Revising GCSE English Literature

The set texts have been read, so what’s next? Now comes the deeper analysis; character development, themes, language choice and the author’s intent. And then they need to be able to construct and write a long-form answer within the exam time frame. How can we support them with these skills?

Make a plan

Start with picking up one of the Oxford Revise AQA GCSE English Literature guides. Their knowledge, retrieval and practice structure helps students to dig deeper into each text, breaking them into manageable chunks that are clear and concise.

Keep revision active

There are a number of active strategies that students can use to move knowledge from their short into their long-term memory.

Re-read key sections to reinforce understanding.
Summarise themes and character arcs in their own words.
Create mind-maps for themes, characters, and key moments.
Use flashcards to help memorise important quotes and literary devices. These can also be written on sticky notes and stuck around the house!

Quick retrieval practice

How much have they locked in? This can be checked using the short retrieval questions. Students can test themselves with the simple Look, Cover, Write, Check method, or use them as the basis of flashcards and ask someone to test them. Research has shown that repeated practice helps to increase memory strength, so it’s important to encourage going through these a number of times. And when students see how much they remember, it’s another boost to their confidence!

Practice, practice, practice

The final step is to apply all of this knowledge to exam-style questions, and again Oxford Revise English Literature can help with a selection of exam-style questions for each text. There are also examples of strong and not strong answers with examiner commentary to help students improve their own responses.

As they get closer to exams, answers should be written in full and timed to improve writing speed and stamina.

When students follow each of these steps, they’ll have more confidence in their own understanding and know what to expect when they turn over that exam paper!