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IMPORTANT NOTE:
There is a LOT of text on this site. There's lots to read... this is partly because learning to read is really important and partly because reading is THE BEST way to improve your writing.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
There is a LOT of text on this site. There's lots to read... this is partly because learning to read is really important and partly because reading is THE BEST way to improve your writing.
Reading is NEVER a waste of time,
and reading revision materials, is ALWAYS useful.
Reading is NEVER a waste of time,
and reading revision materials, is ALWAYS useful.
With English, you sit two GCSEs - Language and Literature. For each GCSE you have two exams, so there are four exams in all.
With English, you sit two GCSEs - Language and Literature. For each GCSE you have two exams, so there are four exams in all.
Language:
Each language paper has the same structure:
Language:
Each language paper has the same structure:
- Four reading questions
- One piece of creative writing
However, one of the papers is based on a fiction extract (which is made-up) the other is based on two non-fiction extracts (which are based on real events.)
However, one of the papers is based on a fiction extract (which is made-up) the other is based on two non-fiction extracts (which are based on real events.)
Literature:
Each Literature paper covers two texts:
Literature:
Each Literature paper covers two texts:
- Paper 1: Macbeth and A Christmas Carol
- Paper 2: An Inspector Calls and Unseen poetry
Each exam is 1 hour 45 minutes long.
Each exam is 1 hour 45 minutes long.
How to prepare for Literature: Planning
How to prepare for Literature: Planning
Planning for a literature exam is as easy as 1, 2, 3:
Planning for a literature exam is as easy as 1, 2, 3:
Know the text:
This includes being so comfortable with the plot you could recount it to a friend - just means you can say what it's about. There's a section about plot for each of the key texts here.
Also, you'll need to know the key characters well - what is their role in the story. There's a bit about this for each text as well.
And finally, you'll need to know what key themes appear in the text - each theme has a section.
Know the text:
This includes being so comfortable with the plot you could recount it to a friend - just means you can say what it's about. There's a section about plot for each of the key texts here.
Also, you'll need to know the key characters well - what is their role in the story. There's a bit about this for each text as well.
And finally, you'll need to know what key themes appear in the text - each theme has a section.
Get comfortable with key quotes:
When the new GCSE came out a lot of people were worried that students would just spend all their time learning quotes, but you DO NOT have to do this. However, you will need to get comfortable with some of the key things that people say as you're going to use them to put together your argument.
To help with this, I've built a whole load of games that are mostly focused around helping you learn the quotes - there's a range of games for each text.
Remember that you don't need to KNOW all the quotes that come up, but the more often you play the games the better you'll be at remembering a key quote when you need it.
Get comfortable with key quotes:
When the new GCSE came out a lot of people were worried that students would just spend all their time learning quotes, but you DO NOT have to do this. However, you will need to get comfortable with some of the key things that people say as you're going to use them to put together your argument.
To help with this, I've built a whole load of games that are mostly focused around helping you learn the quotes - there's a range of games for each text.
Remember that you don't need to KNOW all the quotes that come up, but the more often you play the games the better you'll be at remembering a key quote when you need it.
Plan your essays:
Though you will sometimes have an extract in the exam, don't leave it until the day to work out what you're going to say. There are a limited number of questions that will come up for any text so you can do A LOT of work before the big day. For each text there's a page called Revision Essay Titles that has a range of questions you can prepare for. Anything that comes up on the day will be a variant of one of those questions so you can always apply your work to that.
Plan your essays:
Though you will sometimes have an extract in the exam, don't leave it until the day to work out what you're going to say. There are a limited number of questions that will come up for any text so you can do A LOT of work before the big day. For each text there's a page called Revision Essay Titles that has a range of questions you can prepare for. Anything that comes up on the day will be a variant of one of those questions so you can always apply your work to that.
Planning an essay...
Planning an essay...
The key to success for Literature is planning. You don't know what question will come up on the day, but there are a limited number of questions that might come up and if you prepare for them you won't be taken by surprise on the day.
The key to success for Literature is planning. You don't know what question will come up on the day, but there are a limited number of questions that might come up and if you prepare for them you won't be taken by surprise on the day.
I've made a list of ten possible questions that might come up for A Christmas Carol, Macbeth and An Inspector Calls (you'll find them by clicking on those links, or by visiting that section of the site.)
I've made a list of ten possible questions that might come up for A Christmas Carol, Macbeth and An Inspector Calls (you'll find them by clicking on those links, or by visiting that section of the site.)
Though planning 10 essays might seem a lot, if you're smart it needn't be that hard at all. For example, a paragraph on Mr Birling's role as a capitalist might come up in an essay about the political message of the play, or an essay about Mr Birling - or even an essay about the inspector.
Though planning 10 essays might seem a lot, if you're smart it needn't be that hard at all. For example, a paragraph on Mr Birling's role as a capitalist might come up in an essay about the political message of the play, or an essay about Mr Birling - or even an essay about the inspector.
For each plan you should have:
For each plan you should have:
- the opening paragraph written
- A summary of what will go into each paragraph
- A list of which key quotes you'll look at in detail, and some notes about them
Everything you'll need for each essay will be on the site, so use your essay planning as a reason to go digging around the site.
