SOME TIPS FOR COMPLETING COMMON PAPER 1 OF HSC ENGLISH EXAM

NB: This whole paper concerns itself with the Area of Study (AOS) topic. Texts and
questions will be about this AOS topic but, ONLY Section 3 specifically deals with the AOS.
Both Advanced and Standard students do this section and all papers are marked equally
without any discrimination of the level sat.
Each of the three sections needs 40 minutes to complete; any less and you CANNOT do a
PROPER JOB ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS.
Remember: You wont be in the Marking Centre, so ensure the Marker doesnt have to
struggle trying to work out what you mean, or what you are trying to say.
Section 1: Reading Task. Allow 40 minutes to complete this section OR 8 minutes per
question. (15 Marks)
There are usually 5 questions in this section of the paper; some might have two parts, but
employ the advice below depending on what the question is worth.
Ideally, you should spend 8 minutes to answer each question. However, this is not practical
as the last question is a mini essay which needs more than 8 minutes to answer properly.
Below are tips to help you answer the 5 questions to the best of your ability.

If the question is worth 1 mark, it is a giveaway. That is, you write a basic answer which
is very specific but without a lot of details. Full explanations and details are
unnecessary and DO NOT EARN YOU EXTRA MARKS so dont waste more that 2 3
minutes for a 1 mark response.
For a 2 mark response, you need to show the marker that you understand the question
and can provide a suitable example and explanation to support your point or chosen
technique. To answer the question effectively use PEE (Point, Example, Explanation) or
TEE (Technique, Example, Explanation) depending on whether you are being asked
WHAT (PEE) or HOW (TEE). Sometimes HOW is replaced by WHY in the question, dont
panic, it means the same thing and you need to mention why certain techniques help
the responder understand what the composer is saying. Five to six minutes is sufficient
time to spend answering a 2 mark question.

Remember: that you are required to provide an example or reference with explanation for a
2 mark response. Usually, 1 point or technique is generally enough, but occasionally, you
need to provide 2 points or techniques to ensure a comprehensive response is evident. You
have to decide for yourself on the day.

A 3 or 4 mark response should contain ALL you do for 2 marks with EXTRA points and
techniques woven into your expanded explanations and some discussion of the
relevance, or link, to the question and/or point you are making. You will probably spend
8 minutes answering 3 or 4 mark questions. Avoid going over the 8 minutes.
The last question is worth 5 marks, (or occasionally, 6 marks) and requires a response
equivalent to a mini essay of about 300 to 400 words using a proper essay structure.
That is: Introduction telling the marker WHAT you are going TO DO in the mini
essay; Body paragraphs using PEARL or PEER Point, Example, Explanation or
Analysis, Relevance and/or Link to your point and question; and Conclusion telling
the marker WHAT you HAVE DONE.

Remember: You have to discuss any two texts used to answer the previous questions and
how they represent the aspect(s) of the AOS mentioned in the question. Have 5 points that
you can discuss at length about each of the two texts you have chosen to discuss.

This could include: What aspects of the question are found in the texts, who is doing the
talking and for what reason(s), how the composers are getting their feelings etc. across to
the responder and why you think your points are relevant and why they are linked to the
question. When and where may be mentioned in passing, but you do not have to go into
details about them.
Remember: You will repeat information used in previous responses, but this time around, you
need to add more details and provide a stronger explanation using more examples to support
your argument/point. Also, you have the opportunity to discuss more techniques as this will
help increase your marks.
NB: If you write only a paragraph on each of the texts, you will only get between 1 and 3
marks if you are lucky. The more you write, the better the quality of your expression, the less
mistakes and the more insight you provide through explanations, will all enhance your
chances of gaining full marks for this question.
Section 2: Writing Task. Allow 40 minutes for this section.
(15 marks)
This is the Creative Writing section. The theme of your story is the same as the AOS. You
can write anything in any text type (unless you are specifically asked to respond using a
particular text type). NEVER write a POEM. As long as there is an obvious connection to
something in the stimulus items (pictures, quotes or symbols) mentioned in your text, what
you write will be considered OK. However, the way you write your response (script) is what
you are marked on. Therefore, it has to be free of mistakes and you have to polish it as you
write by reading back over previously written sentences and paragraphs and correcting any
errors. ALL spelling, grammar, punctuation and sentence structures are taken into account
when deciding what band/mark will be allocated to your script.
Remember to begin with something that will grab the markers interest from the moment
they start reading. Keep the story tight and only have ONE plot, ONE main and minor
character, ONE setting, ONE theme and ONE unexpected twist to round your story off. Your
response should be about 800+ words.
NB: It is important that you write a story before the exam and learn it off by heart. Practice
writing that story MANY times, sticking to a 40 minute time limit. Each time you write it, see if
you can complete it in less than 40 minutes. If you have prepared yourself well, then you will
finish this section with a few extra minutes to spend on Section 3.
Section 3: Area of Study. Allow 40 minutes for this section.
(15 marks)
This is an essay of about 1200+ words on the subject of your AOS and NOT the Prescribed or
Related Texts that you have studied. These texts are to be used ONLY to support your
opinions and discussion points about the AOS and question. To write your response, follow
what was stated for Section 1s mini essay.
Start your Introduction by stating your interpretation of the question. This question will be
along the lines of:
What have you learned about (some aspect of the AOS) from your study of the
AOS? In your response refer to the Prescribed Text and at least ONE Related Text.
For the Body of your essay, you need to have five to eight major discussion points that can
be expanded and explained with references to texts/examples/quotes to support your points.
These points usually involve themes or ideas that your texts have in common and that you

can comfortably discuss in detail. Sometimes, you use them to show that different composers
have different ideas about the same topic.
Remember to structure your paragraphs according to PEER or PEAL: it is a formula that
works.
In the Conclusion, AND YOU MUST HAVE A CONCLUSION, you need to restate clearly WHAT
you did in the essay to answer the question.
This may seem repetitive but is essential to finish your essay with a closing statement.
NB: DO NOT include any new information in the conclusion. If you do, you will need to write
another conclusion that only states what you have done.
2013 This is the intellectual property of Mr J Humberstone and can be used for study purposes with permission.