10 ways to improve your mark in the

English Language Exam

June 7th

90 days (on 8/3/16)

REVISING FOR GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

SECTION B - WRITING

SECTION B WRITING

• This question will give you a PURPOSE, AUDIENCE and FORMAT, which you will have to match in a sustained piece of writing.

• There are 16 marks available for content, so you need to include at least 4 fully developed ideas (plus introduction and conclusion)

• There are also 8 marks available for technical accuracy, so you need to focus on spelling, punctuation and grammar.

• You have 45 minutes to complete this in the exam

• You have a choice between two writing tasks

Revising Writing skills – Elementary my dear Watson!

Observe Watson: the

GCSE student. They

have been writing for 11 years now in school. They can do it -or

they can’t -so there is no

point in revision

Wrong on all counts

Watson. You can always

get better at writing and there are a number of

things to be done

You cannot learn how to run a marathon in two weeks

But ….there are some things that would help in the last two weeks

Writing is the same …here are 10 things you can do in the remaining “90” days…

Some are quick, some you may have done, and some take courage, stamina and grit.

1) Learn all about the exam!

• Exam board – Edexcel English Language 2010

• Exam – Writer’s Voice

• Time – 1.75 hours

• Mark scheme – make sure you have a copy

• Number of questions:

- Two sections, section A & B

- Section A has two parts A & B

2) Learn to read questions! 3 Sample Questions –

1. “Write the text for an advertisement persuading young people to donate money to a local charity”

2. “A local reporter has written an article suggesting that young people are nothing but ‘the hoodie generation’ drinking, smoking and being generally naughty! Write a response to this article, in which you present the other side of the argument.”

3. “Write the text for an information leaflet aimed at tourists, in which you outline the attractions of your local area.”

Always fulfil the purpose

Don’t do both questions!

Don’t argue both sides if it says select

one

Always consider the

audience

3) Learn to PAF or SPLAT P = purpose A = audience

F = form S = STRUCTURE – how it’s set out and organised P = PURPOSE – the aim of your writing L = LANGUAGE – the type of language you should be using (formal, biased, imagery, connectives …) A = AUDIENCE – the person/people who will be reading it T = TONE – what will the ‘feel’ or ‘sound’ of the writing be? (angry, humorous, supportive …)

• Imagine you have a friend or relative who is considering taking up a dangerous sport. Write a letter giving your opinions.

• S = • P = • L = • A = • T = • A discussion is being held in your local area on the subject

of leisure facilities for young people. You have to present your views on the subject. Write your speech.

• S = • P = • L = • A = • T =

4) Learn what you need to do in the piece of writing

Go back to the mark scheme and find out if

you don’t know

5) Learn commonly misspelled words

5) Learn to spot and correct homophone mistakes

Resources for spelling

revision

6) Build your vocabulary

• Read and …. …don’t ignore the words you don’t know • Word of the Week – be conscientious in finding out

what it is • Revise word lists in your books • Make a conscious effort to use new and appropriate

words • Check and edit all written work, seking to improve

word power • Listen and learn – what useful vocabulary is being used

around you?

7) Learn what other writers do

• Read actively and strategically…

• Could you make one of these if you had never seen one, tasted one, tried out different ones?

So, why do you think you can write a letter, an article, a review, a

speech without reading similar types of text?

The more varieties you try, the better you

get

Articles are easy to access and find – there’s hundreds

of them – surely there’s a few for

you?

8) Learn to plan

• Practise thinking – working out the answer • Get used to generating ideas, views, opinions on a topic • Revise prior learning on planning:

– Number of points – Topic sentences – How to develop paragraphs – Use of facts and figures, expert comments, anecdotes – Sequencing ideas

• Research new ways of planning: – Ask friends – You tube clips – GCSE pod

• Use the list of 40

9) Learn to write strong openings

In this assembly I am going to tell you how to revise

Possible, practical and profitable – it always make us feel better to know we can do something and it will work.

How to learn about openings • Read lots of examples…and analyse them

– go back and take a look at the opening on slide 10. What could this teach you about how to create a catchy opening and establish the tone?

• Revise prior learning – look in your books: – What work, examples and strategies have you looked

at before about “How to start?”

• Write 3 different openings for the same question – self assess them

• Challenge each other – use google docs to work collaboratively on writing the best opening

• Use the 40 list – write lots of openings

10) Learn to keep going • Don’t give up when…

– You can’t think of any ideas for a sample question – You can’t find any prior learning in your exercise book or even find

your exercise book! – You keep making the same spelling mistakes – You keep making the same punctuation mistakes – You have done a couple of practice essays – You can’t find a good article to read – Your friends say they are not revising writing – You feel like going home (or to the park at lunchtime) when there is a

revision session or clinic available – When actually these ten are only the beginning – what about revising

punctuation for example? – You want your social time, but you haven’t done your scheduled

revision – You filled the back of the toilet door with flashcards! – When I come back next term to discuss revising sentencing and

punctuation!