Step 3: Master 1 Exam Skill Each Week

You cannot just hope for top marks - you need to know how to get them. Pick one skill each week and spend 15-20 minutes practising it. Resources like the Lightup Hub can help, but you can also use past papers or revision guides to guide you.

Here's a full list of the exam skills you can practice:

• Essay Structure: Practice how to write essays that flow, starting with a strong intro, solid middle paragraphs, and a clear conclusion. It’s all about keeping it organised and easy to follow.
• Conclusion Writing: Wrap things up by summarising your main points and linking them back to the question - make sure the examiner remembers your best ideas!
• Essay Planning: Before you write, plan! Jot down your main points so you know exactly where your essay is heading. Trust me, it saves time and makes it way better.
• Paragraph Structure: Use P.E.T.A.T.A.C.W.L. (Point. Evidence. Technique. Analysis. Technique. Analysis. Context. Writer's Intentions. Link.) to build strong paragraphs that actually answer the question.
• Grammar, Spelling & Punctuation (SPaG): Practice writing in a clear and tidy way - accurate grammar, correct spellings, and good punctuation can boost your marks.

• Quote Memorisation & Analysis: Test your memory and understanding of key quotes. Think about why they’re important, what techniques the writer’s used, and how they link to the big ideas in the text.
• Character Deep-Dives: Take a close look at characters - what drives them, how they change, and their relationships with others.
• Theme Exploration: Understand and remember the big ideas in the text (like power, love, or guilt) and how the writer gets them across.
• Contextual Understanding: Find out about the time when the text was written and how it affects the story, characters, and themes.
• Authorial Constructs: Think about how the writer has put the story together to create meaning - why have they chosen to write it this way?
• Literary Criticism: Look at different ways people interpret the text. There’s often more than one way to understand a scene or theme!
• Structural Analysis: Notice how the way the text or scene is organised (like flashbacks or cliffhangers) changes its impact.
• Language Analysis: Dig into the words and phrases - why has the writer chosen them, and how do they make you feel?
• Form Analysis: Look at the text’s form (like a Shakespearean tragedy or a poem) and think about why the writer chose it.
• Examining Writer’s Purpose: Practice thinking about why the writer made certain choices - what message were they trying to get across?

• Unseen Poetry: The more you practice, the less you’ll panic! Look at a poem step by step. What’s it about? What techniques are being used? How does it make you feel?
• Poetry Comparison: Spot the similarities and differences between two poems, like their themes, language, or structure.
• Poetry Forms: Learn about types of poems (like sonnets or ballads) and how their form adds to their meaning.
• Poetry Structure: Notice things like rhyme schemes, stanzas, and line breaks - how do they make the poem more effective?
• Imagery & Symbolism in Poetry: Look for metaphors, similes, and symbols - what hidden meanings are they pointing to?

• Comparative Essays: Practice writing essays that show the similarities and differences between texts while staying balanced and clear.
• Comparative Paragraphs: In one paragraph, explain how two texts deal with the same theme, character, or idea - but keep it simple and direct.
• Linking Context Across Texts: Think about how the time and place a text was written influences the way themes and characters are shown.

• Words & Phrases Analysis: Pick out important words and phrases and explain how they create a certain mood, tone, or meaning.
• Creative Writing: Write interesting stories or descriptions. Use creative techniques to bring your writing to life.
• Persuasive Writing: Learn and practice how to write arguments that grab attention and convince your reader.
• Structural Features in Language: Spot clever tricks like foreshadowing, shifts in focus, or cyclical endings, and explain why they work.
• Synthesising Information: Combine ideas from different sources and bring them together into one clear response.

• Timed Responses: Practice writing essays and answers within the time limit so you’re ready for exam day.
• Understanding Mark Schemes: Check what the examiners are looking for in high-grade answers - it’s like having a cheat sheet!
• Answering the Question: Practice staying focused on the question throughout a response - don’t drift off topic.
• Efficient Revision Strategies: Work smarter, not harder! Practice prioritising the topics and skills in a paper that will boost your marks the most.

• Alternative Interpretations: Think of unique ways to understand the text - examiners love seeing creative ideas!
• Intertextual Connections: Link ideas and themes between different texts to show you’re thinking deeply.
• Evaluating Critical Perspectives: Include ideas from critics and challenge or agree with their opinions in your answer.
• Sophisticated Language Use: Practice using clear, formal language with some impressive terminology - just make sure it fits naturally.