How do I get those top grades in English? As and A*s?

The difference between English GCSE and English at A level is the volume of independent learning. This means taking an active approach to your essays and further reading surrounding the texts at A level. Examiners will want to see that not only do you understand the text(s) that you are studying but that you have taken on further reading and read around the contexts of the period it was published. Adding to this, a level of fluidity is needed to supplement your writing i.e. sentences and paragraphs shouldn't seem to fixed and anchored to the Point, Evidence, Explanation style. Instead, opt for something along these lines: Point, Explain, Evidence, Analyse, Critical Reception, Context, Justification. That way a more well-rounded view can be adopted. Planning is also key in an exam. Make sure you leave yourself time to think through the question and really get to grips with what it is asking. Remember – you will not get the top marks if you write an incredible essay that does not answer the question. Even though critical quotations will also provide an aspect of further reading, make sure you respect the text that is in question and learn a breadth of quotations to support any theme/character that you could be asked about. English essays should be creative not scientific so a nuanced judgement is crucial to run throughout your essays starting in the introduction, working it's way through the body of the essay and summarised succinctly in the conclusion.