Tuesday 24 April 2012

Leaving Certificate Applied, Exam Tips.

Leaving Certificate Applied.
English and Communications.

Your exam lasts 2 hours.
Always underline exactly what you are being asked in every question.

Part one: Audio Visual. (40 Marks) (30 Mins.)
-Read all the questions.
-Watch the entire clip.
-The clip will then be shown in two clips.
-After each clip you will have time to write the answers into your booklet.
-You will then be shown the entire clip again.
-You will then have time to review your answers and add more to your answers.
-Write as much as you can, try to fill every line.
-Watch the clip carefully.
-Use all the time you have been allocated.
-Read the questions carefully before you answer them.
-Read over your answers.

Part two: Written.
Section 1: (30 Marks) (20 Mins.)
-You have a choice of two questions here.
-Read both comprehensions and the questions that follow them.
-Answer on the one you understand the best.
-Read the comprehension again, then read the questions, then read the comprehension again.
-Use lines from the text to back up all the points you make.
-Fill all the lines!
-Read over your answers.

Section 2: (30 Marks) (20 Mins.)
-You have a choice of two questions here.
-Answer the question about your mini-company.
-Read the questions carefully.
-Write as much as you can.
-Fill all the lines!
-Read over your answers.
Section 3 (30 Marks) (20 Mins.)
-You have a choice of two questions here.
-Read through both questions and decide on which one you can answer best.
-Read the questions carefully again and write as much as you can. Fill all the lines!!
-Read over your answers.

Section 4 (30 Marks) (20 Mins.)
-You have a choice of three questions here.
-Read through all questions and decide on which one you can answer best.
-Read the questions again and answer them writing as much as you can. Fill all the lines!
-Read over your answers.

Read over all your answers.
Fill all the lines!!

Pre-Exam Check List:
1. Do I Know how to write a:
-Report £
-Review £
-A C.V. £
-Formal letter £
-An Informal letter £
-A newspaper/magazine article £
-An Advertisement £
-A Speech £
-A text of advice, e.g. advice to 5th year students about preparing for your work experience  £

2. Do I know my two short-stories? (“The Sniper” by Liam O Flaherty and “The First Confession” by Frank O’ Connor) £
3. Do I know my Play (“Juno and |The Paycock” by Sean O Casey)? £
4. Do I know my novel (Lies of Silence by Brian Moore)?£
5. Can I write about an music artist and his music; (Ed Sheeran, “Lego House”, “The “A” Team” and “Small Bump”) ? £
6. Can I write about a poet and his poetry? (Seamus Heaney; “Blackberry Picking” and “Mid-Term Break”? £
7. Do I know all about the mini-company£ ?
8. Do I know about my position in the mini-company£?
9. Do I know how to set up my own business, i.e the steps involved? £
10. Can I describe any problems that arose when we were carrying out our mini-company and how we solved them? £
11. Can I describe how we carried out our market research? £
12. Can Describe how our logo and slogan and how we advertised our products? £
13. Do I know about newspapers, Tabloid and Broadsheets? £
14. Do I know about television, mobile phones and radio? £
15. Do I know good telephone techniques? £
16. Do I know good interview techniques? £
17. Do I know about communication techniques and skills? £
18. Can I give advice about preparing for and interview or work experience? £
19. Can I write about my work experience placements? £
20. Can I write about a film I studied? (Casablanca) £
21. Can I describe different camera angles? £
22. Can I write about Advertisements? £


Remember; write as much as you can!
Show the Examiner all that you know!
Do not leave the exam early.
Good Luck!

Tuesday 17 April 2012

Junior Certificate, Ordinary Level English. Past Exam Questions.

Junior Cert. Ord. Level. ( Past Questions up to 2011)
Always underline exactly what you are being asked in every question.

Functional Writing.
- Speech.
-Welcome speech.
- Formal letter, (e.g. job application, to editor, complaint)
 - Informal letter (penpal)
- Debate.
- Speaking on the radio.
- Detailed description.
- A code of behaviour.
- Rules of competition.
- Report on an event.
-Review.

