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Junior Cert Predictions Thread 2012

  • 06-06-2011 5:01pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26 Louise6


    The junior certs in 2 days and i'm trying to cram as much as i can at this point, and there is just so much things to learn i've no idea what to focus on. Any predictions at all would be appreciated?? :D


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Comments

  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators, Help & Feedback Category Moderators Posts: 9,522 CMod ✭✭✭✭Shield


    Moved from Newbies & FAQ to Junior Cert with redirect expiring in 7 days.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,851 ✭✭✭Cill Dara Abu


    I predict a riot


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,390 ✭✭✭Doublechinlolz


    I predict everybody will fail and some will die from the spanish cucumbers..


  • Registered Users Posts: 175 ✭✭iliketwixbars


    Hey fellow JCers,

    Thought this would be a good idea for people to chat about how 3rd year is going for them.

    It is also intended as a place where people can share predictions etc. for actual Junior Cert.


    HINTS/TIPS FOR MOCKS/PRES IS NOT ALLOWED (there is a perfectly good thread for that already open).
    Obviously, general chat and discussion on the mocks/pres is fine.


    Mod Note:
    Seeing as the mock season is over and people were still posting in this thread I have decided to merge the two of them together.
    Here you are free to post any predictions and chat about the upcoming JC.
    Just please God for your own sake, dont bank on predictions, it has so much scope to go terribly, terribly wrong..

    Deise_Girl


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,301 ✭✭✭The One Who Knocks


    russian-thistle-tumbleweed_363_600x450.JPG


    You see, this thread just illustrates my point that there is nobody who simply wants to dicuss the mocks, without asking/giving tips.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 175 ✭✭iliketwixbars


    Jamez735 wrote: »


    You see, this thread just illustrates my point that there is nobody who simply wants to dicuss the mocks, without asking/giving tips.


    It's not only for discussing mocks, its also for sharing predictions about the REAL junior cert and also for off-topic purposes. Don't be so negative.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,301 ✭✭✭The One Who Knocks


    It's not only for discussing mocks, its also for sharing predictions about the REAL junior cert and also for off-topic purposes. Don't be so negative.


    Apologies, didn't mean to come across as negative,

    I just made a point on the mocks thread stating that 99% of people just want to give/get hints and not discuss the mocks, even though, ironically, that thread's primary function was as a mock discussion thread.

    Anyway, I wish you all the best with your soon-to-be highly successful thread.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,034 ✭✭✭dalta5billion


    Anyone else have atrocious mistakes on their mocks?


  • Registered Users Posts: 81 ✭✭ButtonBox


    Anyone else have atrocious mistakes on their mocks?

    I haven't started mine yet, but don't worry if you did make mistakes. It's only the pres/mocks. They don't count for anything, and you'll have 3 months to fix up what you did wrong, so you don't do it again. :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 169 ✭✭xfabgalx


    I forgot to include "I couldn't believe what I was hearing" in personal writing for English :(

    whats going to happen ? :(

    lol


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  • Registered Users Posts: 81 ✭✭ButtonBox


    xfabgalx wrote: »
    I forgot to include "I couldn't believe what I was hearing" in personal writing for English :(

    whats going to happen ? :(

    lol

    If it was one of the "include this sentence in your essay" ones, then you could get a fair few marks taken off for leaving it out.. As it's the pres, I doubt they'll take all marks off, but in the actual exam, you'd need to be really careful with things like that because the examiners would be obliged to give a zero.
    Don't worry though! Only the pres, and when the exam in june comes, you'll be extra careful not to do it again. :P


  • Registered Users Posts: 169 ✭✭xfabgalx


    ButtonBox wrote: »
    If it was one of the "include this sentence in your essay" ones, then you could get a fair few marks taken off for leaving it out.. As it's the pres, I doubt they'll take all marks off, but in the actual exam, you'd need to be really careful with things like that because the examiners would be obliged to give a zero.
    Don't worry though! Only the pres, and when the exam in june comes, you'll be extra careful not to do it again. :P

    Yeah I thought so and I'm not that worked up over mocks .. I have another 3 months to improve plus we haven't done any personal writing in English.
    Its only the mocks anyway


  • Registered Users Posts: 81 ✭✭ButtonBox


    xfabgalx wrote: »
    Yeah I thought so and I'm not that worked up over mocks .. I have another 3 months to improve plus we haven't done any personal writing in English.
    Its only the mocks anyway

