The Student Room Group

Time management for English literature

I’ve finished both of my Edexcel English literature mocks today and for both of them I’ve struggled to finish the paper. I don’t think I’m bad with English but I don’t get how you can write a good answer in a short amount of time. I have lots of ideas but I find it really hard to write them all down in the level I want to for the theme questions specifically. If you have any tips and advise please tell me, thank you.
Original post by Toomanyenny
I’ve finished both of my Edexcel English literature mocks today and for both of them I’ve struggled to finish the paper. I don’t think I’m bad with English but I don’t get how you can write a good answer in a short amount of time. I have lots of ideas but I find it really hard to write them all down in the level I want to for the theme questions specifically. If you have any tips and advise please tell me, thank you.

hey, i've had the same issue and it's a really hard one! i was able to get extra time because of my issues with finishing (i don't know if you've already looked into this). but even with extra time i still struggled to finish. i would say the only way to improve is practice, revision and repetition. if you're in year 12 (and actually year 13 too), then you have got a fair amount of time to become much more confident with the texts, and when this happens your ideas will flow a lot more quickly, and you'll find yourself writing similar paragraphs to what you have written in previous essays. knowing the text inside out will definitely make everything come easier and quicker.

regardless, in my final exams i don't think i finished any of my essays and one of them i shockingly managed to only write an introduction and one main body paragraph. but i still came out with an A! in english is definitely quality over quantity. so obviously work on your timing, but if what you are writing is of a high level, then the examiners will be able to award you high bands.

hope this is helpful, and if you haven't already, definitely look into getting extra time.
Reply 2
Original post by elsiegrepnal5
hey, i've had the same issue and it's a really hard one! i was able to get extra time because of my issues with finishing (i don't know if you've already looked into this). but even with extra time i still struggled to finish. i would say the only way to improve is practice, revision and repetition. if you're in year 12 (and actually year 13 too), then you have got a fair amount of time to become much more confident with the texts, and when this happens your ideas will flow a lot more quickly, and you'll find yourself writing similar paragraphs to what you have written in previous essays. knowing the text inside out will definitely make everything come easier and quicker.
regardless, in my final exams i don't think i finished any of my essays and one of them i shockingly managed to only write an introduction and one main body paragraph. but i still came out with an A! in english is definitely quality over quantity. so obviously work on your timing, but if what you are writing is of a high level, then the examiners will be able to award you high bands.
hope this is helpful, and if you haven't already, definitely look into getting extra time.


I’m actually in year 11(I have happened to pick it for A-Levels) but this has been helpful thanks

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