Everything you'll need for each essay will be on the site, so use your essay planning as a reason to go digging around the site.
Important Note about extracts:
for A Christmas Carol and Macbeth you'll be given extracts. AQA have said that the extracts are there to support students who need them, but do not have to be used, so don't worry about them in your planning. Also, if you plan an essay you can be 95% sure that the extract will fit into whatever you've got planned. It'll be a relevant extract so go for it.
Important Note about extracts:
for A Christmas Carol and Macbeth you'll be given extracts. AQA have said that the extracts are there to support students who need them, but do not have to be used, so don't worry about them in your planning. Also, if you plan an essay you can be 95% sure that the extract will fit into whatever you've got planned. It'll be a relevant extract so go for it.
What about Unseen poetry?
Because the Unseen poetry part of the exam is... well, UNSEEN it's very difficult to prepare for. I've written some sample answers and given you some pieces to practice with so have a go with them. But, really, the fact that it's unseen means that you're better off treating it like part of the language paper and focusing on practice rather than planning.
What about Unseen poetry?
Because the Unseen poetry part of the exam is... well, UNSEEN it's very difficult to prepare for. I've written some sample answers and given you some pieces to practice with so have a go with them. But, really, the fact that it's unseen means that you're better off treating it like part of the language paper and focusing on practice rather than planning.
But that's the very simple idea: How do you revise for literature? Plan an example answer for each of the most likely questions and then fit them to whatever comes up on the day.
But that's the very simple idea: How do you revise for literature? Plan an example answer for each of the most likely questions and then fit them to whatever comes up on the day.
How to prepare for Language: Practice
How to prepare for Language: Practice
Both the language papers are unseen, which means it's difficult to plan an answer beforehand. This doesn't mean you can't revise though. The key is this:
Both the language papers are unseen, which means it's difficult to plan an answer beforehand. This doesn't mean you can't revise though. The key is this:
Make sure you know exactly what you have to do for each question and prepare a simple revision card with a clear set of instructions for yourself - you can visit the Language paper section of the website for some guidance on how to do this.
Make sure you know exactly what you have to do for each question and prepare a simple revision card with a clear set of instructions for yourself - you can visit the Language paper section of the website for some guidance on how to do this.
Practice writing your own answers, using either the examples that are provided in the language section of the website or by visiting the classroom and doing some work on the reading exercises that are in there.
Practice writing your own answers, using either the examples that are provided in the language section of the website or by visiting the classroom and doing some work on the reading exercises that are in there.
How to use the Classroom:
When you join one of the reading classrooms you'll find a whole range of self-marking reading exercises that are great for helping you prepare for the big day. Though the answers are multiple choice, you'll be constantly presented with the kind of language you'll need to use to succeed. It should be noted that using these exercises isn't as valuable as actually writing an answer and having it marked, but they're a lot easier and they will help improve the quality of your final written work.
How to use the Classroom:
When you join one of the reading classrooms you'll find a whole range of self-marking reading exercises that are great for helping you prepare for the big day. Though the answers are multiple choice, you'll be constantly presented with the kind of language you'll need to use to succeed. It should be noted that using these exercises isn't as valuable as actually writing an answer and having it marked, but they're a lot easier and they will help improve the quality of your final written work.
What about creative writing?
What about creative writing?
There are SO many different ways you can approach a piece of creative writing that it's very difficult to give any really worthwhile advice. It's worth reading some flash fiction and descriptive writing to give you an idea of what's achievable, and it might be worth practicing with a couple of the structures to see if you can find one that resonates with you.
There are SO many different ways you can approach a piece of creative writing that it's very difficult to give any really worthwhile advice. It's worth reading some flash fiction and descriptive writing to give you an idea of what's achievable, and it might be worth practicing with a couple of the structures to see if you can find one that resonates with you.
However, the basic rules of grammar won't change and so it's definitely worth getting to grips with them. Although (officially) SPAG is only worth 16 out of 40 marks, the reality is that SPAG and style are far more closely linked than we like to think and if your SPAG improves then the mark out of 24 will improve as well. To improve your SPAG, go to the classroom and do the quizzes. Have a look down the list and choose sections you're not so good at and practice until you get them right. Then, when you're in the exam, make sure you show you can use them.
However, the basic rules of grammar won't change and so it's definitely worth getting to grips with them. Although (officially) SPAG is only worth 16 out of 40 marks, the reality is that SPAG and style are far more closely linked than we like to think and if your SPAG improves then the mark out of 24 will improve as well. To improve your SPAG, go to the classroom and do the quizzes. Have a look down the list and choose sections you're not so good at and practice until you get them right. Then, when you're in the exam, make sure you show you can use them.
So, in a nutshell, this is what I'd do to prepare for creative writing:
So, in a nutshell, this is what I'd do to prepare for creative writing:
- Visit the short story, descriptive and non-fiction sections of the website and get a good idea of what's possible.
- Find a couple of ideas that connect with you and have a practice with them either by planning or writing a story along those lines
- Visit the SPAG classrooms and make sure you're confident with all the major punctuation points and common spelling errors, and plan to show you understand how to use them on the day
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