    None at all? Try looking up past papers and trying some out maybe- personal writing is worth 70 marks of one paper, and if you have stuff thought out already, it's easy marks. :D
    Good luck! :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 169 ✭✭xfabgalx


    ButtonBox wrote: »
    None at all? Try looking up past papers and trying some out maybe- personal writing is worth 70 marks of one paper, and if you have stuff thought out already, it's easy marks. :D
    Good luck! :)

    Thanks!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,301 ✭✭✭The One Who Knocks


    Hmm, my biggest mistake was presuming pizarro was portuguese...ughhh

    overall the mocks went well, although I'm pissed at having to repeat maths again after midterm (exam company mixed up papers & sent us maths instead of project maths)


  • Registered Users Posts: 175 ✭✭iliketwixbars


    ButtonBox wrote: »
    None at all? Try looking up past papers and trying some out maybe- personal writing is worth 70 marks of one paper, and if you have stuff thought out already, it's easy marks. :D
    Good luck! :)

    I agree with your point that he should look up past papers and try some of the questions. However personal writing for the vast majority of students is not easy marks.

    The only way to improve your personal writing is by reading (lots and lots of reading) and writing.

    DO NOT LEARN OFF ESSAYS/STORIES ETC. FOR PERSONAL WRITING. The chance of an essay you have learnt matching perfectly to the essay title asked in the exam in little to none. It is a waste of time.
    I would recommend you to try doing random exam questions (that you have never seen before) in the amount of time the exam allows (approximately one hour). If you do this regularly over the next 3 months you will see a drastic improvement in your personal writing skills.

    Hope the above helps.


  • Registered Users Posts: 169 ✭✭xfabgalx


    I agree with your point that he should look up past papers and try some of the questions. However personal writing for the vast majority of students is not easy marks.

    The only way to improve your personal writing is by reading (lots and lots of reading) and writing.

    DO NOT LEARN OFF ESSAYS/STORIES ETC. FOR PERSONAL WRITING. The chance of an essay you have learnt matching perfectly to the essay title asked in the exam in little to none. It is a waste of time.
    I would recommend you to try doing random exam questions (that you have never seen before) in the amount of time the exam allows (approximately one hour). If you do this regularly over the next 3 months you will see a drastic improvement in your personal writing skills.

    Hope the above helps.


    I should be fine then. I'm a total bookworm and proud. Even when the people in class laugh at me because I read a lot - I laugh at them. They're the ones who will face the consequences of not embracing the world of literature.
    <3
    Sound like a total nerd. :L


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,301 ✭✭✭The One Who Knocks


    DO NOT LEARN OFF ESSAYS/STORIES ETC. FOR PERSONAL WRITING. The chance of an essay you have learnt matching perfectly to the essay title asked in the exam in little to none. It is a waste of time.


    I couldn't disagree with you more to be honest. Obviously you are not going to guess the exact title but there's always an opened ending question in the JC that you can twist to suit you.

    Make up a few interesting characters and learn them off, then learn 3 different plots and you'll be able to write about anything (if you twist it to suit you)

    However for the personal writing section, I find it's much easier to stick to the speech question. (write a speech for/against a motion)
    Learn the general structure, key phrases to use etc.

    The added bonus of doing the speech is that it's generally acceptable to write less than a usual short story, so 2 & a half pages would be considered plenty.


    I would do the story question, but I find my essays are either hit or miss, amazing or brutal, so I don't want to risk it in june.

    Whatever you do, make sure you learn interesting characters off by heart, as they can be used in any story you write :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 169 ✭✭xfabgalx


    Jamez735 wrote: »
    I couldn't disagree with you more to be honest. Obviously you are not going to guess the exact title but there's always an opened ending question in the JC that you can twist to suit you.

    Make up a few interesting characters and learn them off, then learn 3 different plots and you'll be able to write about anything (if you twist it to suit you)

    However for the personal writing section, I find it's much easier to stick to the speech question. (write a speech for/against a motion)
    Learn the general structure, key phrases to use etc.

    The added bonus of doing the speech is that it's generally acceptable to write less than a usual short story, so 2 & a half pages would be considered plenty.


    I would do the story question, but I find my essays are either hit or miss, amazing or brutal, so I don't want to risk it in june.

