Who Says You Can’t Revise for English?

GCSE Breakdown

English Language / English GCSE

• 40% Controlled Assessment - completed

• 60% Exam - Unit 1 (2 hrs 15 mins) 2nd June am

English Literature

• 25% Controlled Assessment - completed

• 75% Exam

• Paper 1: Exploring Modern Texts (Of Mice and Men and An Inspector Calls) (1hr 30mins) 18th May

• Paper 2: Poetry Across Time (1 hr 15mins) 22nd May

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Preparation

• We are ensuring high quality teaching and learning in and beyond the classroom with intensive focus on exam skills.

• We are using diagnostic assessment tools, specific individual feedback to students, intervention strategies and sustained focus on progression and improvement.

• We are creating opportunities for students’ to develop their exam technique (timing, writing stamina, knowledge of assessment criteria, familiarity with questions and exam structure) and improve confidence such as December mock exams, ‘Walking – talking Mocks’, March Mock exams.

• Revision booklet, strategies and resources are provided to support students with independent revision.

• A 54 page booklet of advice, guidance and tasks will be given to all students next week.

English Language Unit 1 Paper (Higher Tier)

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

Q5 Q6

Q1 What do you learn about...?

Comprehension & Summary 8 marks 12 minutes

A range of pointsSupported by quotes as evidenceMakes links between connected ideasNo analysis

Q2 Explain how the headline and picture are effective and how they link to the text

Presentational devices & evaluation 8 marks 12 minutes

Points about how image & headline reflect content of textUnderstanding of how headline and image workMakes connections between different aspects of text Analysis & evaluation using evidence

Q3 Explain the writer’s thoughts and feelings

Inference 8 marks 12 minutes

Selection of points from across extractReading between the linesUnderstanding of subtextEvidence and explanation

Unit 1 Paper Foundation Tier

Q1a & b Q2 Q3 Q4

Q5 Q6

Compares presentational devices and layout

Tests reading between the lines

Language analysis

Q4 Compare the ways in which language is used for effect in the two texts

Analysis of language for GAP 16 marks 24minutes

Choices for comparisonFocus on language techniques used by writers to have effect on the readerUnderstanding of different types of language in different types of text

How to revise

Read journalism and literary non-fiction

Understand effect of language on readers

Practise annotation

Practise timed answers

Practise making links

Practise planning answers

Learn language features

Q5 Inform Explain Describe

Usually a type of writing you might find in real life

Concise & stylish

Structured, with sentences used for effect.

Spelling, punctuation

Word choices & devices

16 marks 24 minutes

Q6 Argue or Persuade

• More developed writing

• Uses conventions of argument or persuasion

• Clearly organised writing

• Range of sentence structures

• Clear sense of audience & purpose

• Formal style

• Spelling & punctuation

24 marks 35 minutes

English Literature

• 22nd

Unit 1: Prose and Drama Exam

Section AChoice of 2 essay questions based on ‘An Inspector Calls’ E.g.Question 18How important do you think social class is in An Inspector Calls and how does Priestley present ideas about social class? (30 marks) SPaG: (4 marks)

45 mins

Section B - 2 part question on the novel

Read the following passage and then answer Part (a) and Part (b)

Part (a)In this passage, how does Steinbeck

present Crooks? Refer closely to the passage in your answer.

and thenPart (b) In the rest of the novel how does

Steinbeck use Crooks to present attitudes to black people at the time the novel is set? (30 marks)

SPaG: (4 marks)

45 mins

CONTEXT

Unit 2

Unseen poem

Relationships Cluster• 15 poems• Choice of 2 questions• Named poem compared to another from the

same cluster

Work Smart!

Literature Revision Tips

• Re-read set texts and make character, theme and technique revision posters.

• Practise exam-style questions under timed conditions (see AQA website for past papers and English revision packs - to be given out before the Easter Holidays)

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