Eduqas A level English lit

Hi I’m in year 12 about to sit my mocks in about a month. I am at around an A in English lit at the moment but need to be at a higher A/A*.
My main problem in English is the timing as I feel there’s so much to say and not enough time to say it in. For poetry, when we get set essays for homework for example I find myself writing like 8 pages which obviously is too much under timed conditions. How can I make my essays more concise while doing 4 poems and three quotes for each, also including context and at least one critic?
I just don’t understand how to write a good essay with all the info/analysis on only around 4 pages.
I also have the same problem in drama.
For context this is for the eduqas exam board. My poetry mock will be on Duffy and Larkin, and Streeetcar and Duchess for drama.
I need any advice on how to do these essays as I think I know what to write quite well, I’m just not sure how to write it.
Thank you 😁

first try reading and breaking down example essays, which you can probably find online somewhere or your teacher will have access to.
chances are you’re writing too much about each quote, and probably repeating yourself or straying from the question.
critic quotes should be linked to a quote from the text so should only add another line or so to your answer, and then the concept posed by the critic drives your analysis of that quote.
you could also try making overly detailed essay plans to prioritise information, so writing PEEL a few times down the side of your page and bullet pointing the point you’ll make, the relevant text examples/quotes, the message of your analysis, and then the link. it’s like writing the essay without putting it into sentences but you should be able to see where you’re going off-topic or writing too much. hopefully this makes sense 😅 I’m yr13 and doing edexcel but also aiming for a*

Hi I’m in year 12 about to sit my mocks in about a month. I am at around an A in English lit at the moment but need to be at a higher A/A*.
My main problem in English is the timing as I feel there’s so much to say and not enough time to say it in. For poetry, when we get set essays for homework for example I find myself writing like 8 pages which obviously is too much under timed conditions. How can I make my essays more concise while doing 4 poems and three quotes for each, also including context and at least one critic?
I just don’t understand how to write a good essay with all the info/analysis on only around 4 pages.
I also have the same problem in drama.
For context this is for the eduqas exam board. My poetry mock will be on Duffy and Larkin, and Streeetcar and Duchess for drama.
I need any advice on how to do these essays as I think I know what to write quite well, I’m just not sure how to write it.
Thank you 😁

Hi Lottie!
I'm about the sit my a levels (predicted an A*) and do the same exam board and texts as you. My biggest advice would be to find you 'heavy lifting' quotes/context/comparison/critics. I used to be in the exact same position, writing overly long essays because I had so many good ideas, but sadly, it is about what will get you marks. I would suggest you print of some of your essays to a range of different questions and highlight each assessment objective in a different colour; the most colourful paragraphs are the ones you want to use. I've also found it really useful to turn these into 'stock paragraphs' that you can memorise and adapt to any question so you know you always have something strong to rely on.
Best of luck