
Conclusion
These are the ways I studied for and aced my English exam. Try them out, and tailor them to fit your specific learning style. If you need someone to provide constructive feedback on your essays, use KIS Academics' expert Essay Marking Service.
FAQs
How much is the external exam worth?
- 25% of your overall score for English.
How do I make sure to write between 800-1000 words?
- The word limit is relatively strict, so you can be marked down for going over or under the word count.
- Always do a word count before you submit your paper
- When writing your practice papers, make sure you are also counting the words, and edit as necessary.
How important is spelling, grammar and punctuation to our mark in the exam?
- Spelling, grammar and punctuation have their place in the marking criteria, however it is relatively small compared to other categories.
- So, if you would like to add sophisticated word(s) but cannot exactly remember the spelling, you can just write it if you cannot find an equally appropriate synonym.
Written by KIS Academics Tutor for QCE Specialist Mathematics and Mathematical Methods, Ragulan Gnanavel. He also assists with Physics, English and Modern History assignments. Ragulan is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Actuarial Studies and a Bachelor of Commerce at UNSW. He has outstanding credentials as a tutor, and you can view Ragulanâs profile here and request him as a tutor.
Want more personalized study guidance to help drastically improve your marks? A private tutor from KIS Academics can make the biggest difference!
