Hey
How did you find the English exam? Did writing thematic paragraphs end up working for you?
Yo the reply email reminded me of atarnotes, I was depressed over the exam ahahah
To answer the latter part of your question quickly, yes, memorising them really saved me.
To address the former part of your question, so this was what my exam was like (I guess I can twist this into a journal post?)
I did the exam in chronological order (A --> B --> C), and I got 15 minutes extra (Special Exam Arrangements) for being hearing impaired (I don't get this reasoning, but I"m grateful for it, actually saved me today).
I finished Text Response (Section A) within 40 minutes including planning (a new record for me), because the paragraphs really fit perfectly into the topics, but I would have bent the prompt to my will probably. This was also due to the fact that I had practised Text Response a lot (3 essays in the past 3 days, lol "a lot").
For Comparative (Section B), I felt like I could also apply my paragraphs but at the same time, I had not practised bending the prmopt, like
at all. This was partially due to the fact that I crammed memorising 4000 words into the 5 days, but I guess that's eh. I was juggling between doing a comparative essay and writing out all the paragraphs I know this morning (woke up at 4:45, stress gang), and ended up writing out all the paragraphs, which probably helped me a bit. However, due to not getting application practise, I really panicked on Comparative, and I took like 1 hour and 30 minutes on it. This was also due to the fact that I hadn't consolidated the paragraphs, so I accidentally swapped the second halves between two paragraphs, so I had to rewrite two pages. However, this rewriting was probably worth it, but this really kills my confidence.
For Argument Analysis (Section C), it was decent. The start was shit, as it was coming off my Comparative, all dejected. However, I clutched through with the analysis, ahahahah. Just remembered lynt.br's formula and tried to apply it. Spent like an hour or a bit less on this.
Overall, I'm hoping for a 9/10 for Text Response (actually need it), and HOPEFULLY an eight (I did the analysis) on Section C, so if I get 7, it compensates and I get 40. However, this exam just drained my ass that much, I guess. Me going for 38+ eng is a bit of a joke, if I get 35 I'd be happy. It also makes me feel shit that I memorised 12 damn paragraphs in just less than a week and put that much stress on myself, and didn't even feel that good about myself. However, I do strongly recommend memorising paragraphs, but if your expression is good (unlike mine), then you should memorise ideas and the quotes attached to them, as I feel like that's the way to smash VCE English. I can't really talk though, but if I had more time, I feel that I would have done much better on this. That's my fault, I'm not sure though.
Regarding panic during the exam, I almost was overtaken by panic multiple times, but reading some advise on Atarnotes the night beforehand regarding exams, on how you should always keep calm during an exam really helped me to stay calm, as I remembered that whenever I started getting nervous, and breathed deeply.
I'm just looking forward to my Maths exams, I really gotta compensate through my other exams.
EDIT
"I'm guaranteed a 40 now" LMAO naive