❖ National Exam ❖ 2nd Year Baccalaureate ❖ Methodology ❖

Exam Methodology

The English National Exam tests three competencies: Reading Comprehension (15 pts), Language & Vocabulary (15 pts), and Writing Production (10 pts). Master each section with the right strategy.

The exam at a glance

Section	Skills tested	Marks	Suggested time
I. Reading Comprehension	Text understanding, vocabulary, references	15 pts	45 min
II. Language & Vocabulary	Grammar, word formation, functions	15 pts	45 min
III. Writing	Producing a structured text	10 pts	30 min
Total		40 pts	2 h 30 - 3 h

Note: There are 6 streams — Letters, Social Sciences, Sciences (Math/Physics/Life Sciences), Technology, Agricultural Sciences and Original Education. The exam structure is identical; only the texts differ slightly.

Three methodology guides

①

Reading Comprehension

How to approach the text, answer the questions, and pick up all 15 points.

Read the guide →

②

Language Section

Grammar, vocabulary, functions: identify each exercise and master the right method.

Read the guide →

③

Writing Section

Plan, write, revise: produce a structured text that scores high.

Read the guide →

General strategy

Read the whole paper first (3 min). Get an idea of the texts, length, and questions.
Start with what you know best. You don't have to follow the order. Many students start with Section II (Language) — it's the most predictable.
Manage your time. Don't spend 1 hour on Reading and only 15 min on Writing. Use a watch.
Leave 10 minutes at the end to re-read and correct silly mistakes (spelling, tenses, capitalisation).
Don't leave anything blank. Even a partial answer can earn points. A blank scores zero.
Write neatly. The corrector will read 200 papers — readability counts.

Common mistakes to avoid

Copying entire sentences from the text for True/False questions instead of justifying with a quote.
Answering "yes/no" without justification in True/False — you always need to QUOTE from the text.
Skipping the word formation exercise because of unfamiliar suffixes. (Pattern-match: -tion = noun, -ous = adjective.)
Forgetting the question mark in reported speech (it should NOT be there!).
Writing a 30-word "essay". The writing section requires 80-120 words minimum.
Using informal language ("don't", "Hi!", "guys") in a formal email/letter.
Mis-counting the words: count the words you write — markers will deduct points if you're far off the limit.

Two months before the exam

Revise all 10 unit themes: master 30-40 key words per unit.
Drill grammar: passive voice, conditionals, reported speech, relative pronouns — these appear in 95% of exams.
Practice writing: do 1 essay/letter per week, get it corrected.
Read past exams: get familiar with the question style and the time pressure.
Memorise model phrases: 10 formal-email openings, 10 essay linkers, 5 conclusions — these can be reused for any topic.

The night before

Don't try to learn anything new. Just review your summary cards.
Prepare your materials: pens (blue/black, no fancy colours), correction fluid, watch, ID card, candidate number.
Sleep early. A rested brain scores more than a tired one stuffed with last-minute info.
Eat a good breakfast. A test on an empty stomach = brain fog.