Media Studies.
-         Most effective photograph.
-         Slogan; good, effective, alternative.
-         Article writing for newspaper.
-         Eye-catching for photograph.
-         Convincing arguments.
-         Convinced by advertisement?
-         Which of two communicates message better?
-         Examples of exaggeration.
-         Improve advertisement, (text/image)
-         Design poster.
-         Use of colour.
-         Most eye-catching advert.
-         Advertisements, alike/unlike?
-         Compose a text for a leaflet.
-         Headline and article for newspaper.
-         Message of advertisement.
-         Advertisement promoting.
-         Logos.
-         Text to accompany photography.
-         Target audience.
-         Best way to convey a message.
-         Colours.
     -    Radio, television, billboards, leaflets, pamphlets, flyers,
          posters, mobile  texts, magazines, newspapers, internet.
     -    Write an advertisement.

Poetry Questions.

Unseen.
-         Message of poem.
-         Favourite words/images.
-         Rhyming words.
-         Favourite stanza.
-         Describe impression of poet.
-         Feelings in the poem.
-         Exaggeration.
-         Which stanza would you illustrate?
-         Message/Lesson/Theme.
-         Is the poem sad? Happy/amusing?

Poetry: Seen.
-         Description of a person, place, event.
-         What poem is about?
-         Like/dislike poem.
-         Sad/happy picture of home, family, friends.
-         Amusing poem.
-         Poem which contains vivid images.
-         Sad/happy person.
-         How poet gives impressions.
-         Exciting person or event.
-         Poem which deserves a prize.
-         Poem which makes you feel happy/sad.
-         Poem which left a clear picture.
-         What inspired the poet: (something he/she saw, felt, heard, and remembered).
-         Animals.
-         Message/lesson.
-         Describes a time of year.
-         Describes a member of a family.

Drama Questions.
Unseen.

-         Props.
-         Costume.
-         Tone of voice.
-         Body language.
-         Which character you would like to play.
-         Write dialogue.
-         How an audience feels.
-         Diary entry.
-         Relationship in extract.
-         Character’s character.
-         Best way to enjoy a scene: reading quietly, aloud, performed.
-         Theme of extract.
-         Strongest character.
-         Creation of tension.
-         Suspense in scene.
-         Characters reactions to situations.
     -    Imagine you are a director, what advice would you give to actors regarding tone of voice, costume, movements, facial expressions, etc? What kind of lightening, backdrops, props would you use?

Seen.
- Unexpected event.
- Dreams/ambitions.
- Recommend play?
- Disagreement in play.
- Satisfied with ending? /describe ending.
- Pick a scene and describe.
- Favourite Character/ describe a character.
- Play enjoyable? (Reasons)
- Not enjoyable? (Reasons)
- Something which made a character feels happy/ sad.
- Describe a dramatic moment.
- Scene which had you on the “edge of your seat”, tense, exciting.
-Two different characters.
-Describe the beginning/ending.




Fiction Questions.
Unseen.
-         Character’s character.
-         Tone of extract.
-         Opening encourages you to read on?
-         Ending surprise you?
-         Author’s message.
-         Favourite paragraph.
-         Continue story.
-         Atmosphere.
-        Why a character reacts.
-        Is there conflict, danger, courage?
Seen.
-         Important relationship.
-         Favourite Character.
-         How a relationship develops.
-         Strange/ unexpected event.
-         Something extraordinarily good or bad that happens.
-         Character that undergoes a change.
-         Interesting character.
-         Achievement of something impossible.
-         Adventure.
-         Favourite moment.
-         Friendship which develops or fails.
-         Character whose behaviour upset you.
-         Beginning, end of novel.
-         Most exciting/ frightening part of story.
-         Description of a happy, funny, sad, worrying time.
-         Character faced with a difficult situation. How did he/she deal with it? Your impression of how they dealt with it.
-         Blurb.
-         Terror, racism, betrayal.
-         Good ending?
-         Does a character face a difficult situation?

