1. Strategies for exam success
South Dartmoor
Learning Together
Welcome
Year 11 Support Evening
Strategies for exam success
2. English

2. GCSE English Language GCSE English Literature
What to revise, when and how?

3. GCSE English Literature
GCSE English Language
Paper 1: 19th Century Texts and Imaginative Writing
Section A: One text, written between 1800 and Questions start with comprehension and then build to analysis and evaluation.
Section B: Creative writing task.
Paper 2: Non-fiction and Transactional Writing
Section A: Two non-fiction texts. Comprehension and analysis questions about each text and then a question comparing the two.
Section B: Transactional writing – a non-fiction writing task.
GCSE English Literature
Paper 1: Shakespeare and 20th Century Drama
Section A: one question about an extract from The Merchant of Venice focusing on language and structure; one question about the whole text focusing on context and ideas. Closed Book.
Section B: choice of questions about a character or theme of An Inspector Calls. Closed Book.
Paper 2: 19th century fiction and poetry
Section A: one question about an extract from A Christmas Carol focusing on language and structure; one question about the whole text focusing on ideas. Closed Book.
Section B: poetry – one printed poem which students must compare to another one from the anthology (closed book). Then two printed poems that they have not studied. Compare the two poems.

4. English Language: what to revise?
Make lists of key terms for writing about language in fiction and non-fiction texts and pin them up in places you will see them often.
Revise what each question is asking you to do using the notes you’ve made in your books following assessments. Make a list for each exam with the questions, what they are testing and what to watch out for.
Writing skills – identify what you need to do to uplevel your writing. Is it accuracy? Vocabulary? Structure? Sentence variety? Your books contain this feedback already.
Practice writing short stories, letters and article in timed conditions and ask your English teacher to check them for you and give you some next steps to try.
Visit the websites recommended in your booklet to get some extra tips and support.
Get hold of a basic grammar workbook – we can recommend one if you like – and work through it to improve your accuracy and versatility.

5. English Literature: what to revise?
Make a poster of key terms for writing about language. Add to it examples from the texts.
Revise context, plot, character and themes of the three texts to ensure you can write about the whole text without the book. Make yourself mind maps or fact files for each text.
Practice analysing the way language is used to present characters, events or themes in short extracts (40 lines) and get your teacher to check them for you and give you some tips.
Use the websites recommended in your booklet and/or get hold of a revision guide for each text to support you. If you use the library for HL/revision time, there are copies of revision guides available for you to use there.

6. The most important thing is…
… it starts now!
HL set in year 11 will be focused on reviewing or extending current learning or on looking back over year ten content so that your revision is happening alongside the new parts of the course.
Put aside a bit of time each week for English. Use this time to complete HL tasks and to do a bit of revision of your own as well if you can.