I don't think it really matters if you start from Shot Answer or essay.
I think it is the best if you spend
50 min for short answer and 40 for essay as stated in the front cover of the exam.
I figured out that you can
spend double the mark time. That is for 2 mark question you spend 4 min. For 6 mark question you spend 12 min and so on.
Because section 1 worth 25 marks. And time that should be allocated is 50 min. Hence double of 25. Section 2 is 20 marks, hence double of 20 is 40 min.
But for 1 mark question you usually only need less than 1 min and you can save time there.
(This is what I think is the best way
.)
Also my ESL teacher who marks HSC ESL papers told me that you for your
essay you must have intro, body and conclusion.
If you run out of time then you must stop writing your body and write the conclusion. Because in the band 6 marking criteria it sais
"Use language forms, features,
structures effectively and skillfully"
And another thing my teacher said was that to remember that
your audience is the HSC markers. Always answer the question and never write irrerevant things. Even if you have steep knowlege about something and you want to show off to the markers,don't write them. Markerswill not give you any marks.
Markers want to give you marks for answering the question so make it easy for them. (Eg The essay question sais "Describe why journey is challenging" then
don't write about how the charactors in the text learnt new things and extended themselves physically, emotionally, intelectually and so on. You need to explain why the journey is challenging by using relevant quotes.)
Remember that your
main purpose is maximizing the mark you receive.
Don't try to save time in either section 1 or 2 unless you can write perfect answer in short time. On the other hand
stick to the time limits. Don't waist time tring to answer 1 question. Just write the answer you think is the best and move on to the next question. (Eg, if the question sais Identify 2 language features and describe its effect. Then even if you don't know how to describe the effect at least write the name of the technique such as metaphor or rhetorical question then quote from the text.)
I hope only few people read these tips. These are my secret strategies.
More pple is going to get higher mark by reading this and my UAI will
go down. Ahhhhh.....
I hope bad luck for everyone. So my ranking will go up.