To achieve an A* grade in the English GCSE, students need to demonstrate originality, sophistication, and impressive analysis. They must be able to consider alternative interpretations in poetry, evaluate writing techniques, and independently analyse texts using technical vocabulary. Students should use varied sentence structures, vivid vocabulary, tone changers like questions and statistics, surprises like shifts in pronouns, and advanced punctuation to write original interpretations and descriptions.

1. English GCSE:
Make it an A*

2. What?

3. • consider alternative interpretations in poetry analysis
• evaluate the writer's techniques
• use technical vocabulary to describe language
• independently analyse texts and be original in their
interpretations
• use sophisticated vocabulary
• experiment with language for effect
• be original in their writing
A* students need to:

4. • original
• sophisticated
• impressive
Key words:

5. How?

6. Describe a place
that means a lot
to you

7. Approaches

8. 1: Sentence Variety

9. 1.Minor, simple, compound and complex
sentences
2.Less “and” and “but”
3.Link with “that”, “who”, “which”
4.Use 2-part sentences:
• As …, …
• Although …, …
• If …, …
• -ing …, …
• -ed …, …

10. 2: Vivid
vocabulary:

11. 3: Tone changers:
Questions – statements
– dialogue – statistics

12. 4: Surprise us
(eg pronouns /
narrative disjuncture)

13. 5: Advanced
punctuation:
: ; (,,)

14. Describe a person
you admire

15. Write a letter to
your headteacher
asking for more PE
and sport