QCAA English external exam 2023: Experts’ ultimate guide to ace essay

The guaranteed questions, where students lose marks and the key words you need to know: two Queensland experts have compiled an ultimate guide ahead of the crucial English exam.

From the guaranteed questions, where students will slip up, and the key words to look for: two secondary school experts have compiled a complete guide to help students nail the QCE Year 12 external English exam.

It comes as thousands of Queensland students prepare to sit the two hour and 15 minute assessment on Monday, October 23.

We’ve enlisted the advise of a former star student and an English academic to offer their top tips to help students ace it.

St Augustine’s College graduate Katelyn Smith achieved an ATAR of 98.40 in the Covid-impacted 2020 and is now majoring in Physics at the University of Queensland.

She is a secondary school tutor with the Art of Smart Education.

Her number one study tip?

“Try and go as far beyond the text as you can. I love using JStor (a home library service) to read essays from scholars and experts in literature, to get any underlying themes and to see any historical patterns,” Ms Smith said.

“I found that really helpful. Cultural assumptions are a big component on what they will mark on.

“How were the author’s opinions formed by the events at the time? What was happening at that point in time. You could talk about what informed the author, what message they were trying to get across.

“But also, they could consider today’s society and how a modern audience would interpret it.”

Guaranteed questions?

“There will be one question based on a theme and one on a character. But it’s very hard to guess what it’s going to be,” she said.

She also advised students to take notes on the key themes, the importance of characters and the connections they have with one another.

Former St Margaret's Anglican School student Eva Matyear after completing the English external exam last year. Photo Steve Pohlner

Where students may slip up

St Margaret’s Anglican College students Eva Matyear and Emi McBride, who graduated last year, said they had been left feeling “panicked” following the external English exam in 2022.

Ms Matyear said a question regarding the proletariat in George Orwell’s 1984 – “How does the representation of the Proles position the reader to view The Party?” was particularly challenging.

“Just the fact that it was relating to a very specific class of people that (is) not the class that the main characters are in,” she told this publication at the time.

Ms McBride said the question “How is the audience positioned to see Winston at the end of the novel?” was the one she most struggled on.

The biggest challenges

“I found it difficult in just choosing which question to answer. I spent the whole of the allocated planning time to choose which question. When we took the mock exam I went in thinking I’d be OK with that but then I got in and went OMG, it seemed way more difficult to choose,” Ms Smith said.

“When picking the question, I would write a thesis statement for each one. And make some key dot points for each question. Three or four pieces of evidence that can back up each one.”

Ps get degrees

“For students who just want to pass, I try and make two or three aesthetic devices for each one and make sure you link back to the thesis statement. So know the cultural assumptions, your aesthetic devices and try to link back to the statement,” Ms Smith said.

University of Queensland education expert Dr Kate McLay has offered her expert tips to acing Year 12 English exams.

University of Queensland’s School of Education lecturer Dr Kate McLay suggested students should focus on having a thesis statement that responds to the question, and support it with relevant ideas, arguments and evidence in logically organised and sequenced body paragraphs.
“Students should practise responding to essay questions to feel prepared to do this in the exam block,” Dr McLay said.

“While it is good to practise writing to timed conditions, students don’t always have to write out a whole essay. It is valuable to practise writing clear and logical thesis statements that respond to practice question. And to experiment with different possible thesis statements in response to the same question. This can help students feel more confident to develop a thesis statement under examination conditions.

“After developing a thesis statement, brainstorm the two or three key points that you will use to develop in your body paragraphs. Students can then practice writing an introductory paragraph that includes the thesis statement and a brief overview of the arguments they will use to support their thesis, and perhaps draft the first body paragraph.”

Dr McLay’s tips for during the exam itself

1. Use your planning time to choose the question you feel most comfortable with by reading each option closely and identifying key words such as task verbs (e.g. analyse, discuss) and the question focus. Make sure you understand what each question is asking before you decide and start planning.

2. Don’t rush to start writing your response – invest time into developing a clear and logical thesis statement that responds to the question you have chosen, because you need to keep hooking back into this throughout your body paragraphs. Then, jot down what you will write about in the body paragraphs using a clear paragraph structure. Remember that there are many ways to respond to a question, not just one right way.

3. If you make a mistake when writing your response, clearly cross it out so the marker understands. Keep handwriting legible but don’t over invest in neatness.

4. If you feel stressed or panicky, take a moment to slow your breathing and remind yourself that nerves are your body’s way of telling you that you’re getting ready to do an exam and that it is normal to feel nervous.