How to lock in TODAY and boost your GCSE Grades 💪

How to get the most out of your Bank Holiday before your English exams in 7 Days

Yesterday on YouTube, I went over how to make the most out of TODAY (Bank Holiday Monday) if you’re stressing about Literature Paper 1 & 2 exams in 7 Days. Watch it here: https://youtube.com/live/LCx_uHZX_A4?feature=share

✨PS: I’m running MACBETH Last Minute Revision Class on TODAY at 5pm - join here: https://www.firstratetutors.com/a/2148087404/8QidKcPa

How to structure your revision day TODAY:

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🔥 Morning: Know the Structure + Exam Hacks

Spend 1–2 hours getting clear on:

• Which texts are in Paper 1 and Paper 2.

  • Paper 1: Shakespeare + 19th-century novel

  • Paper 2: Modern text + Poetry (Power & Conflict + Unseen)

• How many questions and how long you have for each section

• Have a clear essay structure:

  • Use PEEL Paragraphs (Point, Evidence, Explain, Link)

  • Use quotes even if short (“blood will have blood”)

  • Always link back to the question

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🔥 Midday: Core Knowledge for Set Texts (1–2 Hours per Text)

Focus only on main themes, key quotes, and main characters. Don’t try to read the whole book.

For Each Set Text (Shakespeare, Novel, Modern Text):

1. Read a summary

2. Pick 5–8 key quotes and memorise them

3. Learn 2–3 major themes and how they show up (e.g. power, gender, guilt)

4. Learn 2–3 characters and how they change (use one word: Macbeth = “ambitious”, Sheila = “aware”)

🚨 PS: I have created 3 Page Cheat Sheets for ALL Literature texts - you will get them in my Literature Masterclasses: https://www.firstratetutors.com/a/2148087404/8QidKcPa

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🔥 Afternoon: Poetry Crash Course (1–2 Hours Max)

Power & Conflict Anthology:

• Learn 3–4 flexible poems (e.g. "Ozymandias", "London", "Remains", "War Photographer") that link to lots of themes.

• Learn how to compare poems (structure, tone, language, context).

Unseen Poetry:

• Practice 1 unseen poem with a model answer.

• Focus on:

  • Feelings/tone

  • Techniques (metaphor, enjambment, etc.)

  • Meaning

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🔥 Evening: Macbeth Masterclass (5pm - 6pm)

1. See how to apply this all in a model answer you can immediately REVISE from

2. Macbeth GCSE Masterclass:

3. Ask me as many questions as you want!

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😴 Before Bed: Emergency Quote Bank (Learn These FAST)

• Look over quotes in the cheat sheets I’ve shared with you or your own flashcards and mindmaps

• Go to bed and let those quotes sink into your unconscious as you sleep 🛌 💤