A brief but concise guide to all the types of sounds that can occur in English Key Stage 3 and GCSE pieces for study, seen and unseen. Useful as a general handout, revision guide for pupils who know some but need to brush up, or as a lesson tool for pupils new to the GCSE or those at higher level Key Stage 3.

A full and indepth eight page up to A* guide on this poem for GCSE students and teachers. It can be used as revision, as a lesson tool, or just to make sense of this modern, socially aware play. Written for the WJEC board but suitable for all boards offering this play as a set text, this covers an essential range of links and repeating ideas that were the backbone of Russell's writing ethos. Fully annotated, with quotes, 'check yourself' questions and further reading, this is an essential guide to one of the most challengingly gritty plays of the GCSE anthology- suitable for all exam boards. This is part 2: Context, Themes, Motifs, Symbolism and Language; part 1 on the characters is also available on here.

This is the fifth part for the verbal reasoning component of the 11 plus examinations for grammar and selective entrance schools all across the UK. There are 40-42 (including CEM format) possible types of exercise that can turn up on these entrance exams, these are the first quarter. These methods are unique to me and I spent some years with real pupils developing them to the highest possible standard. This part (5) for exercises added to these tests from 2012 that has been created for exclusive online upload too. It includes- how to interpret timetables, maths problems, codes and letter patterns. For the CEM 11+ guides please see parts 6 and 7 of our survival guide. This section contains mathematical sequences and skills, short codes and vocabulary exercises. This is for schools that use the NFER Nelson, Nelson Bond or Bond style 11+ verbal reasoning component ONLY. All these sections are/will be available in the shop. The answers are included, with some explanations. For parents, tutors and pupils who'd like to try for grammar or other selective school, each page has a full and friendly explanation of what to do and what tricks and traps to avoid, with sample questions to try at the bottom of each page. Twelve pages long and at a bargain price of £2 per section. This is the edited version as a copy with two small errors, of a type that do not feature in the lost of NFer errors, was accidentally uploaded (see below for more on this.). Anyone who bought that copy can have this version for free if they message me. ***Note that one or two typeos are always deliberately left in the NFer 11+ guides because they are notorious for having mistakes in their exams, one reason why many schools and LEAs are moving to CEM formats. Pupils need to know what it 'feels' like to find an error, to 'know' that examiners are fallible, how not to panic when they find an error as they will be awarded the mark anyway, and just to let the teacher/invigilator know. Parents/tutors: do have this explanation ready when your child/pupil attempts these tests. Errors are most common on maths and codes exercises.***

A full and indepth seven page up to A* guide on this poem for GCSE students and teachers. It can be used as revision, as a lesson tool, or just to make sense of this obscure and complex poem. Fully annotated, with quotes, 'check yourself' questions and further reading, this is an essential guide to one of the most challenging poems of the GCSE anthology- suitable for all exam boards. This is part 1: the more focused part 2- Context, Themes, Motifs, Symbolism and Language , is also available on here.

A full and in-depth TEN page up to A* guide on this poem for GCSE students and teachers. It can be used as revision, as a lesson tool, or just to make sense of this obscure and complex poem. Fully annotated, with quotes, 'check yourself' questions and further reading, this is an essential guide to one of the most challenging poems of the GCSE anthology- suitable for all exam boards. This is part 1, going over biographical and poem context, as well as universal themes (issues the poet tend to address a lot) essential in any pre 20th century poems but especially Browning: the more focused part 2- Context, Themes, Motifs, Symbolism and Language , is also available on here. Photo credit: modern artist Molly Crabapple.

A full and indepth ten page up to A* guide on this poem for GCSE students and teachers. It can be used as revision, as a lesson tool, or just to make sense of this obscure and complex poem. Fully annotated, with quotes, 'check yourself' questions and further reading, this is an essential guide to one of the most challenging poems of the GCSE anthology- suitable for all exam boards. This is part 2: Themes, Symbols and Motifs often the 'harder bit' that stops pupils from getting top grades. The introductory part 1- Biographical Context and Universal Themes, is also available on here. Photo credit: modern artist Molly Crabapple.

