1.\u00a0 Know your set texts
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Make sure you know your set texts back to front.\u00a0 This will enable you to tackle questions with confidence, as opposed to desperately scrambling for relevant material. \u00a0Read them through once, annotating your copies, then summarise each chapter\/scene in brief notes.\u00a0 It might be a good idea to re-read at least part of each text over the Easter holidays, to familiarise yourself with them again.<\/p>\n
2.\u00a0 Follow texts up in other media
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Go to the theatre or watch films or TV adaptations of your novels or plays to help you picture the world of your set text.\u00a0 Many are available at accessible prices or will be in your local library.\u00a0 It might also help you think about your texts in a different light.\u00a0 Think critically about your further research.\u00a0 If you watch different versions of them then think about the differences between each adaptation \u2013 why has the director made certain choices?\u00a0 There might also be radio adaptations or paintings illustrating your texts which might illuminate certain themes.<\/p>\n
3.\u00a0 Quotations
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If your exam is closed-book, you will need to learn some quotations to score top marks.\u00a0 This isn\u2019t as difficult as it first seems!\u00a0 You are not expected to reel off entire soliloquies \u2013 a short phrase deployed where it is relevant, followed by some close reading, will enhance your argument.\u00a0 Go through your texts carefully to find a few quotations that are relevant to main themes, and so therefore likely to be helpful in the exam.\u00a0 Learn these by copying them onto post-it notes and sticking them around your house, on your mirror, above your light-switch, or on the back of the front door.\u00a0 You will be surprised how soon they sink in if you see them every day \u2013 the trick is not to be too ambitious and try and learn too many!<\/p>\n
4.\u00a0 Unseens<\/b><\/p>\n
Many exam boards test your comprehension and interpretative skills by giving you passages you have never seen before to analyse \u2013 \u2018unseens\u2019.\u00a0 Reading a block of confusing text for the first time and being expected to discuss it can seem daunting.\u00a0 Don\u2019t worry!\u00a0 The key is to practise.\u00a0 Dip into books in the library or find poems online and read a section before jotting down some key points about the passage.\u00a0 Think about what the writer is trying to achieve and how they do this.\u00a0 As you read more, unseens will become less intimidating.<\/p>\n
5.\u00a0 Literary techniques
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Score top marks in essays by deploying those key buzzwords \u2013 literary techniques.\u00a0 We\u2019ve all heard of \u2018repetition\u2019 and \u2018alliteration\u2019, but lots of students forget to use them because they feel they\u2019re stating the obvious.\u00a0 Use them \u2013 close read the quotations you use to show why that phrase in particular achieves a certain effect.\u00a0 This depth of perceptive analysis will really impress your examiners, and demonstrate your command of the theory of studying English.<\/p>\n
6.\u00a0 Context
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Knowing the historical and social context of your texts will enable you to explore whether they were radical or conservative at the time they were written \u2013 and then compare this to modern standards.\u00a0 Understanding the context in which texts were written and received is a frequent assessment objective across exam boards.\u00a0 If you\u2019re interested in or are studying history, then this will be slightly easier for you \u2013 you might even be lucky enough to be studying the same period in both English and history!\u00a0 If you feel less comfortable with the history behind your texts, then do some reading around the period to help you understand social norms.\u00a0 Producing timelines can be very helpful so that you can keep track of key events around the writing of your text.<\/p>\n
7.\u00a0 Wider reading
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Topping up your knowledge of historical contexts is not the only form of wider reading you can do.\u00a0 Make yourself feel comfortable in the exam by reading related books \u2013 what else did your author write?\u00a0 Was another text hugely influenced by yours?\u00a0 Was it based upon another piece of literature?\u00a0 Find out what else was going on in the literary scene at the time of composition of your text.<\/p>\n
8.\u00a0 Past papers
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Make sure you know exactly what to do in the exam by familiarising yourself with past papers.\u00a0 From these, you can gauge the kind of questions you will be asked and practise answering them.\u00a0 Keep an eye on the number of marks and work out how long you should spend on each question.\u00a0 Use the examination board\u2019s website to look at the syllabus and mark scheme.\u00a0 This will show you what the examiners are looking for to make sure you hit all of their targets.<\/p>\n
9.\u00a0 Planning<\/b><\/p>\n
Ensure all of your hard work in the revision period is not wasted in the exam by planning your answers carefully.\u00a0 You should include time for this when you work out how to structure your time in the exam hall.\u00a0 Make sure you know what you are going to write before you put pen to paper; this might feel like wasting time to begin with but will be worth it!\u00a0 Jot down the main points for your introduction, individual paragraphs and conclusion.\u00a0 \u2018The power of three\u2019 is a very helpful way to structure many essays: three paragraphs with three points each.<\/p>\n
10.\u00a0 Checking
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When you\u2019ve finished writing your answer in the exam, it might be tempting to sit back and collapse with exhaustion.\u00a0 Don\u2019t do this \u2013 not yet, anyway!\u00a0 Exam boards value accurate written expression very highly, and this is often the first thing to be lost when you are stressed and writing quickly.\u00a0 Check through for spelling mistakes or grammatical errors, and also make sure your handwriting is legible.\u00a0 If you have more time, look for any points you could develop further.\u00a0 If you find yourself with a spare five minutes at the end of the exam, don\u2019t waste it!<\/p>\n
written by Laura Clash (Oxford University)<\/em><\/p>\n By Laura Clash,\u00a0An english MyTutor Tutor<\/a><\/p>\n