How To Revise English Language

GCSE English language may be easier to revise than you believe. The best way to prepare is to understand the format of each paper. While you are provided with unseen extracts, what the questions ask for is typically the same. Therefore, it is essential to understand how to answer each question. 

In this blog, I will give you some exam tips and revision ideas you can use for any exam board. I will also cover the format of the AQA English Language papers. Some of the tips in that section also apply to other exam boards. So...

How do you revise GCSE English Language?

Use Practice papers

Practice exam questions are more of an obvious revision technique but essential. For an exam where you are not required to memorise material or read specific texts, like in English Literature, practising exam questions can help you answer each question confidently.

There are plenty of online resources for past papers available from your exam board and other helpful websites. Just Google your exam board followed by "English language past papers". eg. "AQA English language past papers"

Reading the Texts

The language papers require you to answer questions on unseen fictional and non-fictional extracts. Reading the texts can feel time-consuming, and they may be difficult to understand under pressure. However, they are essential to read to give your best answers to each question and get used to the type of texts that come up.

You can find some example extracts online like this booklet here.

How do I read the extracts effectively?

You should spend at most 5-10 minutes reading the extract. You can improve your understanding and time spent on an extract by following the steps below:

1. Skim through the extract.

2. Read all the questions and understand what they ask you to focus on.

3. Reread the extract, this time thoroughly, looking specifically for content that will help answer the questions by annotating them. Alternatively, you could do this by sectioning it for each question. For example, spend a few minutes before answering each question to annotate according to what you need to look for. 

Many exam boards also require you to read two non-fictional extracts to compare. If you struggle to find comparisons, a tip is to first look for what the question is asking you to find in the first source. After highlighting a few things, look at the second source for similarities/differences.

How do I annotate an extract?

While annotating is helpful, you want to spend only a little time on it. A time-effective way to annotate is by underlining quotes, writing what structural/language techniques it is, and briefly mentioning its effect in a few words. Do not highlight every quote. Only highlight the amount of quotes needed for each question. Additionally, you can write down which question each quote is for by putting the number next to it. 

A revision technique to help improve your reading and annotating skills is to practice the steps above using a practice paper in timed conditions. Start with 20 minutes and then lower the time the more you practice. You want to be able to complete the above steps in 10 minutes.

Recap Language and Structural Techniques

Language and structural techniques are essential to the English language GCSE papers. You need to know how to identify these techniques and their effects to get good marks. Below are some language and structural techniques which are beneficial to remember.

Language techniques:

Metaphor - A figure of speech which compares two things without using like or as.

Simile - A figure of speech which compares two things with like or as.

Personification - A figure of speech which gives human qualities to non-human things.

Imagery - Vivid description to create an image for the reader.

Hyperbole - Exaggeration.

Word class - Nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, etc.

Structural techniques:

Opening - The start of the extract. You can comment on what ideas are introduced to the reader in the first paragraph.

Ending - The conclusion of the extract, which can either be a cliffhanger or a neat ending.

Flashback - This is when the writer recalls a memory that occurred before the events of the text.

Shift - You can comment on the effect of changes in perspectives and ideas. This could be the shift of the setting from inside to outside.

Pace - The speed of the events and ideas being revealed. A short pace could suggest boredom or suspense. A fast pace could suggest excitement or the quickness of the events occurring.

Practice your skills by attempting to identify language and structural techniques and their effects on extracts within 10 minutes. The extracts can be any fictional or non-fictional text from a book or online.

Practice Structuring a Paragraph

Structuring a paragraph differs for each question and exam board. However, there are features of a paragraph that are helpful to remember:

1. Point - A key idea that should be concise and in one sentence. You can use the question to structure your topic sentence.

2. Evidence - A quote/ reference from the text. Make sure to choose a quote you can analyse in detail.

3. Techniques - Language and structural devices (look at the above section).

4. Analysis -

• Explanation/inference - What does the quote and feature suggest? 
• Word analysis - Pick one or two keywords to analyse further. Make sure to point out the word class, e.g. noun, verb, etc. Analyse what the word means, signifies and symbolises.
• Reader's response - How would this make the reader feel and think? What impacts would it have on them? How does this interest the reader?

