Tackling HSC English Examination Questions

Apart from knowing:

• the module,

• the elective, and

• your text(s)

you need to be able to read the question.

It comes in two parts:

• the examination rubric, and

• the question itself.

Reading the examination rubric is that section at the top of the question with bullet points. It will tell you what the marker is looking for you to be able to do.

The rubrics appear in every paper and will be the same for the period 2009 -2012.

Sometimes what is contained in the rubric is not explicit in the question and so you must pay attenbtion to the rubric to ensure your answer covers everything. Reading the examination rubric is part of the art of reading the examination question.

Area of Study examination rubrics: http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/englishstdadv1_rubrics.html

Advanced Paper 2 examination rubrics: http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/english_adv_p2_rubrics.html

Standard Paper 2 examination rubrics: http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/englishstd_p2_rubrics.html

The Board of Studies provides the marking guidelines for each examination paper on it's website. It gives you a clear indication of what was required in an answer and how the marks were distributed. The link will take you to the guidelines for 2009 as an example.)

There are also sample examination answers for some exam papers which are worth looking at. (The link takes you to 2009 as an example.)

This document should be read in conjunction with the Marker's Report for each year, in which markers comment on the responses for that year and that candidature. (The link will take you to the report for 2009 as an example.)

Looking at the Area of Study examination rubrics:

Section 1 is the part of the paper where you are presented with 3 or 4 text types connected by the Area of Study concept and asked a series of increasingly complex questions about the texts.

There are two pointers as to what you will be assessed on. The first pointer contains key phrases such as 'demonstrate understanding', 'perceptions of belonging' and '... shaped in and through texts'.

• 'demonstrate understanding' is not simply knowing memorised material. It's about being able to show learning through analysis and synthesis of information about the area of study concept in relation to the prescribed text and your related materials. it's also about your personal understadning or response to the text.

• 'perceptions of belonging' refers to the many varied ways in which the concept can be interpreted and expressed by composers. Your perception of belonging will be colourted by your experiences. It will be different in some ways from your friends.

• ' ... shaped in and through texts' moves from the concept to the ways - making meaning; techniques -  in which the composer has chosen to express the concept to the different ways in which composers can chose to express their understanding of the concept.

The second pointer focuses on text, for example each text presented in the paper, the context of the text as may be revealed through the text itself or some peripheral information provided with the text in the examination paper, and the way in which the composer has used language.

Section 2 is the writing section of the paper.

Again you need to demonstrate an understanding of the Area of Study concept but this time through your own writing or composition.

This composition will draw on your understanding of the concept in relation to your prescribed tests and related material. You will probably also have drawn on your own experiences in the course of your studies.

You will also be assessed against your ability to compose: planning, expression, choice of text type and being able to appropriately pitch that pice of writing.

Section 3 is the part of the paer where you present an argument in response to an idea given as stimulus. It is also where you support your argument by referring to yourprescribed text and related material(s).

You will need to show

• an understanding of the Area of Study concept that has been developed from your study of the prescribed text and your chosen related material(s).

• A defintion from a dictionary or from commercial study notes etc will not be adequate.

You will also need to be able to discuss the techniques the composers used to make their meaning.

Again, you will need to show 

• you can organise an effective argument and express it appropriately.

• If the question requires you to write in a text type other than exposition of discussion, you will need to demonstate a knowledge of that text type, it's features and structures as well as pitch it to and appeopriate audience.

Reading the examination question: