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Take the Frame From a Model Answer, Not the Answer

Rewriting a model essay word for word teaches you to produce that essay. Take its structure and its linking phrases, then write a different question.

September 17, 20264 min read

When you study a model answer, there are two things to look at: its structure, and its vocabulary.

The common mistake

If you rewrite that same model, memorising its vocabulary and its structure, what you have learned is how to produce that one essay. Which is close to useless.

Because in the exam, the question will not be that question.

What to do instead

Take the model, learn the structural frame, learn its useful phrases. Then write a similar but not identical question.

A concrete example

The model is about electric cars:

There is an increasing number of people who opt to use battery-powered cars, because they think it's going to minimise the impact on the environment. On the other hand, a lot of people think battery recycling poses a huge problem.

From this you can take:

  • Topic vocabulary: battery-powered cars, minimise the impact on the environment, recycling poses a problem
  • Linking phrases: on the one hand, on the other hand, in general
  • The argument frame: state the trend, give the case for, give the drawback

Now write a different question using that frame

The government is increasing spending on subsidising the development of electric cars. What do you think about this?

Same subject area, same vocabulary set, same argument frame, different question. Now you are forced to use what you just learned rather than reproduce it.

That is what learning looks like.