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21-09-2014 2:59pm#1
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LauraaWhelann wrote: »Got 4A1s and A2 and a B1 in maths this year and happy to help anyone who needs it
please PM me any questions you have!
What kind of work did you do in 5th year? congratulations on your results! 0 -
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LauraaWhelann wrote: »Got 4A1s and A2 and a B1 in maths this year and happy to help anyone who needs it please PM me any questions you have!
But did ya ever get the shift?
In all seriousness, well done
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Congrats too on the amazing result! (Side note: wouldn't 4 A1's, an A2 and a B1 in maths be 600 points?)
How about 6th year, what was your general study plan for the year?
I did two hours from 4-6 supervised study then 2 more from 7-9 at home and homework after on weekdays, at the weekend i went to the library from 10-4 every saturday. Did nothing on Sundays 0 -
pa limerick wrote: »What was your study technique ?
I wrote really concise notes for each subject, having already learned what I could from the book. I can be more specific if you tell me what subjects you need help with? i just used to write things over and over and do as many past exam questions as i could have 0 -
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LauraaWhelann wrote: »I wrote really concise notes for each subject, having already learned what I could from the book. I can be more specific if you tell me what subjects you need help with? i just used to write things over and over and do as many past exam questions as i could have
Am English and biology if you could or maybe a language if you can thanks so much!0 -
LauraaWhelann wrote: »Got 4A1s and A2 and a B1 in maths this year and happy to help anyone who needs it please PM me any questions you have!
whats your favorite dinosaur??0 -
pa limerick wrote: »Am English and biology if you could or maybe a language if you can thanks so much!
English: I was never an A1 student according to my teachers grades. I only ever got 2 A2s in his class but he's known for being a very hard marker. So I wasn't really expecting the A1 at all. On the day I thought I'd completely thrown away English and cried and cried after it but it just goes to show that you never know what to expect.
Okay il do this section by section...
Poetry.
We covered six poets in class, and I studied five so I was guaranteed at least 1. 3 out of the 5 came up and I picked Yeats.
There is absolutely no need to learn all the poetry line for line in the book. I learned 5/6 poems by each poet and I only learned significant lines or lines I knew would be useful in a wide variety of answers. Granted my teacher pointed these lines out to us, I didn't pick them myself.
Most importantly learn the quotes, and then learn about the themes and language in these quotes.
Eg I will arise and go now and go innisfree
Themes - nature
Language "will" persuades the reader that Yeats will go now. He has already convinced himself of this.
Work your quotes into sentences, don't just write a sentence then throw in a quote.
Have a suitable introduction.. I will show you this in one of my sample answers.
The single text ( we did Macbeth )
Again, quotes are essential. I learned maybe 30 quotes big and small over the two years instead of all at once. Learn 5 a week maybe?
You need to know the story. I know that sounds silly but you'd be surprised by how many people actually don't know the story or how the story begins/ends. I just read the play a few times and read many synopsises of it.
The themes I studied for Macbeth were:
Good vs Evil
Darkness vs Light
Appearance vs Reality
Role of Nature
Symbolism and Imagery
The characters I studied were:
Lady Macbeth
Macbeth
The Witches
Banquo/Macduff/Duncan
Some of them overlapped quite a bit and I could use the same quotes for several of them.
Write your answer in consecutive order of the play. Eg don't discuss the ending before you discuss the beginning
Ask your teacher what major themes appear in your play. Be engaging and argumentative! English teachers like that. Go through old exam papers to see which characters are likely to come up for your year!
The comparative
Always a tricky one.. We did Purple Hibiscus, Sive and I'm Not Scared.
Ask your teacher and look online for a list of comparative words eg similarly, in contrast etc etc
Remember it's called a comparative for a reason, you have to COMPARE the texts. I would make a point then use and example from each of the texts to back it up.
Also remember that you're looking for difference between the texts, not just similarities.
Again quotes from each text are really important to back up your points.
