Lynette McClenaghan

A pantser is someone who flies by the seat of their pants, that is, they make it up as they go along. In your exam preparation and in your essay writing you cannot afford to be a pantser.Make sure you have a revision plan in place as soon as possible and stick to it. Even if you feel you are on top of a particular essay type, it is vital to keep up your practice. Choose a difficult topic or do an entire exam in one sitting. Practice writing to time. The more essays you practice the better prepared you will be for the exam. Make sure that you plan every essay that you write. Don’t ever start an essay without being absolutely clear about what you are saying, in every detail, and where your essay is headed, that is, your overall thesis.

• Make sure that you have completed your VTAC application ahead of time, don’t leave it to the last minute. Do some additional research into scholarships and bursaries that may be available for your chosen courses or institutions.

• Study groups are a useful way to enhance your revision. A session with fellow students can aid your revision and help to keep you fresh. There are two caveats: work in a study group, don’t socialise; contribute, don’t just sit back and let others do the work. A study group session on a tricky essay topic is excellent use of time.

• You have not done language analysis for months and so you are probably a bit rusty. Get back into it by analysing material from newspapers. You can’t afford to drop the ball on this one.