It's less than three weeks until the first English Literature GCSE. It's a time when most students are starting to feel the pressure. However, there are some simple things that students can do to alleviate feelings of stress and help them to achieve the very top levels.
- Make sure that all of the key quotes for the Literature texts are written onto either revision cards or A4 brainstorms by the end of the Easter break.
- Key statements about context are also written down for each text.
- All 15 poems have been read and notes about language, form and structure have been made. But, be strategic. Students do not need to know all 15 poems in great depth. They can pick out the vital 6 or 7 which can be used in a number of possible exam questions.
- From the Easter holidays on-wards students should start writing plans out for the most likely exam questions. For example, the development of Macbeth.
- In the last few weeks students should write timed responses, which they ideally ask their teacher or tutor to mark, with detailed feedback.
- In order to achieve levels 7-9 in English Literature students need to think about how they can give original readings of the texts.
If students revise in this manner they will feel far more confident going in to the English exams and less pressured.