How do I revise for an English exam?

Revising for your English exam can seem much more difficult than most other subjects due to its subjective nature. However, there are a number of techniques and tips which actually make it one of the easier subjects to revise for.

One of the most invaluable techniques is answering past exam questions. Although it may seem tedious, the best way to improve your writing style is to practice and as frequently as possible. Teachers and tutors are always willing to look at these and mark them for you.

Another technique is mind mapping, in which you visually arrange your notes, utilising colours and branches to make your key points easier to emember during the exam. To begin with, start with characters that you enjoy analysing the most, those that you have the most to say about. Branches could focus on key character traits, supporting quotes and how the author shows this. Further analysis stems from secondary branches; what can you say about this evidence? What literary devices and word choices are used and what is their effect? 

'Round-the-clock' planning is a technique which involves condensing your notes into four analytical paragraphs, not including the introduction and conclusion. These paragraphs contain two analyticals,a converse argument and a fnal one invalidating this opposing view. The name stems from the plan's form, in which each point is presented around a central point, much like the numbers on a clock. This method is one of those which I used frequently throughout my English studies.