A full and indepth eight page up to A* guide on this poem for GCSE students and teachers. It can be used as revision, as a lesson tool, or just to make sense of this classic novel. Fully annotated, with quotes, 'check yourself' questions and further reading, this is an essential guide to Lord of the Flies. This is part 1: the more focused part 2- Context, Themes, Motifs, Symbolism and Language , is also available on here.

A full in depth analysis of Simon Armitage's 'Remains', part of the 'Conflict' section of the GCSE Anthology. Ten pages long fully annotated with check yourself questions, and further reading recommendations, this guide is perfect for a lesson plan, revision, or getting to grips with this piece of now classic modern poetry. Pupils, teachers, tutors and parents who are home schooling will find this invaluable. It contains biographical and social context information, themes, symbols, motifs and language structures such as simile, metaphor, rhythm and rhyme, and imagery.

A full in depth analysis of Carol Ann Duffy's 'Before You Were Mine', part of the 'Love and Loss' section of the GCSE Anthology. Eight pages long fully annotated with check yourself questions, and further reading recommendations, and a copy of the poem to write on to save messing up the anthology, this guide is perfect for a lesson plan, revision, or getting to grips with this piece of now classic modern poetry. Pupils, teachers, tutors and parents who are home schooling will find this invaluable. It contains biographical and social context information, themes, symbols, motifs and language structures such as simile, metaphor, rhythm and rhyme, and imagery.

A full in depth analysis of Carol Ann Duffy's War Photographer, part of the 'Conflict' section of the GCSE Anthology. Nine pages long fully annotated with check yourself questions, and further reading recommendations, this guide is perfect for a lesson plan, revision, or getting to grips with this piece of now classic modern poetry. Pupils, teachers, tutors and parents who are home schooling will find this invaluable. It contains biographical and social context information, themes, symbols, motifs and language structures such as simile, metaphor, rhythm and rhyme, and imagery.

A model essay for Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men on possibly one of the most contentious characters- Curley's wife. Currently at an A03/grade B level, at the end there are tips on how to improve it to an A/A*. Suitable for pupils who are trying to streamline their essays or come up from a C grade, or lesson aid for tutors and homeschoolers.

This is a A/A* grade GCSE English model essay preparation handout covering a topic in the play An Inspector Calls by JB Priestley. In this case it is a discussion of the character of Gerald Croft and how he embodies the themes of the play. It includes points to discuss; themes you should mention in ANY Inspector Calls essays; and quotes- and deviates from the PEE structure. This is because many examiners consider PEE a weak structure for which they can only award AO2/ grade C marks. Great revision/ essay preparation tool that can be adapted for all essays, and useful for those who find the play difficult to follow. It is divided up in how to compile an introduction an essay body and a conclusion. A useful guide for teachers, pupils and tutors/parents who homeschool, with four pages of explanation and themes, and an additional three page section for the addition of relevant quotes and space to make your own analysis/commentary before you start the essay.

A full in depth analysis of Wilfrid Owen's 'Exposure' poem, part of the 'Conflict' section of the GCSE Anthology. Ten pages long fully annotated with check yourself questions, and further reading recommendations, this guide is perfect for a lesson plan, revision, or getting to grips with this piece of now classic World War I poetry. Pupils, teachers, tutors and parents who are home schooling will find this invaluable. It contains biographical and social context information, themes, symbols, motifs and language structures such as simile, metaphor, rhythm and rhyme, and imagery.

This is the fourth part for the verbal reasoning component of the 11 plus examinations for grammar and selective entrance schools all across the UK. There are 40-42 (including CEM format) possible types of exercise that can turn up on these entrance exams, these are the first quarter. These methods are unique to me and I spent some years with real pupils developing them to the highest possible standard. There is an extra part (5) for exercises added to these tests from 2012 that has been created for exclusive online upload too.s For the CEM 11+ guides please see parts 6 and 7 of our survival guide. This section contains mathematical sequences and skills, short codes and vocabulary exercises. This is for schools that use the NFER Nelson, Nelson Bond or Bond style 11+ verbal reasoning component ONLY. All these sections are/will be available in the shop. The answers are included, with some explanations. For parents, tutors and pupils who'd like to try for grammar or other selective school, each page has a full and friendly explanation of what to do and what tricks and traps to avoid, with sample questions to try at the bottom of each page. Eight pages long and at a bargain price of £2 per section. ***Note that one or two typeos are always deliberately left in the NFer 11+ guides because they are notorious for having mistakes in their exams, one reason why many schools and LEAs are moving to CEM formats. Pupils need to know what it 'feels' like to find an error, to 'know' that examiners are fallible, how not to panic when they find an error as they will be awarded the mark anyway, and just to let the teacher/invigilator know. Parents/tutors do have this explanation ready when your child/pupil attempts these tests. Errors are most common on maths and codes exercises.***

