AQA GCSE English Literature: Improving grades 4 to 5 Student Revision Conference

ABOUT THIS CONFERENCE

This NEW AQA English Literature Student Conference focuses keenly on the students who are aiming to improve their grade from 4 to 5 at GCSE. The course will provide students with the skills they require to successfully answer the questions on Shakespeare, the 19th-century novel, Modern texts, Poetry and Unseen poetry. The day is fully interactive, with a range of activities, tasks and challenges for students throughout the day. Students will examine exam papers and responses to help them perform to their full potential in the summer exams. They will have the opportunity to ask questions.

KEY FOCUS AREAS

• Gain first-hand guidance, advice and examples for maximising your grade 4-5 candidates in AQA GCSE English Literature.
• Each student receives student-friendly materials on the day and full conference presentations / follow-on materials as electronic resources post-conference. These materials are designed to allow students to understand and practise exam skills and gain the confidence to develop and expand their potential.
• The demands of the questions will be explained in student-friendly language for candidates who are striving to improve their grade from 4 to 5

PROGRAMME

Focusing on the writer not the characters or plot. This will transform students’ answers and help them achieve a grade 5 or higher.

• Analysing questions – what does ‘How does..’ mean?
• Know your texts – key characters and themes
• Talking about language and meaning
• What is the right way to talk about context?
• Writing about the writer’s skills/methods not just the text
• Building students’ skills so that they can approach every question with confidence

Paper 1: Shakespeare – Analysis not description – essential for grade 5 answers

• Investigating past papers – what are the focus areas – themes/characters?
• Analysing not just reading the extract
• Why is this theme/character important?
• Linking relevant context.
• Having an opinion
• ACTIVITY - Opportunity for students to question examiners on Shakespeare

Paper 1: the 19th Century Novel – Selecting and exploring language used by the writer. Quotations and how to use them in a grade 5 answer.

• Investigating language used in a past paper question
• Analysing the extract carefully and identifying key quotations
• Linking key quotes to produce a more persuasive answer
• How much quotation should be used?
• How much focus should there be on the wider novel?
• ACTIVITY: Looking at a grade 5 answer and sharing good work

Question Box

• A chance to ask direct questions to the keynote speakers, with a prize awarded for the best question.

Paper 2: Modern Texts – Using quotations and analysing key events in order to achieve grade 5

• Investigating past papers – what are the focus areas – themes/characters?
• Analysing the extract carefully and deciding why the author might focus on a theme/character?
• Quotation versus key moments/events in the text
• How much should students write?
• ACTIVITY: Having a view and supplying the evidence – a look at a level 5 answer

Paper 2: Poetry Anthology – Developing comparative skills – comparing and contrasting techniques and ideas in a grade 5 answer

• Knowing the poems – how well do students need to know them?
• Making comparisons – similarities and differences
• Comparing poetic techniques and meanings
• Planning an answer
• ACTIVITY – Matching authors’ techniques/meanings in poems using planning grids

Paper 2: Unseen Poetry – giving students the skills to unlock an unseen text

• Reading and understanding the poem/s
• Planning your answer using grids
• How much to write. How many quotations to use
• Developing students’ skills to explore
• ACTIVITY: Sharing key ideas from Lead Examiner reports

Final Top Tips from the Experts

• KEY POINTS: how to improve your final grade
• What students can do after today to boost their exam chances
• Top Ten Examiner Tips for success in English Literature