What is the best way to revise for an English exam?

The first step to successful revision is to have a working knowledge of the texts. Read and re-read the text to ensure that you have not missed out any vital aspects in your initial reading in class. This will solidify the events and idea which may well form the basis of your essay. Next, I advise you to gather together a number of crucial themes in the text. For example, create a 'quote bank' in which you list all the quotes pertaining to a certain theme e.g. love, loss. This way, if you decide to structure your essay via themes, there will be a number of quotes stored in your memory which you can add to the essay. Another important aspect to revision is to understand what is expected of you in the exam. A good way to prepare this element is to look over any specimen/past papers and practice the questions. This will give you a good idea of what the style of questions will be like, and will also allow you to practice your time-management skills ready for the exam. Also, it would be beneficial to you to take a look at the mark scheme as well, as this gives you an insight into what the examiner is looking for in the perfect answer.

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