How to get A1 in these subjects?

With English, try to give your own opinion on the texts to show you really connected with it on some level. I got an A1, and am convinced it was because I didn't hold back. I disliked a poet so much that I stated my dislike in the essay and went on to back it up with valid points.

If you make your essays stand out by not just regurgitating the points your teacher tells you, you're on the right path.

English Paper II
The Single Text (60 marks)
You'll have no time to read over the Shakespeare play, so go over summaries, character analysis, themes and images. Learn relevant quotes to each theme/character analysis. Underline important words from the question. Plan out the essay. Outline in the opening paragraph what you plan to write about, in a brief summary. The corrector doesn't want to read a summary of the whole play, they know what it's about already. I'd recommend four or five paragraphs about the question. Always refer back to the question asked, to show the corrector you understand the question and refer back to it. Closing paragraph, again summarize what the question was about and what you wrote about.

The Comparative Study (70 marks)
Novel/play/film etc. - Again, basic summary of each. Underline important words from the question. There's no need to learn the book/s line by line. Learn a few quotes. For example, Theme/Issue, be able to recognize your chosen theme. Be able to compare and contrast the 2 or 3 texts and to show examples of each comparison/contrast. Again, have opening, 4/5 paragraphs in between and closing paragraph summarizing your answer.
General Vision & Viewpoint/ Literacy Genre are pretty much the same as above, except it's GVV and LG. :pac:

I'd recommend focusing on two out of these, as two are guaranteed to come up. Whichever you feel more comfortable writing about. Also, remember that the question may be difficult, so it's always good to have a backup. :P

Prescribed Poetry - Please don't be one of these people who think this every year without fail "Oh, Sylvia Plath didn't come up last year, or in the last while, so she's bound to come up". Or It's (such and such's anniversary of his death) he's bound to come up!" They're not. No poet is guaranteed to come up, regardless of any special occasion/speculation. If you want to keep it short and sweet, learn 5 poets. That way, you'll be covered as one of those learned is guaranteed to come up on the paper.
About the poet - Learn his/her background, which era they were from (Romantic etc.), their influences. What I found about poetry, is that mind maps are good to learn these details.

About the poetry - Learn the theme/tone of the poem. The form of the poem (Shakespearean sonnet/Petrarchan sonnet/lament etc.). Be able to recognize similes, alliteration, internal alliteration, rhyming scheme, instress etc., all poetical terms relate to the poetry. Learn a few relevant or memorable lines from each poem.

The essay (50 marks) - Read the question carefully. Underline important words. Plan it out. Refer back to the question in the opening/closing paragraphs. Be able to link the poems into the question, show you know your stuff. Compare and contrast one or more poems to each other, while give a very, very brief summary of the chosen poem. Explain what the poet meant by whatever line. I myself would prepare a personal opinion of each poem, as this question sometimes comes up and is easy to prepare.

Unseen poem (20 marks) - This is an easy question to gain marks. As you learn how to form a personal opinion of the poems from the prescribed poetry, it'll be easy for you to prepare a quick personal opinion of this unseen poetry. Learn poetical terms. In the question, quote lines from the poem. This shound be at least two pages long.



Remember, quality over quantity. These are just my guidelines.