Kids Corner: What’s the Best Way to Prepare for My GCSE English Literature Exam?
Many GCSE Students are already preparing for their English Literature Exams next year, and the pressure from teachers and adults is quite bad. With all that pressure, it can be hard to know what the best way to prepare really is. That’s why I’m here to give you impartial (not biased and not related to my own success) advice.
Should I Focus on Exam Strategy and Past Papers?
Yes and no. Yes it is a good idea to be familiar with how the questions are asked and to be prepared for the best way to answer each question. The no part is: No it should not be your main focus. This is extremely important because many English teachers in schools will almost entirely focus on past papers, learning the question style, and how many points are for each question, and forget to teach text fully. This is a big negative for you as a student.
Should I Really Learn and Know My Set Texts?
Yes, yes, 1000 times yes. This should be your main focus when preparing for exams. Many teachers will have you revise your texts close to the Literature exam, but those same teachers often have you skip large parts of the text, and aren’t interested in you really understanding what the author is trying to communicate to you. The best way to prepare for your exam is to focus on knowing everything you can about your set texts.
Some Questions to Keep in Mind When Reading Your Texts:
Why does each character make the decisions they do? What are their motives?
Why is the author speaking on this subject? Was there something in the cultural and historical context related to that subject?
What does the author want you to see, understand, or feel about what is happening?
How do the characters change as you read through the text? What do they learn?
What are the main messages of the text? What does the author want you to learn?
Who or what do the characters represent?
Which literary devices is the author using to communicate these ideas? Why?
Summing Up
To be prepared for your exams, and the rest of your education really, you need to do a little of everything. But, to score your best, you need to learn everything you can about your set texts. Understand the characters so well that they can ask you anything, and you will be prepared. Read all of it, and try to understand all of it. But, don’t freak out! It sounds like a lot, but there are so many resources available online to help you, and I’m here if you have any questions. Get in contact :)
