English gcse exams

I am struggling with English and am currently barely on a grade 5.
How can I build this up I used to want to get all 9s and 8s in gcse but with English it seems unlikely now I would love to aim for a 7

I do struggle with creativity when writing and trying to include methods which waste my time as it takes me a while to think of it.

Reply 1

Kayak1

8

Original post by Nicolettata

I am struggling with English and am currently barely on a grade 5.
How can I build this up I used to want to get all 9s and 8s in gcse but with English it seems unlikely now I would love to aim for a 7
I do struggle with creativity when writing and trying to include methods which waste my time as it takes me a while to think of it.

If you are more of a maths sort of person - you can sort of make a formula for what you need to do:
E.g point - quote - language analysis - effect on reader.
Also you need to know what you are marked on, whether it’s context, language analysis, structure - check with your teacher or the exam board website.
For context: think about the time the book was written and how it’s relevant to the book - consider the audience (i.e. for Macbeth - a Jacobean audience would expect lady Macbeth to be submissive and gentle)
For language analysis: select specific techniques in words or phrases (simile, metaphor but it can also be as simple as naming the word type i.e noun) discuss why this technique is used (e.g the use of the verb X connotes Y making the audience feel Z)
For structure: mention the start, middle and end - how the book develops . It’s important to use a range of quotes from the whole part of the book. For Structure, also mention the use of caesuras or repetition of a certain word + the effect.
Basically the examiner wants to see if you understand what you are analysing so use a clear point at the start of each paragraph:
E.g for An inspector calls - a paragraph on Inspector Goole could start:
Inspector goole is a prophetic and powerful character who doesn’t identify with Mr Birling’s class signifier, he is a mouthpiece used by J.B priestly to put forward his socialist views.
The examiners also like it if you use specific terminology. E.g proletariat, bourgeoisie and aristocracy when mentioning social class.
Hope this helps!

Reply 2

wowiworry

4

Original post by Nicolettata

I am struggling with English and am currently barely on a grade 5.
How can I build this up I used to want to get all 9s and 8s in gcse but with English it seems unlikely now I would love to aim for a 7
I do struggle with creativity when writing and trying to include methods which waste my time as it takes me a while to think of it.

hi! from the sounds of it, it's possible making essay plans in advice would help you! you can plan general answers to certain themes/characters (use past papers for examples of questions- you can find these online) and then revise these by yourself or by getting someone else to test you. top tip- if you can, try asking your teacher to read over/talk them through with you to improve them! also, sometimes explaining/teaching them to someone else is a really good way to revise them! (this is what I did the day before my exam, and I managed to get a 9!)

I'd then practise doing 10 min plans to unseen questions in timed conditions to get used to adapting ideas/essay plans to whatever question you're faced with. then, try a few timed practise essays in exam conditions- you can then also get your teacher to mark these and give you feedback! the more you do, the better you'll get. Finally, if you struggle to include methods in timed conditions, put together "quote banks" of 3-4 quotes for each character/theme (try to overlap these as much as possible for less work!) and pull out 2 methods from each one, considering their effects (of which there may be multiple- dig deep here and think of alternative interpretations).

those should be the easiest ways of revising to start with- if you need any more help or if any of this doesn't make sense, feel free to ask- and good luck!

Reply 3

Nicolettata

OP

13

Original post by Kayak1

If you are more of a maths sort of person - you can sort of make a formula for what you need to do:
E.g point - quote - language analysis - effect on reader.
Also you need to know what you are marked on, whether it’s context, language analysis, structure - check with your teacher or the exam board website.
For context: think about the time the book was written and how it’s relevant to the book - consider the audience (i.e. for Macbeth - a Jacobean audience would expect lady Macbeth to be submissive and gentle)
For language analysis: select specific techniques in words or phrases (simile, metaphor but it can also be as simple as naming the word type i.e noun) discuss why this technique is used (e.g the use of the verb X connotes Y making the audience feel Z)
For structure: mention the start, middle and end - how the book develops . It’s important to use a range of quotes from the whole part of the book. For Structure, also mention the use of caesuras or repetition of a certain word + the effect.
Basically the examiner wants to see if you understand what you are analysing so use a clear point at the start of each paragraph:
E.g for An inspector calls - a paragraph on Inspector Goole could start:
Inspector goole is a prophetic and powerful character who doesn’t identify with Mr Birling’s class signifier, he is a mouthpiece used by J.B priestly to put forward his socialist views.
The examiners also like it if you use specific terminology. E.g proletariat, bourgeoisie and aristocracy when mentioning social class.
Hope this helps!

Thank youu it does I am definitely a maths person😭

Reply 4

Nicolettata

OP

13

Original post by wowiworry

hi! from the sounds of it, it's possible making essay plans in advice would help you! you can plan general answers to certain themes/characters (use past papers for examples of questions- you can find these online) and then revise these by yourself or by getting someone else to test you. top tip- if you can, try asking your teacher to read over/talk them through with you to improve them! also, sometimes explaining/teaching them to someone else is a really good way to revise them! (this is what I did the day before my exam, and I managed to get a 9!)
I'd then practise doing 10 min plans to unseen questions in timed conditions to get used to adapting ideas/essay plans to whatever question you're faced with. then, try a few timed practise essays in exam conditions- you can then also get your teacher to mark these and give you feedback! the more you do, the better you'll get. Finally, if you struggle to include methods in timed conditions, put together "quote banks" of 3-4 quotes for each character/theme (try to overlap these as much as possible for less work!) and pull out 2 methods from each one, considering their effects (of which there may be multiple- dig deep here and think of alternative interpretations).
those should be the easiest ways of revising to start with- if you need any more help or if any of this doesn't make sense, feel free to ask- and good luck!

Thank youu it does help! How would I overlap the quotes I’ve tried to but for some reason my brain just can’t put them together for different themes. For example poetry.

Reply 5

wowiworry

4

Original post by Nicolettata

Thank youu it does help! How would I overlap the quotes I’ve tried to but for some reason my brain just can’t put them together for different themes. For example poetry.