Hi mate, I got a grade 9last year and now English for A level, so I can give some advice.
Firstly, there is no set amount of paragraphs you have to write. It is just how much you can write in the time allowed. However, for the extract based questions, you need remember to have half you answer based on the extract, the other half based on the whole text. Also, find what the mark schemes say and create them into a sort of checklist. For AQA, to get high grades you need to analyse "language,structure and form" so part of my checklist was to do this. Your exam board also has some example answers with commentary, which can really help with regards to how your essays need to look. Lastly, there is a YouTuber called MrBruff who is literally a god send: he has student exemplars, detailed poetry analyse etc which are a must to watch.