How I got a Raw 50 in VCE English
01 I had a strong understanding of the VCE English curriculum and wrote with awareness of the English exam criteria.
I think a lot of students struggle with VCE English because they view it to be an abstract subject that is often contradictory. This can absolutely be a fair criticism of many approaches to teaching VCE English! The approach that I have personally found most effective when teaching and learning VCE English is to think systematically.
You are working to execute a criteria to a certain standard, this means you need to have systems and a methodology that you can consistently utilise to reach this standard.
No two VCE English essays are alike, and this means that while high scoring essays may have similar features, they likely have different methods of execution.
This is okay!
A 10/10 essay written by me, is not going to look the same as a 10/10 essay that you’ve written.
Operate with this in mind - find systems and methods that you are comfortable using. Make sure that they allow you to execute an essay that directly addresses criteria and utilises the key skills highlighted in the curriculum.
02 I developed a strong understanding of structure and clarity.
This was one of my weaknesses coming into VCE English.
Having taken Unit 3/4 Literature while I was in Year 11, my approach to VCE English at the start of the year prioritised sophistication in vocabulary, and to be honest, little else!
I realised that the way the criteria was structured for VCE English strongly prioritised clarity. Clear writing, clear ideas, and a robust response to the topic at hand are required for a strong essay.
This may mean repetition in order to build cohesiveness, and careful mapping around the structure of your essay to ensure your contention is clearly supported by the pillars of your arguments.
03 I looked to develop complexity within my ideas and my articulation.
The central way I expanded my understanding of the texts I studied in VCE was through accessing different theses on my texts. Whether these were written by students studying their Masters degree or students completing a PhD, I would work through critical literature.
The benefit was that it expanded my text specific vocabulary and increased my understanding of the complexity behind key themes.
A lot of these resources were accessed through Google Scholar and JStor.
This practice is especially useful if you are looking to score above 40+ in VCE English.
Consider the competitive nature of the subject, and consider the content that your peer group is accessing.
If you limit your knowledge to what your teacher provides you, this may result in a reduction of your competitive ability to match students that are pushing the growth of their skillset.
Students should absolutely be encouraged to self-study and to access resources that challenge them in complexity.
04 I practiced my skillset and consistently looked for feedback.
I’m fairly sure that at the end of Year 12 all my teachers were sick of looking at my face! I was knocking on their offices at lunch time, before school, and after school, consistently looking for feedback on my essays and ideas.
No student starts the year with perfect writing that hits all the criteria. I remember getting grades that ranged from 50% to 70% when I was experimenting with practice pieces.
That is absolutely fine - putting the effort in to refine and practice your skillset means that when it is time for your SAC or your exam there is minimal margin of error.
I also encourage you to seek out feedback from multiple teachers. Different teachers have different textual interpretations, but they also have different strengths.
I know that when I tutor, I am much stronger at helping my students develop thematic complexity in their essays, whereas grammar and spelling aren’t my strongest area of expertise.
Having different teachers critique your work ensures you receive a well rounded understanding of your strengths and weaknesses prior to exam time.
05 Consistently address your weaknesses
When it comes to practicing your skillset I also recommend diversity in the material you are practicing with.
Try analysing as many topics as you can - brainstorm ideas under time. I also recommend trying to generate topic sentences for a diverse array of questions.
Many students feel uncomfortable handling questions that are predicated on film technique, for example:
“Hitchcock’s Rear Window utilises film techniques to establish a sense of suspense. Discuss.”
Understanding your weaknesses and facing them head on through out the year puts you in a better position when you go to sit your exam at the end of the year. It means that you are able to flexibly adapt your ideas to come up with a response for a range of different topic types.