The document provides an overview of revision strategies and sample exam questions for the English Literature and Language GCSE. It outlines 6 questions that may appear on the exams, including questions that require comprehension and summary, analysis of language use and its effects, comparison of presentation devices, inference of thoughts and feelings, and argument or persuasive writing. It also provides revision tips, such as reading different text types, understanding language effects, practicing annotation, timed writing, and linking ideas. Sample exam questions are presented for Literature, including on An Inspector Calls and Of Mice and Men, testing understanding of characters, themes and social contexts.

1. Who Says You Can’t Revise for
English?

2. Unit 1 Paper Higher Tier
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Q5 Q6

3. Q1 What do you learn about...?
Comprehension & Summary 8 marks 12 minutes
A range of points
Supported by quotes as
evidence
Makes links between
connected ideas
No analysis

4. Q2 Explain how the headline and picture
are effective and how they link to the text
Presentational devices & evaluation 8 marks 12 minutes
Points about how image &
headline reflect content of text
Understanding of how
headline and image work
Makes connections between
different aspects of text
 Analysis & evaluation using
evidence

5. Q3 Explain the writer’s thoughts and feelings
Inference 8 marks 12 minutes
Selection of points from
across extract
Reading between the lines
Understanding of subtext
Evidence and explanation

6. Unit 1 Paper Foundation Tier
Q1a & b Q2 Q3 Q4
Q5 Q6
Compares presentational
devices and layout
Tests reading between the
lines
Language analysis

8. Q4 Compare the ways in which language is
used for effect in the two texts
Analysis of language for GAP 16 marks 24minutes
Choices for comparison
Focus on language
techniques used by writers to
have effect on the reader
Understanding of different
types of language in different
types of text

9. How to revise
 Read journalism and
literary non-fiction
 Understand effect of
language on readers
 Practise annotation
 Practise timed answers
 Practise making links
 Practise planning
answers
 Learn language features

10. Q5 Inform Explain Describe
Usually a type of writing you might find in real
life
Concise & stylish
Structured, with sentences used for effect.
Spelling, punctuation
Word choices & devices
16 marks 24 minutes

11. Q6 Argue or Persuade
• More developed writing
• Uses conventions of argument or persuasion
• Clearly organised writing
• Range of sentence structures
• Clear sense of audience & purpose
• Formal style
• Spelling & punctuation
24 marks 35 minutes

12. English Literature

13. U1 Section A
Question 17
In Act 2 of An Inspector Calls, Sheila says to her mother, Mrs
Birling, “But we really must stop these silly pretences”.
How does Priestley show, in his presentation of Mrs Birling, that
she often pretends to be something she is not?
(30 marks)
SPaG: (4 marks)
OR
Question 18
How important do you think social class is in An Inspector Calls
and how does Priestley
present ideas about social class? (30 marks)
SPaG: (4 marks)
45
mins

14. Unit 1 Section B
Read the following passage and then
answer Part (a) and Part (b)
Part (a)
In this passage, how does Steinbeck
present Crooks? Refer closely to the
passage in your answer.
and then
Part (b)
In the rest of the novel how does
Steinbeck use Crooks to present
attitudes to black people at the time
the novel is set? (30 marks)
SPaG: (4 marks)
45
mins
CONTEXT & PEE
OR

15. Unit 2
Unseen
poem
Relationships Cluster
• 15 poems
• Choice of 2 questions
• Named poem compared to another from the
same cluster

16. Work Smart!

18. Both images show a snowman.
Make your answers as much like the
snowman on the right as you can:
Crafted
Original
Detailed
Precise
Interesting