Economics Paper 1 timing

[dniviE]

What kind of time schedule do you guys use for Economics Paper 1s?

I am using a schedule which divides the 90 minutes of Paper 1 into:

20 minutes of planning time in which I make an outline split into:

5 minutes for each of the four questions (totalling 20 minutes)

70 minutes for writing split into:

15 minutes for each part a question

20 minutes for each part b question

Edited March 17, 2013 by dniviE

[Nabz]

I often run out of time so i normally don't plan, which sort of saves time but may affect the quality of my essay, the structure. What i do is, i start with definitions, briefly talk about the topic e.g "phillips curve" and then directly go into the diagram, then i briefly describe it, then analyse it and evaluate it...Although for the 15 marker, the evaluation contains another diagram...

[dniviE]

Yeah, I used to do that too. I think the planning process and making a plan is really essential. Not only does it map out what you need to include in an essay, it also gets you to put your thinking hat (haha) on.

[-._._.-]

We were told to spend 20 min for part (a), 25 min for part (b). That means 90 minutes for both questions. These include planning and proofreading.

[Guest]

15 min for (a)

30 min for (b)

I find the (a) questions somewhat easier in comparison to (b) because its usually explain this explain that questions.

So I spend more time on (b), which I find harder because of the evaluation and the discussion.

[dniviE]

15 min for (a)

30 min for (b)

I find the (a) questions somewhat easier in comparison to (b) because its usually explain this explain that questions.

So I spend more time on (b), which I find harder because of the evaluation and the discussion.

Is that included planning time for the individual questions?

[Guest]

15 min for (a)

30 min for (b)

I find the (a) questions somewhat easier in comparison to (b) because its usually explain this explain that questions.

So I spend more time on (b), which I find harder because of the evaluation and the discussion.

Is that included planning time for the individual questions?

Yep

1 ~ 2 mins for (a), I write pretty fast btw

3 ~ 5 mins for (b)

[dniviE]

Yeah, I actually talked to my teacher about this today after marking a Paper 1 I had written together with him. He said that I should minimise the planning time as much as possible. Instead of using 5 minutes planning for each of the questions he said I should aim for 2 minutes on each of the questions.

Paper 1 consists of two sections: A) and B). The whole paper is 90 minutes, thus one section should be allocated 45 minutes. Of those 45 minutes 18 (including 2 minutes planning time) should be on writing the a)-question while 25 should be directed for the b) question.

I have to say myself that this time schedule is quite crazy. I mean 2 minutes for making an outline! That is insanely short at the moment for me. The only way I think I can get it right is by practice, practice, practice and timing myself every time I am doing a Paper 1 for practice!

Yep

1 ~ 2 mins for (a), I write pretty fast btw

3 ~ 5 mins for (b)

How much do you actually outline in this time? Could you maybe make an example of an outline you would do in 1-2 minutes? I would be extremely grateful if you could do this, to show how much you are actually including in such a short amount of time. Do you use abbreviations and stuff like that? One tip my teacher gave me was that I should just draw the diagram in the outline directly onto the sheet of paper that I am using for the actual exam. Like, if I know that I am writing about a tariff I will already estimate how many lines I'll use for my introduction and then put my diagram after those lines. That saves time, as I don't have to draw the diagram twice.

What do you guys do? I am struggling to have enough time and to divide the time between the questions.