Practice makes perfect? How to use past exam papers for effective GCSE English Language revision.
With only around twelve weeks remaining before the start of the 2023 GCSE Exam series (That’s around 8-9 weeks of actual school, if we include holidays….) all students should now be beginning to think about their revision strategy. We all know that revision is a critical component of success in GCSE English exams but with so much material to cover, it can be difficult for students to know how to revise to maximise their chances of exam success.
SPOILER ALERT: In case the title didn’t give it away – you’ve guessed it – the completion of Past Papers is the solution to many of your English Language revision woes. And don’t just take my word for it, an extensive research project in 2013 proved the power of practice testing and the difference it can make to students of any age.
Exposure to different texts
The gift of the GCSE English Language Paper One and Paper Two is that we already know, to a certain extent, what the questions will be: it’s the text choices that are the unknown factor here. The more past papers you complete, the wider the variety of texts you’ll be exposing yourself to – before you know it, you’ll feel confident dealing with anything the exam throws at you. And why stop there? Ten minutes of reading a fiction or non fiction text can also contribute to revision – so crack open the blogs, magazines and leaflets because they all count!
A realistic experience
First and foremost, mock exam papers provide a sense of what to expect in the real exam. By working through a practice paper, you’ll get a feel for the format, style and length of the questions you will encounter on the day of the exam. This can help to reduce anxiety and ensure that you are well-prepared for what you’ll face. Build up gradually to completing them in timed conditions: turn off your phone, find a quiet space and set a timer. You could break the paper into manageable chunks – maybe start with a timed Section A or B until you feel ready to complete a paper in full. By the time the exam comes, you’ll have worked through any issues with timing and feel confident in your ability to complete the paper in the time given.
Revision isn’t always about content
In addition, building in opportunities to complete exam papers provides a chance to practice time-management. GCSE English exams are timed, so it’s important for you to be able to work efficiently and manage your time effectively. By completing multiple exam papers, you’ll can get a sense of how much time you need to allocate to each question and make any necessary adjustments to your revision schedule. In this paper, exam technique is as important as your ability in GCSE English: Both Section B Writing sections are worth 50% of the paper – rehearsing your timing is essential to avoid running out of time and losing valuable marks. As a GCSE English Language examiner, there’s nothing more heartbreaking than reading an excellent answer that ends abruptly because the candidate has ran out of time – don’t let that be you!
An opportunity to reflect
Another key benefit of using exam papers as part of your revision is that they allow you to identify your strengths and weaknesses. See them as an opportunity to learn, rather than a measurement of failure or success. By working through a practice paper, you can see which areas in which you excel and crucially, where you need to focus your revision efforts. This targeted approach to revision can help to improve grades and ensure that you’re better prepared for the real exam. By creating valuable opportunities for self-assessment, you can use Mark Schemes and model answers to assess your strengths and weaknesses. You may appreciate that your English teacher is busy, but they will be filled with joy at the prospect of their student completing a past paper unprompted and I’m sure they’d be happy to provide feedback if you need a second opinion.
By starting a revision plan now, you’ll have plenty of time to incorporate past papers into your revision strategy. Nobody likes a last minute panic: take control and start today.