1. YEAR 11 REVISION LAST MINUTE REMINDERS 16 th May Paper 1 9- 11am 18 th May Paper 2 1.30- 3.30

2. WHAT IS PAPER 1? Paper 1 tests your reading and writing ability Section A tests your reading ability. You will be presented with an unseen extract and you will be asked 4 questions on the extract worth 10 marks each. Section B tests your writing ability. You will be asked to write a descriptive piece of writing and an imaginative piece of writing

3. Before reading….. Before you even begin to look at the text you should read the questions A1- A4. Each question will relate to a separate chunk or paragraph of the extract so you should be able to find the information needed quickly. Draw lines on the exam sheet which correlate with each question so you actually break the text into 4 chunks. Highlight the key phrases that you need to look for in each question.

4. Whilst reading…. Read the whole text through once so you understand the extract. Look back at the questions and read the chunk of the section that relates to the question and highlight evidence on the exam paper. Highlight words and phrases rather than big chunks The question is worth 10 points so try to find 10 separate pieces of information to use as evidence.

5. Be specific and look at the question If the question asks about how the writer creates mood and atmosphere, say straight away what the mood and atmosphere is. If it asks you what you learn about a character.. Make sure you explicitly explain how the evidence helps form a picture in your mind Make sure you refer explicitly to the question

6. How long on each question..? Spend 10 minutes reading through the questions and texts and highlighting key information Spend 10 minutes on each question Spend 5 minutes checking through your answers

7. If the question asks you how a particular effect is created, consider: Use of sentence structures Use of punctuation Use of words/ phrases for effect What is actually happening in the story and what affect does that have on the reader?

8. If the question asks about the character’s viewpoint…. Think about HOW you get that impression Choice of words/ phrases? Sentence structure? Punctuation? Paragraph structure? Structure of the text?

9. What makes the difference between a C and an A It’s not enough to simply look for the answers and repeat them back The examiner will be looking for you to understand the subtleties of the text. Think about why an extract ahs been chosen? How does it grip an audience? What do you think is going to happen next? Has happened previously? Why is it happening?

10. Empathise with a character Think about how a character is thinking, feeling and what they are doing? Look for the details, what clues are there in the writing that a character is thinking or feeling a certain way? Think about who, what, where, why, how?

11. What are examiners looking for? Read with insight- can you notice the details? Make appropriate references to texts- select key info ( not huge quotes) Consider alternative interpretations- sustain discussion on interpretation Evaluate how writers use words and structure their writing to make it more effective.

12. Remember A writer has deliberately crafted the way they present their information. They consider every full stop and every choice of word. Think about how they’ve crafted their writing and why? What does it contribute to the story? How does it make you feel? What is the effect?

13. Think about? What is really going on here? How is the atmosphere of the text created? Are there any changes in the mood or pace of the story? Are there any literary devices used- metaphors, personification etc- what is the effect?

14. PAPER 1 SECTION B The first writing task is always testing your descriptive writing skills and there no choice will be given. You must answer the task provided. It is worth imagining with descriptive writing that you are a camera with a zoom lens. Take a picture of what you see( write about the scene) and then zoom in on details in the whole picture( write in detail about the specific details of the scene).

15. PAPER 1- SECTION B Use standard English and avoid slang Make sure you engage your reader. Use any trick you can to guarantee your reader is interested and continues to read. Choose one tense to write in and stick to it, sometimes it’s easier to choose past tense Constantly refer to your senses, what could you see, hear, smell, feel, taste? Use similes and metaphors Use personification and onomatopoeia Describe every detail Use lots of adjectives Do not just tell a story. The examiner wants you to describe what happened. It doesn’t matter if you don’t finish or even if you start in the middle of the event. The description is the most important. Remember, you are trying to make the reader see what you see. Use words or images which create pictures in their heads. Use lots of imagery.

16. Focus on the details Imagine you are a video camera filming the area around you. What can you see, hear, smell, feel, taste? Zoom in on the details- describe in detail then zoom in on something else DESCRIPTIVE WRITING IS ALL ABOUT THE DETAILS

17. Getting an A/ A* Getting an A/ A* is about making your piece of writing stand out from the crowd. Remember the examiner will be reading hundreds of examples of the same thing. How can you make yours different? You could choose to describe from the perspective of a character? Be creative, show originality and flair.

18. PAPER 1 SECTION B2 IMAGINATIVE WRITING 25 MINUTES 20 MARKS

19. Get creative! Imaginative writing is one the best aspects of the English exam as it allows you an opportunity to be truly creative and imaginative. There is no right or wrong to this section of the exam- as long as your writing makes sense and is well crafted, you can’t go wrong. This is your opportunity to let your imagination shine!

