As the exam season begins, many students find themselves grappling with a familiar foe: anxiety. The pressure to perform coupled with the uncertainty of the outcome can weigh heavily on even the most prepared minds. However, with the right techniques and strategies, it’s possible to navigate exam anxiety and emerge stronger and more resilient than ever.
Mindfulness techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation, can help students calm their minds and bodies in the face of exam-related stress. Encourage your child to set aside time each day for mindfulness practice, whether it’s a few minutes of deep breathing before bed or a guided meditation session in the morning. By cultivating a sense of presence and awareness, students can reduce anxiety levels and improve their ability to focus and concentrate during exams.
The prospect of tackling a mountain of study material can feel overwhelming, leading to heightened anxiety levels. Help your child break down their study tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks, and create a realistic study schedule that allows for regular breaks and rest periods. Make sure you take time to celebrate small wins, such as completing a task. By focusing on one task at a time and celebrating small victories along the way, students can build confidence and momentum as they work towards their exam goals.
A strong support network can provide a much-needed source of comfort and encouragement during times of stress. Encourage your child to reach out to friends, family members or teachers, for support and guidance. Remind them that it’s okay to ask for help when needed and that they are not alone in their struggles. By fostering a supportive environment, students can feel empowered to share their feelings and seek assistance when necessary.
Negative self-talk can exacerbate anxiety and undermine confidence, making it difficult for students to perform at their best. Encourage your child to challenge negative thoughts and replace them with positive affirmations and self-talk. Remind them of their strengths, past successes, and resilience in overcoming challenges. By cultivating a positive mindset and reframing negative thoughts, students can boost their self-esteem and confidence, leading to improved performance in exams.
In the midst of exam preparation, it’s essential for students to prioritise self-care and well-being. Encourage your child to maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating nutritious meals, getting regular exercise, and prioritising adequate sleep. Encourage them to engage in activities they enjoy, whether it’s spending time with friends, pursuing hobbies, or simply taking a break to relax and recharge. By prioritising self-care, students can enhance their resilience, reduce stress levels, and improve their overall well-being.
While exam anxiety is a common experience for many students, it doesn’t have to define their exam experience. By implementing these techniques for managing anxiety, students can cultivate resilience, confidence, and well-being, enabling them to face exams with courage and composure. Encourage your child to practise mindfulness and relaxation techniques, break tasks into manageable chunks, foster a supportive environment, practise positive self-talk, and prioritise self-care. With these tools and strategies at their disposal, students can navigate exam season with grace and emerge stronger and more resilient than ever.
If you or your child are studying with Oxford Open Learning and want some information regarding exams, you can Contact Us.
Knowing history is a point of pride for many people. There’s a lot to be learned from the trials and tribulations of those who came before us. Learning about it all can be a show of respect for their plight, too. Many Americans, in particular, yearn to feel closer to their heritage, and value history on that basis too.
However, it’s also true that many nations only teach ‘their version’ of history in school. In 2021, an e-petition was launched calling on the government to teach more of Britain’s ‘colonial past’, for example, rather than just the nation’s successes in the World Wars. It received 240,000 signatures.
There’s also Russia, accused of drip feeding it’s schoolchildren with propaganda masquerading as school lessons. Sometimes, one’s understanding of history, and even current events, are heavily skewed.
So, where’s there’s gaps in historical education, it’s fair to assume there’ll be a few misunderstandings of key historical figures along the way. Below we’ll outline 5 of them.
Cleopatra has been a frequently misunderstood historical figure thanks to a series of inaccurate, and sometimes even downright offensive, Hollywood adaptations. Often portrayed as a manipulative and evil queen of Egypt, there’s far more to unpack here.
For instance, many films sometimes portray Cleopatra as being Egyptian. However, the reality is that she was Greek, descended from the Ptolemaic dynasty. However, Cleopatra did speak Egyptian, which was highly significant, given that the Ptolemies had only spoken Greek for nearly three centuries. Still, her mastery of Egyptian made her beloved in the eyes of many, and it’s also believed she spoke around ten other languages, too.
