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Fifteen tips: I asked some teachers who have attended classes with me both before and after the project Poppies came to light to suggest some tips for the Exam. ne of Poppies’ aims is to connect teachers preparing for the Competitive Exam with those who have already been through it and now have a permanent position.

Here is what Cati, Bego, and Nieves have to say for the Exam Part 1. I expect for those doing the Poppies courses, the following tips ring familiar:

Topic writing

Tip number 1

No matter the topic you choose, your essay should have a good intro, then the headings you are going to include, the implications in the classroom, conclusion, and bibliography. Something like this:

• Introduction
  1. Literature: Romanticism
  1.1. William Wordsworth
  1.2. Samuel Coleridge
  2. Implications in the Classroom (super important how you link the topic to the curriculum)
  Conclusion . Then include the bibliography

Tip number 2

• Offer a comprehensive view of the topic and contextualise it.

Tip number 3

• Ask yourself: what is the topic is about? And write about it.

Tip number 4

• Offer a personal perspective of the topic you write on.

Tip number 5

• Do not repeat like a parrot: show understanding of the topic you are writing on.

Tip number 6

• Keep on connecting theory with real classroom practice, whenever possible & connect the topic to the CEFR.

Tip number 7

• Organise your time so that you can cover all the parts, including the conclusion and bibliography.

Tip number 8

• Re-read what you have written before handing it in.

Language Part

Tip number 9

• Read the questions, pay attention to what you are being asked to do.

Tip number 10

• Consider the answers to the questions you may be able to do at the same time, such as looking for particular types of examples in the text.

Tip number 11

• Start with those questions you know best, paying attention to the marks assigned to each question.

Tip number 12

• Be concise: don’t use a whole paragraph when a line will suffice.

Tip number 13

• If you have to translate: read the whole paragraph or sentence before attempting translation and make sure that what you are writing sounds natural, be it English or Spanish.

Tip number 14

• Organise your time and re-read what you’ve written before handing it in.

Tip number 15

• Remember: You are a teacher used to correcting essays: what do you most appreciate when doing so?
  Bear it in mind and do the same.