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Cape Caribbean Exam Paper 2 What To Expect
Cape Caribbean Exam Paper 2 What To Expect
Paper 2
This essay paper is three hours or 180 minutes long. You are required to complete four essays in
this time. This paper is marked out of 100 marks and accounts for 33 per cent of the total
assessment.
The examination paper consists of two types of essay questions (essays worth 20 marks and 30
marks) from Modules 1 and 2. It is divided into four sections. You must choose ONE question from
each section as shown below.
You have to choose four questions. One from each pair of questions.
Type A – 20 mark questions
Section A Module 1: Choose EITHER Question 1 OR Question 2
Section B Module 2: Choose EITHER Question 3 OR Question 4
Note
Module 3 is not assessed on this paper.
It is not ‘write all you know on this topic’ nor is it ‘this is the answer I learned, you should have
asked that question’.
It is not CSEC-style ‘throw words on the page and hope for the best’.
Essay writing at this level is a thoughtful and critical response to the examiner’s question. The
examiner will have chosen the words of the question carefully to bring out a particular aspect of the
topic.
It is very important, even under the time-pressed examination conditions, to take a few minutes to
consider:
• what the question is about
• whether you have sufficient knowledge about the topic
• whether the command words tap into one of your stronger writing skills.
Having investigated each of the alternative questions and chosen one, re-read it again and draft a
quick plan (some students do an actual plan paragraph by paragraph; others just jot salient points
on the question paper). Whatever you do, it is critical that you collect your thoughts; an essay must
show overall organisation and coherence.
Essay structure
In its simplest form an essay has three parts – a beginning, a middle and an end – or more
formally:
1 Introduction including definitions
2 Development in a series of paragraphs making distinct points supported by evidence to
expand on the topic raised by the question (as you know, each paragraph has a topic
sentence and evidence or example or exposition to develop the point being made)
3 Conclusion. Like the Introduction, the Conclusion stays close to the essay requirement.
Hint
As you write your essay keep reminding yourself of the question
you are answering. By the first paragraph and certainly by the
last paragraph, the reader/examiner should have a very clear
idea of the question being answered and your view on it.
Planning modes
The figures below show two of the many options for planning an essay.
These are the profile dimensions of the subject given on the results slip.
crucial modifiers
Activity 1
1 In a group each group member writes a plan for the question above.
2 Discuss the merits or demerits of the points raised.
3 Together develop an exceptional answer to this question (one person needs to be the scribe
or recorder to make sure everybody gets a copy of the answer).
You are advised on the exam paper to spend no more than 35 minutes on each Type
A (20 mark) essay and not more than 55 minutes on each Type B (30 mark) essay.
Do not spend too much time on one question – you are unlikely to get full marks so
go on to the next question in good time.
Summary
You should now be fully able to develop a revision plan. You should understand the requirements
of the external examinations. In particular you should be able to write the four essays required by
Paper 2.