How to Ace Your English Language GCSE
English Language is a really important subject and you’ll need to pass in order to continue on at college, sixth form or an apprenticeship. English Language teaches you important skills for life like writing reports and letters, analysis of text, speaking and listening, and understanding written communication. Here are some tips to ace your English Language exams.
Read Widely
Reading everything and anything will really help you to expand your vocabulary and understand different styles of writing. Try reading fiction from different genres, newspapers, blog posts, magazines, non-fiction books, and anything else you can find, so that you can see how writing varies for different purposes. Reading fiction will also help feed ideas into your creative writing answers and you’ll be able to structure your writing more imaginatively.
Use Flashcards
Language terminology (we’re talking metaphors, similes, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, etc.) can get super confusing, but by writing down tricky terms and their definitions on flashcards, you’ll be able to test yourself on the go. Flashcard apps like Quizlet and Anki are also great if you have a smartphone and want to avoid carrying wads of index cards!
Make sure you get someone you trust, like a friend or parent, to test you every now and again and try writing out definitions when you’re revising and applying the terminology to examples within extracts.
Assessment Objectives
As with English Literature (and practically every other subject), the Assessment Objectives are the criteria used by examiners to grade your exams. Make sure you’re only including content that will be marked (that means no waffling!) and use them as a checklist when you’re writing exam-style answers.
You should also measure your progress using RAG sheets to see where you need to focus in order to improve your work. You can find English RAG sheets here.
Look Up New Vocabulary
If you come across a word you don’t understand, look it up! A simple Google search will do the trick or you could dig out a dictionary if you have one to hand.
If it’s something you think you’ll forget, write it down in a notebook with any others you are unsure of. Come back to the notebook and test your new vocabulary every month or so until you are confident using these words in sentences. Reading widely will also help to improve your vocabulary, so make sure you’re giving yourself the means to find new terms (e.g., reading different types of fiction or looking at newspapers or reports).
Structure your Writing
Using a writing structure like PEEL, PETAL, or PETER can be useful to help you remember what to include, but don’t let it limit your analysis. Try using ‘What? Why? How?’ to structure your answers and develop your explanations. If you have an extract, for example, think about what is happening, why it is happening, and how we know it’s happening (e.g., through the use of a metaphor).
It’s important to find the balance between too much analysis (waffling!) and too little, so find a structure that works for you and practise it.
Do Past Papers
Practice makes perfect! Put all your new analysis and vocab skills to use and practise as much as you can. If a whole paper seems too much, try doing a 20-40-minute section and come back to the rest another time.
Revision World is a fantastic place to go if you’re looking for past papers for different subjects. You can find links to some past papers for English Language below.
If you would like your work marked with detailed feedback, book a marking slot here.
Book a Tutoring Session
Tried all the above tips and still struggling? That’s okay! Book a tutoring session with me and I will guide you through the language papers to help you achieve the grade you want. We will focus on strengthening your areas of weakness and utilising your strengths to help you achieve your full potential. We will break down the Assessment Objectives and make sure you are fulfilling each in your writing.
Book a free meeting by emailing us here to discuss your needs further. There are no obligations to book after your consultation!