5. Link - Close the paragraph in one sentence. How does all of this link to the question? The reader's response can also count as a form of a link.

Produce Fictional Creative Writing

You will be asked to write a description or a story for fictional writing.

Top tips for descriptive writing:

• Show, don't tell - Illustrate to the reader what you want to describe with words. For example, instead of saying 'it was sunny', write 'the blinding star illuminated the endless field, burning the grass to crisp.'
• The five senses (seeing, touch, taste, hearing, smell) are essential to focus on.
• Make sure that your description does not sound like a story. Once your description becomes like a story, you will lose marks.

Revision tip: Use short clips to practice descriptive writing. Watching moving videos can help you visualise what you need to describe better.

Top tips for story writing:

• The above tips are valid for story writing.
• The plot of your story should be simple. A simple plotline will enable you to finish your story on time. 

Four important aspects of story writing include:

1. Beginning - The five Ws can be explored here (who/what/where/when/why).
2. Problem - What is the main problem for your character?
3. Climax - How does the problem unfold?
4. Ending - How does this all end? You can give a resolution to the problem, but you do not have to.

Analyse Non-fictional Creative Writing

You will be asked to discuss your point of view or express whether you are for or against a particular topic through a specific form. Standard non-fiction formats that could come up in your exam:

1. Magazine Article - This can be written in the first or third person. It should include a headline, byline (a one/two introduction sentence), main body (4/5 paragraphs) and conclusion. Adapt language and style for your audience.
2. Newspaper Article - This is written in the third person and should be in formal language. It should include a headline, byline (a one/two introduction sentence, main body (4/5 paragraphs) and conclusion. Include Who, what, when, where, and why in your answer.
3. Speeches - This is written in the first person. It should include a headline, introduction, main body (4/5 paragraphs) and conclusion. Speeches are often used to persuade someone using rhetorical techniques. Language should be adjusted for the audience.
4. Letters - These are written in the first person. Your address is in the top right, and their name and address are in the top left. The date is on the top right. You should begin with 'Dear (name)' and end with 'Yours sincerely' or 'Yours faithfully'. 'Yours sincerely' is used when you know the name of the person you are writing to, and 'yours faithfully' is used when you do not.

Top tips:

• Make sure you use the correct structure for each format. It would be helpful if you learned the structure of all the above formats.
• If you make any counterarguments, rebuttal to support your point of view further.

Some persuasive techniques to use within your responses are DAFOREST:

• Direct address - Referring to the reader using we or you.
• Anecdote - A personal account of an event.
• Fact - A true statement.
• Opinion - Your point of view.
• Rhetorical Question - A question to make the reader think and does not require an answer.
• Emotive language - The emotions imposed on the reader through a group of words.
• Statistics - Numerical data.
• The rule of three - A list of three (one sentence).

Be Ruthless with the Basics:

What to Remember?

• For the creative writing questions, spelling and grammar is essential. Try to spend your last 5 minutes of the exam to proof-read your answers.
• Ensure varied sentence structures, paragraph lengths, and at least six different punctuations.
• Have a range of ambitious vocabulary, language devices and structural techniques. If it helps, make a checklist of these to use before writing.

Revision tip:

Many of my previous students have found that having creative writing pieces that they have edited and improved to the best of their ability helped in the actual exam. This is because they could recycle parts of these writing pieces to fit the real exam.

Exam Board: AQA

GCSE AQA English Language consists of two papers. Both papers are 80 marks each and are 1 hour and 45 minutes long. There are two sections in both papers. Section A is 40 marks with four questions. Section B is 40 marks with one question.



Paper 1 Section A:

In this section, you will be given an extract of fictional writing and will have to answer four questions. You should also consider checking out our Ultimate Revision Guide for GCSE English Language Paper 1 where we have a downloadable guide covering all the questions in the exam, written by a qualified English teacher.

Question 1: This question will ask you to write down four pieces of information on a topic within the lines specified. Only write down information from these lines, as you will lose marks. This question is worth four marks, and you should only spend 5 minutes to answer.

