FACULTY OF ENGLISH AND MEDIA GCSE English Literature Revision Tips
Winning isn t everything, but wanting to win, is Vince Lombardi You may be disappointed if you fail, but you re doomed if you don t try Beverly Sills
A good grade in GCSE English Literature is just as important as English Language.
In 10 weeks time, ask yourself the following questions
Do I have any regrets? Did I work incredibly hard? Did I aim high? Did I show initiative, resilience and determination? Did I show the desire to succeed and achieve my very best?
Why is a good grade in English so important? You can use it as a springboard for future success. Employers, training providers and universities see it as a vital qualification. It proves you are a good communicator and thinker.
What do my exams look like? Paper 1 Section A Novel Of Mice and Men / To Kill a Mockingbird Section B - Poetry Comparison of two unseen poems Paper 2 Section A Play Blood Brothers / A View from the Bridge Section B Novel A Christmas Carol / Lord of the Flies
What do my exams look like? Paper 1 Section A Novel (Two Questions) First question (a) based on a short extract printed in the question booklet. Question will focus on CHARACTER or MOOD AND ATMOSPHERE. (E.g. What do you think of the way Candy / Atticus speaks and behaves here?... / How does Steinbeck / Lee create mood and atmosphere here?... ) You must focus on writer s use of LANGUAGE, so use SHORT, EMBEDDED QUOTATIONS to support points. Worth 10 marks spend 20 mins on it.
What do my exams look like? Paper 1 Section A Novel (Two Questions) Second question (b) or (c) a choice of two options. Choose the one that you think you can write most confidently about. Question will focus on CHARACTER, THEME or SETTING. (E.g. How does Steinbeck create sympathy for Lennie in Of Mice and Men? / How does Harper Lee present the theme of justice in To Kill a Mockingbird? On the Foundation tier paper, the question will usually give you BULLET POINTS to help structure your answer. Extra marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar. Worth 24 marks, so spend 40 minutes on it.
What do my exams look like? Paper 1 Section B Unseen Poetry (One question) Different poems each time. Spend time reading them through carefully. Question is always the same: Write about both poems and their effect on you. Show how they are similar and how they are different. Both tiers give you bullet points to help you: CONTENT, IDEAS, MOOD & ATMOSPHERE, WORDS & PHRASES, YOUR RESPONSE. Use short, embedded QUOTATIONS to support your points.
What do my exams look like? Paper 2 Section A Play (2 Questions) + Section B Novel (2 questions) First question (a) based on a short extract printed in the question booklet. Question will focus on CHARACTER or MOOD AND ATMOSPHERE. (E.g. What do you think of the way Mrs Johnston speaks and behaves here?... / How does Miller create mood and atmosphere here?... ) You must focus on writer s use of LANGUAGE, so use SHORT, EMBEDDED QUOTATIONS to support points. Worth 10 marks spend 20 mins on it.
What do my exams look like? Paper 2 Section A Play (Two Questions) + Section B Novel (2 questions) Second question (b) or (c) a choice of two options. Choose the one that you think you can write most confidently about. Question will focus on CHARACTER, THEME or SETTING. (E.g. How is childhood presented in Blood Brothers? / Write about the relationship between Eddie and Beatrice in A View from the Bridge On the Foundation tier paper, the question will usually give you BULLET POINTS to help structure your answer. Extra marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar. Worth 24 marks, so spend 40 minutes on it.
What can I do at home? KNOW YOUR TEXTS! For each of your texts, make sure you have basic notes on the following: MAIN CHARACTERS KEY THEMES SETTINGS HOW THE WRITER CREATES CERTAIN MOODS AND ATMOSPHERES IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE TEXT MEMORABLE QUOTATIONS
What can I do at home? For Question (a) practice, choose any short extract from your texts and have a go at the typical tasks: How does speak and behave here? How does create mood and atmosphere here?
Do I have any regrets? Did I work incredibly hard? Did I aim high? Did I show initiative, resilience and determination? Did I show the desire to succeed and achieve my very best?