UNIT 1, UNIT 2 and IGCSE REVISION
Timings
Organising your time is one of the most important things you
can do in any exam. Before you even look at any questions,
write your timings on the front of the question paper so you
know how long you have. For example:
9.15- 9.25- Read and highlight and plan
9.25-9.35- Question 1
9.35-9.45- Question 2
9.45- 9.55- Question 3
9.55- 10.10- Question 4
10.10- 10.15- Read through and check everything.
WJEC Unit 1- Reading & IGCSE
Paper 2 Section A- 1 hour
 MEDIA/ NON FICTION COMPARISON
 There will be 4 questions which comprise 2 questions
on text A, 1 question on text B and 1 question
comparing A and B.
 Each question is worth 10 marks
 Before reading the extracts make sure you have read
the first two questions. This will help you quickly
find what you are looking for. Underline the key
phrases of the question and then underline the
extracts as you read them. This will help you quickly
respond to the question.
Key points for the reading exam
 List where it asks you to list, own words if it asks for
own words
 Short snappy quotes
 Don’t just feature spot- explain the effect on the
audience
 How are presentational devices used?
 How does the writer develop an argument- think about
structure and choice of language?
 What is the writer trying to achieve and how do they
achieve it?
IGCSE paper 1- Literary
Heritage -Reading fiction
 You will be presented with an extract from literary
heritage and you will be asked 4 questions on the
extract worth 10 marks each.
 Each question will relate to a separate chunk or
paragraph of the extract so you should be able to find
the information needed quickly.
 The questions will focus on style, structure characters’
feelings/relationships, atmosphere and setting.
 The same skills apply as for the non fiction text
WJEC Writing-Unit 2- 1 hour
 2 questions- 20 marks each- 30 mins per question
 Plan for 5 minutes, write for 20, check and draft for 5
mins per question.
 Aim for 2 sides per question
 You must address the PURPOSE, AUDIENCE and
FORMAT of the writing.
 The questions will usually test writing to explain,
persuade, argue , inform or advise.
IGCSE - 3 Writing tasks
 Paper 1 Section B- 1 hour, choice of 5 titles- you choose
1 question only. It will test your skills on writing to
imagine/ describe. Aim for 3 sides of A4.
 Paper 2 section B1- 45 mins. Choice of two questions,
only choose 1. Writing to argue/ persuade
 Paper 2 section B2- 30 mins. 1 compulsory questionwriting to argue/ persuade.
Writing tasks- key points
 Revise the stylistic conventions of each writing style
(all in the revision guide)
 Plan your answer- quick spider diagram
 Be explicit throughout on your Format, Audience and
Purpose
 Use hooks, anecdotes and strong points.
SCREAM 3 !
 A Useful phrase to remember could be SCREAM3
 S Sentence length and variation, superlatives and
similes
 C Contrast ( state one thing then the opposite)
 R Repetition, rhetorical questions
 E Emotive language
 A Alliteration, Adjectives
 M Metaphorical language
 3 Magic 3 rule
Or you might use AFORESTIS
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Alliteration (beastly bugs)
Fact/flattery (3000 people…)
Opinion (personally, I believe)
Rhetorical questions
Emotive language (poor victims)
Second guessing (you might worry that…but never
fear)
Triplets (ugly, annoying & deadly)
Imperatives (do this, buy it, stop)
Superlatives (most, best, smallest)
Think of an examiner like a fish you
want to catch…
 HOOK them in
 Choose your ANGLE
 Use PERSUASIVE devices( to tempt them)
 ANECDOTES ( to get them on side)
 STRONG POINTS ( to finish them off)
HOOK THE READER
 It’s really important that you select your opening line
carefully in order to hook the reader into your writing
and engage them to want to carry on reading.
 Try creating a hook for the following questions.
1 minute to create a hook for…
You have to give a speech for your class on the following
topic:
Should footballers have a maximum wage? Are their
wages justified?