Comprehensions:
These just take practice really. Make sure you know all the features of argumentative/persuasive writing. Try and be different and sometimes humorous in your answers if possible. I remember writing in mine.. The question was why did an image catch your attention and I simply said it stood out to me because of its vivid colours, and if a picture stands out to a nervous leaving cert student on their big day then it must be eye catching..
Question B.
I loved articles and letters. I found them easy and got 50/50 for the one in my pre. Read the newspaper. It will really improve your vocabulary and give structure and statement to your answer. It will show you the type of language which is fundamental in your answers!
Composing:
I always did short stories. I'm really into reading and would often take small elements from many different books I read to make a whole new story. Really it's whatever works for you here. Some people are good at speeches or personal essays. Do one of each and ask your teacher what they think is your strength!
General tips for English.
Use a thesaurus for every answer you do. DO NOT use the same word again and again. It will help you learn new words without you even noticing.
Write your own notes as well as using your teachers. That's what I did. I took what I liked out of his notes and added them to my own. Mostly my notes consisted of versatile sentences and quotes.
Practice practice practice. Do two English questions a week and hand them to your teacher to correct. Do not wait for your teacher to assign work for you. (Unless she/he already does) mine didn't. Don't be nervous about this it's their job to correct your work. Do notes and questions in your English study time. I can't stress the importance of writing questions. Keep doing them until every questions in your exam paper is done! Ask for in dept feedback about your answer, not just a grade or percentage. Ask your teacher where you are going wrong/right and learn from that.
Only ever do one point per paragraph, no more! Use the method point quote explain and you can't go wrong. Structure is hugely important In English so make sure you cover it in class. Have an intriguing opening and a conclusive ending paragraph to really up your marks.
Biology
make very clear and concise notes for each chapter.
I honestly just had a huge interest in it and read the book over and over again. You do need to learn almost everything because they can ask questions from anywhere.
Again practice makes perfect. Do exam papers and old pre's and ask your teacher to correct them. Since your doing if outside school you will have to give a little extra effort. Maybe 10 mins extra a day just to reinforce everything!
Try and stand out from the crowd and learn a little beyond the scope of the course. My teacher was excellent and provided us with so much extra information to write into our books. We were over prepared for the exam by the time it came around. Do a bit of research!
My next piece of advice for Biology Is this.. I didn't do the ecology section. My teacher told me not to. He said learn everything off besides that. He said the ecology question is so subjective and hard to get full marks in. He did advise me to read over the chapters slightly and learn the definitions for the short questions. I didn't do any ecology long questions or experiment questions. It worked for me, not sure if it would work for you but just to let you know!
Also you have loads of time in the exam for biology so plan your questions first while your brain isn't tired. Write short bullet points on the paper then write your long answers in the booklet!
Draw diagrams wherever you can and learn all your experiments! Get a revision book to learn the experiments from they are fat too long in the book.
Practice the short questions in exam papers, these are hard to prepare for because they can come from anywhere. If you know your long questions well enough the short questions should follow.
In the exam I did all 6 short questions all 3 experiment questions and an extra long question. You do have the time for this and it's an excellent backup incase something goes wrong with one of your other questions!
German:
I just loved German I took to it really well. Again focus on the oral, learn the picture stories and role plays as best you can. Be able to improvise just a bit. Don't stress too much about the questions that come with the pictures just try your best to understand them have a special topic that you can refer to. Be clever.. Say you love GAA and they ask you what facilities are in your local area? Say there is a GAA pitch and then speak about how you love GAA, have a whole paragraph prepared and the time will fly!
Please learn the grammar.. I didn't and I'd say that's where I lost the A1. Learn the perfekt tenses and your verbs and all your grammar tables.
Your oral notes will help heaps with the written paper. The questions are essentially the same. Practice the writing bits and hand them to your teacher to correct! Learn each new word and verb that comes your way. With the comprehensions underline what you don't understand and look it up. Get used the wording of the questions. Give as much information in your answer as you possibly can.
Listen to the CD for the listening part of the exam at home and in the car. I actually used to watch German Vloggers on YouTube because I found it interesting and it helped with my aural skills!
Hope this helps 0 -
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