I dont think im in any position to answer that, but i CAN tell u what i do:
For english, which would have to be my 'worst' subject, i try to get around rather then to get through though this still requires hard work. E.g. for Module 2: In The Wild, we have two texts: Worsworths poetry and David Malouf's An Imaginary Life. Firstly, i work out that the examiners can ask us to wirte an essay or a creative response. Other text types are simple modifications of these two, be it a speech or interview etc. Now the title of the module tells a lot: Comparative study of texts. Hence whateva the question, it MUST ask us to compare the two texts. Also coz there are other options, like blade runner etc in the module, the question can't be too specific at all. Further, linguistic tech will just about certainly be examined.
In light of the above, all that needs to be done is for students to be familar with the text types, in depth knowledge in still important including themes, plot and lang techz, but its really helpful to have at least one essay with a qestion that U have to make (which isnt to hard, use the syllabus), written, marked by your teahcer, corrcted through the yr and then learnt by heart or at leats known very well. This will help no matter wat the quetsion, but if u adopt this method u have to be careful not to allow the examiners to see a pre-prepared work. This is were ur english skill needs to show (to get high marks), u have to write competently, modifying ur essay where required in a way which is common to the rest of the work.
Confidence is verrry verrry important. Remember that the examiners arent there to try and take marks away but rather to try and give as much as they impartially can. Ur job is to meet the requirements and theyll give u the marks. Being well-prepared is the key, i dont think there is any better way then knowing ur stuff anf knowing how to present in by anwaer the question at hand with the syllabus requiremnts in mind.