20. IMAGINATIVE / NARRATIVE WRITING For this section of the exam you will be provided with a choice of 5 titles and you must choose one to write about worth 20 marks. Quite often the questions provide the opportunity to write about personal stories, so it is worth considering in advance about a time you felt happy/sad/ guilty/ proud/ ashamed/ scared etc. You should consider all the techniques of descriptive writing as they apply to imaginative writing as well but you are focusing on producing a story.

21. Techniques to remember…. Senses- what can you see, hear, smell,feel, taste? Onomatopoeia Personification Colours and textures Similes and metaphors Physical descriptions to portray emotions- hands quivering, fist tightening, smile fading..

22. General points to remember… You will be assessed on your use of spelling, sentence structure, punctuation and paragraph use. If you forget about all these things you can go back and add paragraphs by marking your text with // to show the examiner you want a new paragraph there. Try to use a variety of punctuation ( :, ;?!) this automatically gives you more marks. Make sure you use a variety of sentence structures for effect. Use long descriptive sentences followed by short snappy ones. Try to expand your vocabulary. Use words you do not normally use. It doesn’t matter if you’re not completely sure how to spell them. You get points for trying. Use standard English and avoid slang

23. Think of a character! For imaginative writing you do not have to write from the perspective of yourself. For example, you may wish to write from the perspective of a persona or character in the third person. If the question asked you to write about a time you felt guilty, you may wish to think about a character in prison and write from their perspective. Remember the examiner will be reading lots of papers from people your age so if you can invent a character you will gain the interest of the examiner more.

24. To get an A/ A* you must….. Carefully select material- don’t ramble- think about what you are writing Think about your paragraph structure and sequence of ideas, vary the pace of your story Think about the details- imagine you are writing a sequence in a film- what details would you want a director to focus on? Use a variety of connectives.. ( although, however, despite, consequently) Use a wide range of ambitious vocabulary Use a wide range of sentence structures Use at least 5 different types of punctuation to vary pace and for deliberate effects Ensure if you change tense you do this securely ( don’t keep swapping from past to present tense)

25. ENGLISH EXAM PAPER 2 2 HOURS

26. SECTION A- MEDIA/ NON FICTION COMPARISON- 50 MINS This section will ask you to analyse non fiction texts. This could be newspaper articles/magazine articles/ leaflets/ websites/ reviews etc. It is testing your ability to read for meaning and understand how arguments are presented and developed. There will be 4 questions which comprise 2/3 questions on text A, 1 question on text B and 1 question comparing A and B. Each question is worth 10 marks.

27. Before reading both texts….  Before reading the extracts make sure you have read the questions. This will help you quickly find what you are looking for. Underline the key phrases of the question and then underline the extracts as you read them. This will help you quickly respond to the question.

28. Own words/ list? If the question asks you to explain something in your own words, you do not need to use a quote. The examiner is interested in your own understanding so make sure you use your own words. You can use a quote to back up your opinion but your opinion is the most important. If the question asks you to list, make sure you write a list or use bullet points.

29. What are the questions looking for? One question will be comprehension, which tests your reading ability. Another question will ask you how a certain impression, view or tone is portrayed. For these questions you should consider choice of language, sentence structure, use of punctuation and the content of the writing.

30. How effective is the text? One question will ask you to consider how the text attracts its audience or how effective it is for its purpose. Consider: Presentational devices ( subheadings, titles, captions, pictures, use of bold etc) The use of language ( how is persuasive? Emotive? Informative? etc. What particular words or phrases give you clues? Pick out quotes to help you back up your point) The writer’s attitude/ ideas/ opinions ( what words or phrases give you clues?) How they develop an argument or point of view ( think about the structure of the piece- how is it organised?)

31. Always remember TAP! When commenting on a text, think about: TOPIC- what are they writing about? AUDIENCE- who is the writing aimed at? PURPOSE- why has this been written? What is the writer trying to achieve? Make sure you give your own opinion. Do you think the extract has worked? How could they have been improved?

32. Comparing the texts…. The last question will usually make a thematic comparison. This means it will ask you a direct question about the ways both texts present their themes. You will need to use information and quotes from both texts. The question will usually give you some bullet points to help you organise your ideas- make sure you focus on these.

33. SECTION B1- WRITING TO ARGUE/ PERSUADE/ ADVISE 35 MINUTES 20 MARKS

34. B1- writing to argue/ persuade/ advise This section will be a writing task. You will be provided with one question that my be linked to the theme of the previous extracts and will test your ability to write to argue/ persuade or advise.. It is important to remind yourself of the specific techniques associated with each writing style.

