Mr MCALPIN’S 10 TIPS FOR PAPER 1

COMPREHENSION

1/ In the reading time read the long ones first . Poems , Pictures ,
websites do not require as much reading as the long passages

2/ You have 40 minutes to get 15 marks so each question is around 2.5

minutes per mark . (so if its worth 2 marks you should spend only around
4 minutes on it )

3/ The last two questions in the unseen comprehension are the highest in
mark value. Together they are probably 8/9 (3 and 5 (6) marks whereas
the 3 (or 4) before them are worth around 7 together . so make sure you
check the mark value so you leave enough time to get the bulk of your
marks on those two questions

4/ You really need to identify techniques in 3 marks or more and then 1

is enough

5/ Look for vectors, colour , silhouettes etc in how drawings portray

discovery

CREATIVE

6/ Remember EVERY stimulus drawing or written IS about discovery .

If your story is about discovery then it should work for all of them
although one should stand out . You should be prepaered to make
adaptions without changing your plot because your story is already
about discovery. Think about changing Gender, Tense, First Person to
Third Person .

7/ They are looking for description and surprises in the discoveries.

AVOID TOO MUCH DIALOGUE(MAYBE SPEAK ABOUT 4 TIMES ) AND
HAVE NO MORE THAN THREE CHARACTERS. SHOW DONT TELL . THAT
IS RELY ON DESCRIPTION NOT INFORMATION

8/ Make sure you check what the creative requires BEFORE you write
your story . The stimuli are important but this is more important
Compose a piece of imaginative writing that explores how discoveries can emerge from a process
of deliberate planning.
DISCOVERY ESSAY

9/ Your mark is usually already decided by the time markers have read your introduction . 4 to 5
sentences is enough. A good introduction will be one where a person can guess your essay
question without even knowing it . You can have a generic statement if you wish . Discoveries are
an important aspect of .... or something like that . Make sure you contain a thesis/ Your stance on
the question. The text(s) you are doing written in full the first time you write it (so leave time to
write Hurleys title in full ) after that its ok to shorten them . Do not specify techniques unless you
want to be locked into those specifically but show how you intend to prove it eg “Through a range
of poetic/literary/ dramatic/ visual representations ( or techniques) responders come to
understand ......

10/ A finished essay is better than an unfinished one . Make sure you write a conclusion that is a
virtual clone for your introduction . Mention both texts and authors in full. Allow the same amount
of time for your conclusion as you did for your introduction. Shorten body paragraphs in order to
write a conclusion is DEFINITELY a marks winner .

Remember although you have 40 minutes for three questions by the time you
fiddle around between questions and turn over pages and move on to the next
question you lose abit of time .

I suggest something like this : reading time 1020-1030

Answer in whatever order you wish

1/ 1030-1110

2/ 11 11- 1149

3/ 1150- 1228

Finally time management is really important . make sure you give yourself
time to do the one you are best at but make sure you leave time for others .

Three marks of 11/15 is better than two good

marks of 15/15