AN EIGHT page guide on this novel, it includes: Examination of the three main themes in the novel and how to use them in essays Biographical detail on the author Historical, literary and social context of the novel With good weblinks to topics that students just starting out at GSCE may not be familiar and ten multiple choice questions to check knowledge and understanding of the text and the guide (with answers) this guide can be read before or after reading the novel. Useful for teachers, tutors and pupils, this can be used as revision, an essay helper or a whole lesson document. Allied to this is part 1 of the analysis of this novel, concerning the characters, in full, also available on this site. This can be used for KS3 or GCSE (11-16 year olds.)

AN EIGHT page guide on this novel, it includes: Examination of all major and minor characters How each character connects to themes (keyworded) in context Links to how and where they appear in the novel With good weblinks to topics that students just starting out at GSCE may not be familiar and ten multiple choice questions to check knowledge and understanding of the text and the guide (with answers) this guide can be read before or after reading the novel. Useful for teachers, tutors and pupils, this can be used as revision, an essay helper or a whole lesson document. Allied to this is part 2 of the analysis of this novel, concerning themes, symbolism and motifs in full, also available on this site. This can be used for KS3 or GCSE (11-16 year olds.)

A full and in-depth EIGHT page up to A* guide on this poem for GCSE students and teachers. It can be used as revision, as a lesson tool, or just to make sense of this classic poem by Seamus Heaney. Fully annotated, with quotes, 'check yourself' questions and further reading, this is an essential guide to one of the most challenging poems of the GCSE anthology- suitable for all exam boards. This goes over biographical and poem context, universal themes (issues the poet tend to address a lot) themes, motifs, symbolism and language. Picture credit: Geoff Rollinson.

This is a guide for module 1 of Unit 1C (AQA) but suitable for all exam boards that offer this course: ‘The Tudors: England 1483-1603': Consolidation of the Tudor Dynasty: England 1485-1547. This should be read in conjunction with the other Unit 1C modules for A/S and A2 (available in the shop). Part 1 (available in the shop) focuses on an overview comparing the monarchial system Henry VII ‘inherited’ with the one he wished to create. (This guide could also be used as background for Unit 2B.) Part 2 of this first module is also available, which defines the Renaissance and sets forth arguments- as used to be merely accepted- as to whether Henry VII fits that definition. But this is part 3- the nature of his initial moves to establish the ‘Tudor dynasty’ and maintain his early tenuous grip on the throne of England. Without this context it is difficult to ascertain exactly what Henry VII did to consolidate the monarchy, and even if he succeeded, which is the whole point of this module. At A/S and A level you need to link events and policies if you want an A grade. Fully THIRTEEN pages long and annotated, with further reading options and revision style questions to check your knowledge, these compact yet detailed guides are essential reading that also cut down pupil study time. Made for the AQA exam board but suitable for all exam boards that do this topic, it is useful for teachers, tutors, parents and pupils for a frame of reference for a topic that used to be seen by traditional historians as an 'easy', black and white period of history- how we know it was no such thing.

A brief but detailed summary on what skills would be needed to pass the 11+. It is three pages long and covers English, Maths, Verbal and Non Verbal Reasoning. Guides that are in-depth and cover ALL the tasks needed for all these skills, including exam papers exclusively produced for TES, will be/are available in the shop. Easy to read, and written in friendly language- for tutors, parents and students alike.

Written for the AQA exam board but suitable for any course that includes this book, this is a FREE courtesy guide on analysing the major characters in The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald. Thirteen pages long, fully annotated with a further reading section and a revision quiz, this can be used for revision, lessons and to get to know the work by pupils teachers and tutors. One of a set of six (all available on this site) of guides that comprehensively cover all aspects of this novel from context and themes to symbolism and motifs. If you download this PLEASE leave a review as a courtesy- thank you.