A record number of students aged 17 and above are expected to resit GCSE English this summer. Students who have not achieved a grade C or higher in GCSE maths and English during their time at school are now required to retake these subjects at college, placing strain on FE institutions across the country.
In preparation for the resits, TES has collected the best resources to help college teachers support students with revision and exam technique. Some have been created with specific exam boards in mind, but can be adapted to your specifications and students.
English language
Revision resources
GCSE key techniques - Aimed at those on the C/D borderline, this is the first in a series of seven lessons created by the same author to boost an understanding of language techniques, covering topics such as similes and metaphors, sentence types, and fact and opinion.
Persuasive techniques revision lesson - Including individual, pair and group activities and an informal assessment tool, these comprehensive lesson resources will help students to spot and talk about a variety of persuasive techniques.
Analysing texts mini-unit - This four-hour revision session, complete with resource booklet, is packed full of tasks and activities to help your students with exam preparation.
Exam technique ideas
Exam technique cards - Cut up and laminate these cards as a last-minute reminder of ways to approach both the foundation and higher exam papers. They include the skills required and marks available.
Colourful crib sheets - Similar to the exam technique cards above, these revision sheets also include suggested answer formats and mini model answers for each question type.
Text analysis hints and tips - Recap the different ways to read and analyse non-fiction texts, and respond to exam questions about htem, with these handy guides.
English literature
Revision resources
Unseen poetry unit - Consolidate learning on the different elements of studying poetry with this five-lesson scheme of work, covering devices such as form, structure, voice, rhyme and repetition as well as exam technique.
Revision workbook - This 41-page revision guide, covering Of Mice and Men, A Christmas Carol and Blood Brothers, includes lots of ideas for tasks and activities on characters, setting, themes, context and extract questions.
Literary terms game - Learners will enjoy learning the definitions of literary terms with this simple memory game, which works great as a starter or plenary activity.
Exam technique ideas
Practice question planning grid - Students can plan out the answer to any given exam question with this grid based on the Peel (Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link) technique.
Poetry revision cards - These printable, ready-to-use revision cards for a variety of different poems can be used right up until the day of the exam.
Colour-coded hints and tips sheets - Covering a range of elements in both the language and literature exams, these information sheets are ideal for assisting students with special educational needs and disability (SEND).
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