1 minute to create a hook for…
 Write an article for a school magazine where you argue
your view on the following question, ‘Are zoos a
harmless form of entertainment or a public show of
cruel captivity?’
Creating anecdotes
 Try to add anecdotes ( mini stories) to your argument
or view point to make your argument stronger.
 For example, relate the topic to your own personal
experience ( imagined or real) or the experience of
someone you know ( imagined or real)
Create an anecdote you could use
in the following question..
 Write a letter to your head teacher to give your
viewpoint on whether students should be allowed to
have facial piercings / ear stretchers or any hair colour
they want at school.
Plan strong points
 Try to think about the question in extreme.
 What could you say to take the idea to the extreme to
help you persuade?
 You could use a rhetorical question to really engage the
reader with a strong point.
Plan a strong point
 You have been asked to give a speech for your class on
the following topic:
Should we give money to the homeless?
Check your audience
 Make sure you fully understand your Purpose,
Audience and Format of the writing.- spend 5 minutes
checking and planning for this.
 Think about words and phrases which explicitly refer
to your audience so it is clear you are addressing them.
 If for example, you are writing a speech for your classmake sure you refer to classmates or ‘ fellow year 11s’,
or use phrases which appeal to them, ‘ In this school,
we know that..’
 Make sure you include sign posts for the reader which
acknowledges that you know your audience.
Audience task- 2 minutes
 Imagine you have to write a speech or talk for your
class
 List as many words or phrases you could use that
would show the reader you are aware of the audience.
 For example:
 ‘ As students yourselves, you know that…….’
 ‘15 year olds like us…..’
Ideas…..
 ‘Yr 11 students think that…….’
 ‘ Like me, you must agree that…..’
 ‘ As an English class, we should believe that….’
 ‘ Teenagers like us often think…..’
 ‘ As 15 year old yourselves, you must agree that’
 ‘ Fellow classmates…..’
 ‘ Key Stage Four students, you know that…’
 ‘ We know from experience , that people our age….’
Over emphasise your FORMAT
 Use whatever tricks you can to make sure the examiner
clearly knows you are aware of the purpose , audience
and format…
 For example, ‘This week in Teen Weekly we will be
questioning….’ or, ‘for those who read my last review…’,
‘For regular readers you know that here at the
Norwich Herald we support…’ ‘ Turn to page 48 for
more details’, ‘Use our web link below for help an
advice on…’
Format
 Remember the format of
what you are writing is
really important.
 If asked to write a letter
of a leaflet, set it out like
a letter or leaflet.
 Your address
 Date
 Their address
 Dear Sir/ Madam
Yours faithfully ( if you
don’t know them)
Planning
 It’s really important to spend 5 minutes planning your
ideas by completing a spider diagram or list of
everything you want to include.
 Most people lose marks on the exam because they rush
straight in and then run out of things to say.
 The best marks are awarded when people plan what
they are going to say and you can see a logical
development of their argument.
 You need to think about what points you will make
and in what order.
How to plan…..
 I usually do a quick spider diagram of all my ideas I
instantly have in response to a question.
 I then look and see if any of the points are similar ,so I
link the points.
 I then do another quick spider diagram with my
linked points together.
 Then I look at them all and number 1- 10 the order in
which I want to say them.
 I then ensure that I complete a paragraph on each and
it makes sense.
Imagine the following task:
 This advert has been
placed on the Year 11
notice board.
 You are in need of a
Summer job
 Write an application for
the job
URGENT HELP REQUIRED
Sprowston Farm Shop is looking to recruit
extra part time staff for the summer
holidays.
We are looking for people who:
• Have good customer skills
•Can work as part of a team
•Enjoy working outdoors
•Can carry out a variety of tasks including
fruit picking and packing.