Question 2: This question focuses on how the writer uses language. This is an 8-mark question; you should spend 10 minutes on it. Do's and Don'ts for GCSE English Language Paper 1 Question 2. Also written by a qualified teacher!

How to structure a paragraph: 

1. Point/technique

2. Evidence

3. Analysis

4. Link

The analysis should include the following:

• Explanation

• Word analysis

• Readers response

You should write two paragraphs using the above format.

Exam tip: When planning and annotating for this question, pick only two quotes to avoid wasting time. Make sure you also pick a quote you can write a lot about.

Question 3: This question focuses on how the writer uses structure to interest the reader. This is an 8-mark question; you should spend 10 minutes on it.

How to structure a paragraph: 

1. Point/technique

2. Evidence

3. Analysis

4. Link

The analysis should include:

• Explanation
• Reader's response 

You only need to write two paragraphs using the above format.

Exam tip: 

• The most crucial part of your answer is the reader's response. This is your opinion disguised with the sentences 'the reader may think/feel'. 
• You may feel inclined to make vague sentences on how it interests the reader. If you do, specify the statement further. For example, if you say, 'The reader may want to know what happens next', add details on what exactly they think might happen.

Question 4: This question asks you to evaluate the extent to which you agree with the statement given. Q4 is worth 20 marks. You should spend 20 minutes on this question.

How to structure the answer:

Firstly, respond to the statement, commenting on how much you agree. 

E.g. I wholeheartedly/ partially agree with the statement because…

You should write around 3/4 paragraphs. For each paragraph, have a point identifying methods. This should be both language and structural techniques. Your points should refer to the statement. Support this with a quote and analysis/evaluation. 

The analysis and evaluation should include the following:

• Evaluate techniques concerning the statement.
• The effect of writers' methods, word analysis and readers' response.

Reminder: This is not a question asking whether you agree or disagree with the statement. You should always agree with the statement. You are evaluating and analysing the points suggested by the statement.

Paper 1 Section B:

Question 5: This is a 40-mark fictional writing question. You are given two options to pick from. You can choose to write a description using the picture or a story. You should spend 45 minutes on this question. Refer to the fictional writing section for tips. There is a whole other blog all about How To Ace GCSE English Language Paper 1: Question 5. Check it out for more in-depth tips from an English teacher on how to ace this very important question.

Paper 2 Section A:

In this section, you will be given an extract of non-fictional writing and will have to answer four questions. 

Question 1: This question will ask you to identify which four statements are true within the lines specified. This question is worth four marks and only spend 5 minutes to answer.

Question 2: This question asks you to summarise the comparison between the non-fictional texts given. You do not identify any methods for this question. This question is worth eight marks. You should spend 10 minutes on this question.

How to structure your paragraph:

1. Source a Point (In source a…)
2. Evidence
3. Inference/explanation
4. Source b point - include how it differs from source a (alternatively in source b…)
5. Evidence
6. Inference/ explanation

Only inference is needed for this question. Write at most 2-3 sentences.

Question 3: This question focuses on how the writer uses language. This is a 12 marker. This question is the same as paper 1 question 2. The main difference is the amount of marks, meaning you should write three paragraphs for question 3 and spend 15 minutes. Refer to paper 1, question 2, on how to structure your answer.

Question 4: This is a comparison question, looking at the whole text. This question is similar to paper 2 question 2. For this question, you need to incorporate methods and their effects in your answer. Q4 is worth 16 marks.

How to structure a paragraph:

1. Source a Point (In source a…)
2. Evidence
3. Analysis 
4. Source b point - include how it differs from source a (alternatively in source b…)
5. Evidence
6. Analysis

Analysis: 

• Explanation 
• Word analysis 
• Readers response

The above steps will be one whole paragraph. Your comparison of each source should not be put into two paragraphs. You should write around 3/4 paragraphs (3/4 comparisons) and spend 20 minutes answering. Remember to include both language and structural techniques.

Paper 2 Section B:

Question 5: This is a 40-mark non-fictional writing question. You are asked to write a response to the statement given. They will tell you which format they want you to use. The most common formats they will ask for are articles, speeches or letters. You should spend 45 minutes on this question. Refer to the non-fictional writing section for tips.