1. True or False? You remember more of what you read than what you write You remember more of what you read than what you write You can’t revise for English You can’t revise for English The best way of revising is reading through your notes The best way of revising is reading through your notes The best way of revising for English is to practise exam questions The best way of revising for English is to practise exam questions It’s best to revise in blocks of an hour long It’s best to revise in blocks of an hour long

2. You CAN (and must) revise for English! The question is: how?

3. Paper 1A One hour to read 2 media / non-fiction texts and answer questions. One hour to read 2 media / non-fiction texts and answer questions. Look at how many marks are available! Look at how many marks are available!

4. Paper 1A: How to Revise Take a newspaper / magazine and find an article / advert, and answer the following questions: Take a newspaper / magazine and find an article / advert, and answer the following questions: What is the purpose of it? Who is it aimed at? What is the purpose of it? Who is it aimed at? What presentational devices are used? (eg images, headings, fonts) How are they effective? What presentational devices are used? (eg images, headings, fonts) How are they effective? What sort of language is used? How is this effective? What sort of language is used? How is this effective? Are facts and opinions used? How do they influence the reader? Are facts and opinions used? How do they influence the reader?

5. Paper 1B 45 Minutes 45 Minutes Argue / persuade (don’t choose advise!) Argue / persuade (don’t choose advise!)

6. Paper 1B: How to Revise Try writing in short bursts: Try writing in short bursts: Pick a topic and a definite audience. Eg your local council; you want them to build a new park. Pick a topic and a definite audience. Eg your local council; you want them to build a new park. Now you could spend short bursts of time writing one or two paras that persuade them to do what you want. Now you could spend short bursts of time writing one or two paras that persuade them to do what you want. These paras may be the intro/conclusion. Or they may be two of the main paras. Do a variety to stop getting bored! These paras may be the intro/conclusion. Or they may be two of the main paras. Do a variety to stop getting bored!

7. Paper 2A Poetry Poetry One question you must answer One question you must answer Important to COMPARE poems and their techniques / meanings Important to COMPARE poems and their techniques / meanings

8. Paper 2A – How to revise Draw the poems and the imagery used. Draw the poems and the imagery used. Label the imagery (metaphors? Personification?) Label the imagery (metaphors? Personification?) Explain the effect of them and how it relates to the message in the poem. Perhaps do this on post-it notes. Explain the effect of them and how it relates to the message in the poem. Perhaps do this on post-it notes.

9. Paper 2B Inform / explain / describe Inform / explain / describe Describe is often easiest – especially if you are imaginative. Describe is often easiest – especially if you are imaginative. Don’t be afraid to lie. If the question is ‘Describe the room you are in now’, the examiner is hardly going to require photographic evidence…. Don’t be afraid to lie. If the question is ‘Describe the room you are in now’, the examiner is hardly going to require photographic evidence….

10. Paper 2B: How to Revise Find pictures off the internet; try describing 5 things in the picture (a para on each, 45 minutes). Find pictures off the internet; try describing 5 things in the picture (a para on each, 45 minutes). Spend 10 minutes trying to write a good paragraph on something in the room you are in, using the senses. Spend 10 minutes trying to write a good paragraph on something in the room you are in, using the senses. Write 2 paragraphs in the same room – at different times of the day. Write 2 paragraphs in the same room – at different times of the day. Try doing this in different places – bending the truth regarding what you can see! Try doing this in different places – bending the truth regarding what you can see!

11. Some other ideas… Use post-its around your room/house to remember key techniques / ideas. Use post-its around your room/house to remember key techniques / ideas. Create collages of the poetry, using images form the internet. Create collages of the poetry, using images form the internet. Record a podcast: perhaps explaining the meaning of a poem and the techniques used. Record a podcast: perhaps explaining the meaning of a poem and the techniques used.

12. So how are YOU going to revise?