It’s often been said that Cleopatra was most famed for her beauty. However, as her multilingualism proves, there was far more to her than met the eye. Al Masoudi, a 9th Century Poet, once wrote that Cleopatra had written many books about medicine and other scientific inquiries. She was also a naval commander, leading several Egyptian ships alongside Mark Anthony in a battle they both lost.
Arabic history also paints Cleopatra as great monarch and powerful ruler only, whereas the Romans try to create a picture of Cleopatra being a seductive, sinful temptress. These ideas continue to clash today as an ‘oversimplifying’ Hollywood might show, but hopefully a more complete picture of Cleopatra will begin to be more commonly understood.
To some (and most likely older Brits), criticising Winston Churchill is almost unthinkable. He led Britain to victory during World War Two, as everybody knows, and for that, he reached ‘untouchable hero’ status in the hearts and minds of many.
However, in 2020 his iconic statue in Parliament Square was defaced, branded with the words ‘was a racist’. The incident occurred during a ‘Black Lives Matter’ protest, and after petitions were launched to remove statues of controversial people around London. Today, the statue now has around-the-clock police protection during protests and marches that support racial inequality and women’s rights.
While we’re not going to take a position on whether such statues should be defaced, it is worth looking into the evolving public perception of Winston Churchill now that more of his deeds are becoming more well-known.
For example, it’s since come to more people’s attention that Churchill believed white protestant Christians were above white Catholics, and that Africans were beneath Indians. John Charmley, author of Churchill: The End of Glory, asserted that “Churchill saw himself and Britain as being the winners in a social Darwinian hierarchy.” Obviously, the obsession with racial eugenics and hierarchies here is deeply problematic.
There are also a few recorded instances of Churchill advocating for the use of the ‘M Device’, an exploding shell containing the highly toxic gas, diphenylaminechloroarsine. He is recorded as having once declared, “I am strongly in favour of using poisoned gas against uncivilised tribes,” before proceeding to criticise his colleagues for their “squeamishness” when voicing their opposition.
While his wartime premiership is lauded over by many, it’s also worth noting that Churchill’s second crack at being prime minster during peacetime was deeply disappointing in the eyes of many. He’s also alleged to have ‘rated women out of 1000’ at parties, which is an act not very compatible with modern values, too.
Julius Caesar is often portrayed and thought of as a kind, older leader, gut-wrenchingly betrayed by those closest to him. His supposed smarts are frequently mentioned, too, as well as the adoration his people had for him.
Part of this reason for this characterisation of Caesar is that he was considered ‘not as bad’ as his contemporaries, at least in terms of favourable characteristics. Compared to them, he was considered merciful and even charitable. He favoured the common people over the corrupt oligarchs, going so far as to publicly champion the former’s cause against the rich. So, even today, some liberals think on Caesar favourably…
In 58 B.C.E, Caesar became governor of Cisalpine Gaul. Caesar conquered Gallic tribes by two strategies; exploiting their existing rivalries and by force with his Roman troops. When the governor of Transalpine Gaul died, this province was also designated to Caesar. Today, all of this is an area of land that comprises of France and Belgium. Governing for 8 years, Caesar acquired plunder from Gaul, enslaved millions, and significantly bolstered his military prowess. Much of this he did with the aim to settle personal debts at home, which would thereby further his own political aspirations.
In 49 B.C.E, Caesar then used his riches to defy senate demands to cross the Rubicon, marching his army from Gaul into Italy, and triggering a civil war between himself and his chief rival, Pompey. Caesar triumphed, emerging from the chaos he caused and becoming a de-facto dictator as he enlarged his senate and cemented his power.
As his ambitions and power grew exponentially, Caesar would openly declare himself a dictator in 44 B.C.E. He’d be assassinated by his political rivals and would-be successors less than a year later, who feared that Caesar aspired to kingly status and unlimited power. So, with all this context, we can see Caesar was not a good person, or a particularly smart leader in the end, given his ambitions alienated those around him. It’s also easy to see why his rivals might wish him gone. Perhaps his status as a martyr has better aided some people’s more (ill-judged) favourable views toward him today?
