Hey I'm just wondering, how many words are you guys using in your essays/short stories? Currently I've got about 1010 words for one of my short stories but about 1150-1200 words for my essays. I find it hard to finish writing one of my essays under/on 40 minutes, but I also find it equally as hard to cut them down in word length. Also, what do you guys think of the Board of Studies 2006 English Standard/Advanced marking guidlines to "not use pre-prepared responses into the HSC", as they will "not gain you full marks"?