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A New Series about Exam Tips -- Making Bullet Points Your Friends

I don't know why students don't want to use the bullet points available to them on Question 1 on Paper 2, but I can assure you, they're there for a reason.

These three bullet points are your friends!

Three's the magic number on Question 1

Use each one of the bullet points as a paragraph with information that comes from the insert. It may mean you have to search throughout the insert for what to include in each of the bullet points, but that will only show off your ability to re-organise your thoughts.

In the main, these bullet points are generally asking the same three things:

  1. What are some of the obvious things in the insert that show your comprehension is good?
  2. What are some of the implications of details, ie, how well do you read between the lines? Often this will include someone's thoughts and feelings, perhaps based on another character's actions and behaviours. All four of these items - thoughts, feelings, actions, behaviours - should be addressed.
  3. What are some inferences you can project from the details about what happened next?
All three bullet points are absolutely, firmly seeking an answer that uses the insert. Even number 3, which used to have more leeway to make stuff up, must now be answered with details from the insert. 

Use the insert like it's a mystery full of clues.

By sticking to the bullet points, your answer will be clearer for the examiner and much easier to spot relevant points, so do yourself a favour and make use the bullet points.

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