    Whatever you do, make sure you learn interesting characters off by heart, as they can be used in any story you write :)

    I remember in first year on my xmas exams, a question about surprises or something came up and I used a story I wrote in 6th class :D Got a really good mark too.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,301 ✭✭✭The One Who Knocks


    xfabgalx wrote: »
    I remember in first year on my xmas exams, a question about surprises or something came up and I used a story I wrote in 6th class :D Got a really good mark too.

    yeah exactly, I know a few interesting characters & 3 completely different plots, so if I wanted to do the story question, i wouldnt have a problem ;)

    Below are all the REALLY open ended questions from the past few exam papers

    2011
    Write a story beginning, “I knew I would need a lot of courage to get through
    the day …”
    2010
    Write a story which includes the words, ‘I wish I had listened’.
    2009
    Write a composition including the line, “That really was the last straw”.

    2008
    Write a composition including the line, "It was the unfairness of it all that annoyed me most."

    as you can see, it would be possible to use the same story for all of them

    For example, just picking a random story out of my head, it would be possible to write about "a bad day" for all of them


    I'm not sure what the best stories to learn off are, but go through past exams and see what you think ;)


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  • Registered Users Posts: 175 ✭✭iliketwixbars


    Jamez735 wrote: »
    I couldn't disagree with you more to be honest. Obviously you are not going to guess the exact title but there's always an opened ending question in the JC that you can twist to suit you.

    Make up a few interesting characters and learn them off, then learn 3 different plots and you'll be able to write about anything (if you twist it to suit you)

    However for the personal writing section, I find it's much easier to stick to the speech question. (write a speech for/against a motion)
    Learn the general structure, key phrases to use etc.

    The added bonus of doing the speech is that it's generally acceptable to write less than a usual short story, so 2 & a half pages would be considered plenty.


    I would do the story question, but I find my essays are either hit or miss, amazing or brutal, so I don't want to risk it in june.

    Whatever you do, make sure you learn interesting characters off by heart, as they can be used in any story you write :)


    Fair points, however if the story/essay/speech etc. is not consistent throughout you will be heavily penalised. So if you go to the bother of learning off a brilliant story with amazing vocab, grammar etc. and then you have to "twist" the story around the fit the title, the examiner will know.

    I agree with your points on the speech, excellent option to choose. I personally would recommend choosing the essay over the short story however, that is of course unless you can compose an excellent, (and well developed!) story in less than three pages. This is extremely difficult to do, much harder than writing a full book where you have plenty of time to develop and show different sides of your character throughout.

    Anyway, I'm not going to argue any more :P , best of look with everything, have you done your pre's yet?


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,248 ✭✭✭Slow Show


    Jamez735 wrote: »

    2011
    Write a story beginning, “I knew I would need a lot of courage to get through
    the day …”

    I did that essay :')...and made it up on the spot.

    I'm strongly opposed to the idea of learning off essays. Learned-off essays can be spotted a mile away unless you get very, very lucky with the title they give you. That said, I had to do quite a few essays for homework and the like and if one of them could have slotted into the question, it would've been fairly handy. However, none did, nor did I expect any to. It's no harm to hope, but don't resign yourselves to writing an essay you've learned off. At the start of the exam, look at your options, then go off and do the rest of the paper and hopefully some ideas will have formed in your mind by the time you come back.

    At the very least, don't learn off an essay word for word. If you get into that mindset, it's hard to manipulate it to actually fit the question. Have the gist of the story, but be open to the idea of adding new bits and taking stuff out to make it work with the question asked, this will also make it look a lot more fresh. If you can write a coherent post on boards, you can write a decent essay. They're not asking you to write a story worthy of being published, just answer the question with relevance, use good grammar and punctuation and throw in some nice words/adjectives (someone should start a word thread, big fancy words are awesome!) for good measure.

    Also, best advice anyone can ever give you regarding English: Read.


  • Registered Users Posts: 175 ✭✭iliketwixbars


    Slow Show wrote: »
    I did that essay :')...and made it up on the spot.

    I'm strongly opposed to the idea of learning off essays. Learned-off essays can be spotted a mile away unless you get very, very lucky with the title they give you. That said, I had to do quite a few essays for homework and the like and if one of them could have slotted into the question, it would've been fairly handy. However, none did, nor did I expect any to. It's no harm to hope, but don't resign yourselves to writing an essay you've learned off. At the start of the exam, look at your options, then go off and do the rest of the paper and hopefully some ideas will have formed in your mind by the time you come back.