Junior Certificate English, Ordinary Level, Exam Tips.

Junior Certificate Ordinary Level. 2012
-Read all the instructions on the paper before answering the questions.
- Always underline exactly what you are being asked in every question.

The exam lasts of 2 and a half hours. Spend 25 minutes on each section.

Each section is worth 60 marks.
You must answer Section 1,2,3,4.
You must answer 2 from Section 5, 6, 7.

Section 1: Reading.
-Read the passage, then read the questions, then re-read the passage.
-Make sure you use a quotation from the passage to back up each answer.
-Use two points to back up each 10 mark answer.
-Your answers should take up at least a page and a half of your answer book.

Section 2: Personal Writing.
-Read down through all the topics.
-Pick the one you can write the most about.
-Brainstorm your topic and then plan it
-You should Plan at least 8 paragraphs.
-Remember to have an introduction and a conclusion.
-Your essay should be at least 2 pages of your answer book.

Section 3: Functional Writing.
-Answer either question A or B.
-Make sure you use the right format, for example, letter or debate etc.
-Plan at least 6 paragraphs.
-Your answer should be at least a page and a half of your answer book.

Section 4: Poetry.
- You will not have seen this poem before, read the poem, then read the questions, then read the poem again.
-Answer all questions and use lines from the poem to back up your answers.
-Answers here should be at least a page in length.
-Try to use your poetic vocabulary in your answer.
-Question E will be a question on a poem you have studied in class. Read the question carefully and give at least a 1 page answer. Use your poetic vocabulary in your answer.






Section 5: Fiction.
-Read the extract from a novel you have never seen before, then read the questions, and then re-read the extract.
-Make sure you give at least 2 supporting points for each of your answers. Use lines from the extract to back up your answers.
-Answers here should be at least a page in length.
-Question E is based on your novel Of Mice and Men. Read the question carefully. Brainstorm and plan your answer before you begin to write your answer. Your answer to Question E should be at least a page long.

Section 6: Drama.
-This is an extract from a play you have never seen before.
-Read the extract, then read the questions, then re-read the extract.
-Give a least two points to support your answers and a quote from the extract for each one.
-Answers here should be at least a page in length.
-Question E is based on “The Field”. Read the question carefully and underline what you are being asked in the question. Brainstorm and plan your answer before you begin to write your answer. Your answer should be at least a page long.

Section 7: Media Studies.
-Examine carefully the loose pages that come with your exam paper. Read the questions carefully and then examine the pages again.
-Answer all the questions carefully and refer back to the loose pages to back up your answers.
-Be careful, Question E is worth 20 marks so make sure you read the question carefully and give a long answer. Brainstorm and plan your answer before you begin to write your answer
Exam Preparation Check List.
1. Do I know how to brainstorm and plan an essay?   ________
2. Do I know how to write: A formal and informal letter?£
                                            A debate £
                                            A speech £
                                            A review  £
                                            Instructions £
3. Can I write a short-story? £
4. Do I know Of Mice and Men well? £
5. Do I know quotes from Of Mice and Men? £
6. Do I know all the characters in the novel? £
7. Do I know the beginning and ending of the novel? £
8. Do I know “The Field” well? £
9. Do I know Quotes from “The Field”? £
10. Do I know all the characters in the play? £
11. Do I know the beginning and ending of the play? £
12. Do I know one scene really well in the play? £
13. Do I know Quotes from my poems And do I know them well? £
-“He Wishes For the Cloths of Heaven”? (W.B.Yeats) £
-“Back In the Playground Blues”?(Adrian Mitchell) £
-“Mid-Term Break” (Seamus Heaney)? £
15. Do I know my poetry vocabulary? £
14. Do I know my Media Studies Vocabulary? £
15. Do I know the layout of the exam paper? £

REMEMBER; WRITE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. SHOW HOW MUCH YOU KNOW. DO NOT LEAVE THE EXAM EARLY. READ OVER YOUR ANSWERS. GOOD LUCK!!!