Captain Edward Smith was captain of the Titanic. That ill-fated voyage was meant to be his last before he enjoyed his retirement. However, since the disastrous incident, public perception of him as evolved through the years.
In the immediate aftermath of the iceberg crash, newspapers wrote that Captain Smith was a hero who remained at post in the wheelhouse right up until he drowned.
Then came the rumours, of which there were many. Some who survived in the lifeboats testified that Captain Smith was seen helping with collapsible boats, while others said that he swam with a baby in his arms, depositing it in a lifeboat before allowing himself to drown. Others placed him on the bridge as the boat sank.
More rumours came, but this this time they were less benevolent. One was that the White Star liner company chairman, J. Bruce Ismay, pressured Captain Smith to maintain the Titanic’s high speed in dangerous waters. Others claimed Captain Smith was an indifferent and reckless individual, one who remained highly egotistical right up until he ran the Titanic into the iceberg. He was also accused of ignoring other ship’s ice warnings.
To this day, many people will remark variations of ‘how do you not see icebergs that big?’ or ‘how to stupid do you need to be?’ by those who don’t understand the conditions Captain Smith was faced with.
However, multiple historical accounts and British inquiries show that Captain Edward Smith was a highly efficient mariner who cared deeply for his passengers. Reviews of the circumstances highlight that Captain Smith had to contend with outdated best practices aboard the Titanic. One British inquiry exonerated him, noting that he did nothing other responsible captains wouldn’t have done.
History is often seen as ‘indisputable cold hard facts’, when like many other schools of learning, it’s always in a degree of flux. New records come to light, and our ever-changing modern values sometimes lead us to examine historical figures under a new lens. No doubt there are many more misunderstood historical figures worth examining, but hopefully with the ones we’ve listed, you can see how public perceptions of these people can evolve over time.
If you are interested in studying History as a subject, Oxford Open Learning offers you the chance to do so at GCSE and A level, shown below. You can also Contact Us here.
Perfectionism is not, in and of itself, a negative trait. Perfectionists are often conscientious high achievers; our greatest weakness is also our greatest strength. But those trying to be constantly perfect can find that every task feels like an unconquerable burden and every essay a path to failure, however unlikely our friends and family might find our doom-laden predictions. Here are three thoughts to use to beat the unrealistic idealism that may currently be beating you.
What is perfect, anyway? Maybe you could decide. Perhaps perfection could simply mean sitting down at your messy desk, ignoring the clothes on the floor, and spending 10 minutes planning the first half of your essay. In this deeply imperfect and challenging world, if you were to be reasonable with yourself, your definition of perfect should, and could, be different. Redefine perfection: make it doable and make it your own.
A to-do list is a depressing sight, if, at every item, we are telling ourselves that we ‘have to’ or ‘must’ do this or that. But turn ‘have to’ into ‘get to’ and suddenly life seems more joyful. Perhaps it is an irritating piece of advice, an unwelcome call to simply have more gratitude, but studying is essentially an overwhelmingly positive thing. You are learning and growing, and you have access to great materials and educated teachers; you are lucky. And so, even if it feels at first like you are lying to yourself, tell yourself, next time you inspect your to-do list: “I get to plan my essay today”.
We will do it, but we are waiting for the perfect time when we are in the mood. Because we know we can do it well, and not just well but REALLY well. And so that is the aim. This isn’t laziness, for the fear is real: we cannot bear to submit anything less than our best; we cannot tolerate failure; and we want to be proud of what we have achieved. We have visualised (or we think we have) the perfect essay or assignment. But the truth is that you have a deadline. Perhaps you could achieve perfection if you had eternity to complete it. But you don’t. Most tasks have a timeline, whether it is 6 years to complete a part-time PhD, or one night to finish an essay. And the test is not what you can achieve, but what you can achieve in the time you have to complete it. The definition of perfect might simply be this: finished.
