I think you need to be looking at around 1000-1200 which can be written in the 40 minute time and has enough information on everything if you write it concisely.
As for planning, the way I've structured my essays is that they are easily adaptable to other types of forms.. eg. in my trial paper 2 for BNW/BR (Comparative) i had to write a radio script. The way it was structured I basically broke up my essay into parts and formed a transcript of an interview with a few minor changes (ie. there is now a host and 2 scholars etc)
I think its best to KNOW pre-prepared answers and more importantly HOW they can be shaped around questions. If you practice them like that then you're set for the exams..
now the paper 2.. hmm it was very hard at our school they pulled an interview and a good KL question.
I was pretty happy got all my sections down in the time.. hoping for high A range in everything atm
As for the amount of pages.. my responses were around 1170, 1180 and 1070 for each module and I wrote 27 pages (yes my writing is messy so i space it out and write big so markers can read)
I recommend that you practice spacing out your writing so it LOOKS like more than it is. not to the point where its riddiculus, but if you look at some past high range responses and what not you'll see that they often space their writing out alot.
I mean if you're like me with pretty messy writing, spacing it out makes it easier to read and looks all techy
lol
