[angelita]

I think what many people are forgetting is that not everyone is the same; what may work for someone might not work for another. Some people excel learning just techniques and ideas and going into the exam room and pulling out fantastic essays out of their asses, while others do not.

Personally, my problem isn't learning techniques or quotes. My problem is not being able to remember the sentences that make your structure flow, and what pulls your essay up to a band 6 from a band 5. That's why I always memorise the bulk of the content in my essays save for intros/conclusions, because if I don't, the stress of being in the exam room prevents me from writing to my full capacity and I end up writing an essay that even a year 8 student would be ashamed of.

My performance (and I'm sure I'm not alone) always decreases in exams which is a huge disadvantage, and I really hope markers take that into consideration, as well as the ridiculous 40 minute limit.