•If you are interested, please send your
application to
Sprowston Farm Shop,
Woodland Way
NR7 8 DH
organised
punctual
Work well to
deadlines
efficient
flexible
Like people
Past
experience
of fruit
picking
reliable
Helped my
Mum in her
shop
polite
Physically
strong
Farm
shop
job
hardworking
Good
people
skills
I’m
responsible
organised
punctual
Work well to
deadlines
efficient
flexible
Like people
Past
experience
of fruit
picking
reliable
Work
experience
in a shop
Helped my
Mum in her
shop
polite
Farm
shop
job
Physically
strong
Prefect at
school
hardworking
Good work
ethic
Order of letter
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Introduction to why I want job
I like people/ good people skills/ I’m polite
I’m efficient, hardworking, good work ethic
I’m organised, punctual, reliable, work well to
deadlines
I’m responsible- prefect at school
I’ve got experience of fruit picking, physically strong
I’ve got shop work experience, worked with mum
Finish on strong point why I should have the job.
Your turn:
 This advert has been
placed on the Year 11
notice board.
 You are in need of a
Summer job
 Write an application for
the job
URGENT HELP REQUIRED
Sprowston Farm Shop is looking to recruit
extra part time staff for the summer
holidays.
We are looking for people who:
• Have good customer skills
•Can work as part of a team
•Enjoy working outdoors
•Can carry out a variety of tasks including
fruit picking and packing.
•If you are interested, please send your
application to
Sprowston Farm Shop,
Woodland Way
NR7 8 DH
Make sure you SCRAPE a C grade
by remembering…
 S Sentence structure
 C Check through your work
 R Range of vocabulary
 A Audience- who are you writing for?
 P Paragraphs and punctuation
 E Engage your reader, make yours stand out from
everyone else
Remember ….
 You will be assessed on your use of spelling, sentence structure,
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punctuation and paragraph use. If you forget about all these things
you can go back and add paragraphs by marking your text with // to
show the examiner you want a new paragraph there.
Try to use a variety of punctuation ( :, ;?!) this automatically gives
you more marks.
Make sure you use a variety of sentence structures for effect. Use
long descriptive sentences followed by short snappy ones.
Try to expand your vocabulary. Use words you do not normally use. It
doesn’t matter if you’re not completely sure how to spell them. You get
points for trying.
Use standard English and avoid slang ( unless it fits your angle)
Make sure you engage your reader. Use any trick you can to guarantee
your reader is interested and continues to read.
How to get a C / B on the
Writing paper
 5 types of punctuation other than a full stop and comma
 You must use paragraphs correctly
 Vary sentences, use complex and compound sentences
 Control your use of tenses ( don’t swap between past and present)
 Aim for 2 sides of A4 per question
 Show a clear understanding of purpose, audience and format.
 Show a clear awareness of the reader
 Use at least 4 stylistic techniques.
 Use a range of vocabulary to convey precise meaning.
To achieve an A/ A* on writing:
 Sophisticated understanding of purpose, audience and format
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– adapting language and structure to suit.
Ideas are effectively prioritised to construct a sophisticated
argument.
Paragraphs are varied in length and structure to control
progression.
Confident and sophisticated use of a range of stylistic devices.
Ambitious vocabulary is used to convey precise meaning.
Variety of punctuation used for effect to vary pace, clarify
meaning and create deliberate effects.
Sophisticated use of simple, compound and complex sentences
to achieve effects
A wide vocabulary used for effect ( crafted)
FLAIR and creativity.
Useful
websites
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english
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 http://www.wjec.co.uk- lots of past papers ( either Unit 1 or 2 or old
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English paper 2)
http://www.englishbiz.co.uk This site is helpful for revising grammar
and the writing tasks.
http://www.gcse.com/english/ A useful site for general English skills
http://www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/english A helpful site in terms of writing
styles
http://www.educationquizzes.com/gcse/english/ Lots of quizzes to
help with punctuation and writing styles
www.universalteacher.org.uk
Another good resource for revising Literature texts especially. Also
some advice for comprehension skills
https://www.gradesaver.com/- Detailed guides on all Literature texts
http://www.sparknotes.com- For help with all your literature texts