    At the very least, don't learn off an essay word for word. If you get into that mindset, it's hard to manipulate it to actually fit the question. Have the gist of the story, but be open to the idea of adding new bits and taking stuff out to make it work with the question asked, this will also make it look a lot more fresh. If you can write a coherent post on boards, you can write a decent essay. They're not asking you to write a story worthy of being published, just answer the question with relevance, use good grammar and punctuation and throw in some nice words/adjectives (someone should start a word thread, big fancy words are awesome!) for good measure.

    Also, best advice anyone can ever give you regarding English: Read.


    Excellent advice :)....I'm gonna start that word thread now, love big fancy words :P


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,301 ✭✭✭The One Who Knocks


    Slow Show wrote: »
    I did that essay :')...and made it up on the spot.

    I'm strongly opposed to the idea of learning off essays. Learned-off essays can be spotted a mile away unless you get very, very lucky with the title they give you. That said, I had to do quite a few essays for homework and the like and if one of them could have slotted into the question, it would've been fairly handy. However, none did, nor did I expect any to. It's no harm to hope, but don't resign yourselves to writing an essay you've learned off. At the start of the exam, look at your options, then go off and do the rest of the paper and hopefully some ideas will have formed in your mind by the time you come back.

    At the very least, don't learn off an essay word for word. If you get into that mindset, it's hard to manipulate it to actually fit the question. Have the gist of the story, but be open to the idea of adding new bits and taking stuff out to make it work with the question asked, this will also make it look a lot more fresh. If you can write a coherent post on boards, you can write a decent essay. They're not asking you to write a story worthy of being published, just answer the question with relevance, use good grammar and punctuation and throw in some nice words/adjectives (someone should start a word thread, big fancy words are awesome!) for good measure.

    Also, best advice anyone can ever give you regarding English: Read.

    Oh yeah, I completely agree,

    When I say learn off 3 plots, I'm talking about learning the general gist of them, learning a whole essay word for word is pointless.

    Once you have a beginning middle & end planned, you can then twist them to suit,

    If you learn a whole essay word for word & then try to twist it, it'll only sound forced.

    For example:

    Write a story beginning, “I knew I would need a lot of courage to get through
    the day …”

    If I wanted to learn off a "Bad day" essay, I would plan it like this

    Characters:

    Me
    Best Friend
    Horrible teacher
    Out-of-reach love interest


    Setting:

    School's always a good option


    Beginning: Background to school life etc
    Middle/Event: test/epic-fail etc
    End: wrap it up



    The above plot will generally work for everything

    2011

    Write a story beginning, “I knew I would need a lot of courage to get through
    the day …”
    2010
    Write a story which includes the words, ‘I wish I had listened’.
    2009
    Write a composition including the line, “That really was the last straw”.

    2008
    Write a composition including the line, "It was the unfairness of it all that annoyed me most."

    So all I'm saying is make sure you know the general gist of your story as well as key characters ;)


  • Registered Users Posts: 175 ✭✭iliketwixbars


    So anyone got any predictions for the REAL jc???:)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,301 ✭✭✭The One Who Knocks


    So anyone got any predictions for the REAL jc???:)

    The Junior Cert is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you'll get.
    So I don't advise anyone to take shortcuts as you need to revise everything.


  • Registered Users Posts: 95 ✭✭paddzdaman


    hi i just thought there really isn't a place where students can put up patterns or predictions for the junior cert :D .. if you have any post them up for other people to see. Such as what people reckon will come up in people in history .. or woodwork .... ect :D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 30 fannyadams


    Manufactured boards is definite for woodwork this year.. Go to your woodwork exam papers and look up a question on acrylic.. I will bet you those to will come up.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 30 fannyadams


    DO NOT LEARN OFF ESSAYS/STORIES ETC. FOR PERSONAL WRITING. The chance of an essay you have learnt matching perfectly to the essay title asked in the exam in little to none.

    I learned off an English essay for my mocks..... I got 68/70 because i spelled one or two words wrong..


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  • Registered Users Posts: 182 ✭✭ohsurelook


    DO NOT LEARN OFF ESSAYS/STORIES ETC. FOR PERSONAL WRITING. The chance of an essay you have learnt matching perfectly to the essay title asked in the exam in little to none.

    I'm learning one off. Of course you're not going to get one that matches perfectly,but that's not the point. If everyone stuck perfectly to the essay title all the essays would be the same...


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