11/05/2025
Top Exam Technique Tips – English Lit Paper 1
⏰ 1. Timing is Everything
Paper is 1 hour 45 minutes.
Split 50/50:
45 mins for Section A (Shakespeare)
45 mins for Section B (19th-century novel)
5 mins buffer at the end to check both.
Spend 5–8 mins planning each essay — it saves time in the long run.
📌 2. Read the Question Carefully
Underline the focus of the question (e.g. "How is power presented…").
Don’t just write everything you know — stay focused on answering the question.
🔎 3. Use the Extract – Then Zoom Out
Start with 1–2 paragraphs analysing the extract.
Then bring in linked moments or quotes from elsewhere in the play/novel.
🔁 You’re marked for how well you link the extract to the whole text.
🧠 4. Plan Your Argument Before You Write
Write down a quick bullet plan:
Intro: answer the question in 1 sentence
3 main ideas or points
Key quotes
Context links
✍️ 5. Write Focused, Structured Paragraphs
Use the P*E or P*EZL structure:
Point
Evidence
Explanation
(Zoom-in on a word or device)
Link back to question/theme
🧰 6. Analyse Language & Structure (AO2)
Don’t just say what happens — say how and why.
Pick out:
Language choices (adjectives, verbs, figurative language)
Structural features (contrasts, turning points, repetition)
Literary devices (metaphor, irony, etc.)
📚 7. Integrate Context Smartly (AO3)
Mention context when it helps your argument — not randomly.
Link it to:
Author’s intentions
Audience at the time
Social or historical background
Example: “Victorian audiences feared the dangers of unchecked science, which Stevenson explores through Jekyll’s experiments.”
🧾 8. Memorise Flexible Quotes
Learn short quotes you can use in multiple questions.
E.g., “Stars hide your fires” works for ambition, fate, secrecy, guilt…
✅ 9. Have a Strong Introduction and Conclusion
Intro: One sentence clearly answering the question.
Conclusion: Sum up your overall argument — what is the author showing us?
🧠 10. Stay Calm and Think Like a Writer
Think about why the author chose that word or moment.
Show the examiner you understand that the text is crafted with purpose.
