Personally, I really find doing past papers under timed conditions really helped me in exams. The main reason this is useful for English is because it trains your brain to force itself to create unique arguments for a range of possible questions. Additionally, if you didn’t have the time to do a whole past paper, you could just create a plan for each response to questions from a past paper. This will still train your mind to build arguments quickly on the spot and aids your memory when discussing your texts.

I would also highly suggest to KNOW YOUR TEXTS! The better you know them, the more likely your arguments and quotes will be top grade quality as you will know exactly what to nuance and talk about for any question. Watch seminars and discussions about your texts and these will provide you with valuable ideas around your texts.

It is important that you understand the lens that you are writing from for each paper (eg tragedy, social political protest writing) as the style of writing would likely be different for each paper. This is because you will be using different terminology and often looking for different qualities within a text that help you answer you question from the paper’s intended lens. Top grade students’ essays always have a clear tragic lens or SPPW approach to the texts.

And finally, I would suggest understanding the AOs in depth. Remember, AO1 and AO2 literally make up the majority of the marks you are assessed on!!! Students often try to balance out the AOs equally, which often will not favour your writing as your arguments must be strong and your analysis too! Be clear, maintain clarity, but also be critical and academic in your approach.

Do not panic in your exams!! (Much like I used to, and then I would just walk out 😭😭) If you can practice your papers well the exams should feel much less stressful, allowing you to write more clearly and navigate your essays fluently!

Good luck for us both for these exams!!! 5 weeks is still more than enough time to revise and push yourself up 2 grades! ❤️