35. WRITING TO ARGUE This is where you need to balance both sides of an argument and then give your own opinion. It is important that you acknowledge the opposing argument and then try to counter argue with your point of view. Start with a statement that you may not agree with. For example, ‘Some people believe that ……….however, I believe…….. Use useful linking phrases like ‘However’, ‘Therefore’, ‘Nevertheless’ Offer your own opinion, ‘I believe that….’ Use the media texts to help you. You can quote from these for extra marks. Use facts and figures to back up your point. ( if you don’t know any, make them up but make sure they are believable) Use rhetorical questions Use emotive language.

36. WRITING TO PERSUADE When writing to persuade, imagine you are a used car salesman. You must convince the reader that you are absolutely right. You are trying to persuade someone to do or think something so use all your persuasive powers. Exaggerate and stress points. Underline your main points Use ‘we’ and ‘us’ when you can. This makes the reader feel more people are on the side of your opinion. Remember the magic 3 rule. Say your point 3 times to make the message more effective. For example, ‘These people are helpless, vulnerable and destitute’ Use repetition Use emotive language Direct your points personally at the audience, ‘Surely you would agree?’ Use rhetorical questions. ‘Is this really what you want?’ Finish on a strong point, ‘Think about it!’

37. WRITING TO ADVISE Break your idea or information down into a series of instructions Structure your advice clearly, so it follows a logical sequence Use bullet points, subheadings or numbering Use anecdotes or jokes to keep the reader interested Make sure your advice is clear and easy to understand Use imperative verbs ( must, put, place, add, move etc) Offer helpful alternatives Consider other places the audience can get help ( organisations, charities, internet etc) Be encouraging and keep your tone friendly.

38. Remember to…. Make sure you include a plan, this can be a list or spider diagram or a flow chart. Examiners automatically feel happy when they see a plan and it is a good idea to keep examiners happy. You must ensure you plan and spend time checking. You will be assessed on your use of spelling, sentence structure, punctuation and paragraph use. If you forget about all these things you can go back and add paragraphs by marking your text with // to show the examiner you want a new paragraph there. Try to use a variety of punctuation ( :, ;?!) this automatically gives you more marks. Make sure you use a variety of sentence structures for effect. Use long descriptive sentences followed by short snappy ones. Try to expand your vocabulary. Use words you do not normally use. It doesn’t matter if you’re not completely sure how to spell them. You get points for trying.

39. Remember to… Use standard English and avoid slang Make sure you engage your reader. Use any trick you can to guarantee your reader is interested and continues to read. Remember to highlight the key points of the question. Consider TAP What do they want you to write? Who do they want you to write it for? How do they want you to present it? ( magazine article, letter, webpage – make sure you set it out like the presentational feature requested.)

40. SCREAM 3 ! A Useful phrase to remember could be SCREAM3 S Sentence length and variation, superlatives and similes C Contrast ( state one thing then the opposite) R Repetition, rhetorical questions E Emotive language A Alliteration, Adjectives M Metaphorical language 3 Magic 3 rule

41. PAPER TWO SECTION B2- REVIEW/ ANALYSE/ COMMENT 35 MINUTES 20 MARKS

42. Section B2- 35 minutes This section will be a writing task. You will be given one question to answer which will be either writing to review/analyse/comment. Remember to highlight the key points of the question. Consider TAP What do they want you to write? Who do they want you to write it for? How do they want you to present it? ( magazine article, letter, webpage – make sure you set it out like the presentational feature requested.)

43. Remember to…. You will be assessed on your use of spelling, sentence structure, punctuation and paragraph use. If you forget about all these things you can go back and add paragraphs by marking your text with // to show the examiner you want a new paragraph there. Try to use a variety of punctuation ( :, ;?!) this automatically gives you more marks. Make sure you use a variety of sentence structures for effect. Use long descriptive sentences followed by short snappy ones. Try to expand your vocabulary. Use words you do not normally use. It doesn’t matter if you’re not completely sure how to spell them. You get points for trying. Use standard English and avoid slang Make sure you engage your reader. Use any trick you can to guarantee your reader is interested and continues to read.

44. Writing to REVIEW/ ANALYSE/ COMMENT Be very clear who your audience is and what format you have been asked to use. Choose language that would appeal to your target audience If reviewing something make sure that you consider all aspects of the product and who it might appeal to. Consider the pros and cons of the product you are reviewing If writing a review, try to sound like an expert and imagine that you have done this many times before. If giving your opinion on something, remember that you could take on the persona of a character. For example, you could be a very fussy film critic or you could choose a character from TV and imagine they are writing the review or giving their opinion. Be as imaginative as possible and don’t be afraid to use humour. Be as imaginative as possible and make your answer stands out from all the others the examiner will read. Don’t be afraid to use humour- this is especially important if you are writing from the perspective of a character.

45. GOOD LUCK! DO LOTS OF ACTIVE REVSION BY HAVING A GO AT PAST PAPERS AND THE IDEAS IN YOUR REVISION GUIDE.