Critical thinking skills allow you to evaluate and analyze information from different perspectives. It involves the ability to objectively analyze and evaluate information, arguments, and opinions, and to form your own conclusions based on evidence.
To craft an effective argument, you will need to consider information from more than one source and evaluate each of them to assess their reliability in supporting your argument.
Let’s take a look at why a broad range of perspectives on a subject can make your assignments more concise and reinforce your arguments, and ultimately improve your thought process.
You may go into an assignment with a conclusion in mind already, but that can severely limit the scope of your work and cloud your approach to finding sources. Remaining neutral and considering multiple perspectives promotes open-mindedness and flexibility in your thinking. It allows you to challenge your assumptions and biases and see issues from different angles.
By understanding these different perspectives, and applying facts and context you can work towards finding a balanced argument before making your own judgement.
When you consider multiple perspectives, you are encouraged to critically evaluate information and arguments from different sources. This can help you identify biases and flaws in reasoning and make more informed judgments. Additionally, by comparing and contrasting different perspectives, you can identify the strengths and weaknesses of different arguments and positions.
Once you’ve made your comparisons, now is the time to pick your side. Fortunately, you’ll have plenty of evidence and analysis to justify your answer.
Considering multiple perspectives fosters intellectual humility, which is the recognition that our beliefs and ideas may be flawed or incomplete. By acknowledging that there may be different viewpoints on an issue, you can become more open to learning from others and adjusting your views based on new information.
A flexible thinker is capable of applying logic instead of making assumptions based on taking things at face value.
For any given assignment, find as many sources of information as you can and always be objective. If you do that, you’ll end up wishing the word count were longer. Considering as many facts and points of view as possible is not only key to being a great student, but will also help you better understand the world around you.
In short, the more information you have to hand, the more balanced and critical your thinking can be.
March 11th, 2023 marks three years since the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Covid-19 a pandemic.
The world is still grappling with a new way of living. One of the most remarkable changes is the shift in how people live and learn, thanks mainly to the increases in distance learning and remote working. In 2022, the number of students who prefer online learning had increased by 220%. And as of February 2022, 42% of people said they had adopted a hybrid working pattern – working from home most of the time and sometimes attending their usual place of work.
Distance learning occurs outside a traditional classroom setting, including e-learning and online learning. One of the most significant changes to the learning landscape is that it is now possible to access a wealth of educational content anytime and anywhere. Many distance learning platforms offer video-based classes, lectures, and e-books to supplement or replace traditional classroom learning.
Distance learning has revolutionised how people learn by offering students greater flexibility, work-life balance, and control over their education and futures. Commitments such as being a carer for a disabled or elderly adult, looking after children, or even sleep disturbances can hinder education and work. But distance-learning and remote working can help accommodate life’s difficult circumstances. Its flexibility can also be invaluable to those with physical disabilities, neurodiverse conditions, and mental health problems.
A great example of an online learning tool that might work well for those interested in learning languages is Lingoda. It operates 24/7, and is a great tool to help you learn anytime. Although it’s a paid service, if you complete a ‘sprint challenge’ (30 lessons in 2 months) you’ll receive 50% cash back. If you complete a super-sprint challenge (60 lessons in two months) you’ll get 100% cashback. Now that’s some serious motivation!
The pandemic and evolving technologies
One of the most significant technological developments has been the growth of cloud computing. Cloud computing refers to how an organisation or person’s information is stored, allowing remote access through the internet. Everything from WhatsApp to Google Photos is an example of cloud computing.
Blackboard Learn uses cloud technologies to deliver interactive and immersive experiences for students and teachers. The cloud has also empowered organisations to store large amounts of data and video without physical storage or equipment.
Another significant advancement has been the growth of video conferencing software, such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. These tools have provided:
An effective platform for virtual classes and meetings.
The ability of teachers and instructors to deliver lectures to students.
Teachers and students to interact in real-time, as in a physical classroom.
Despite all the positive changes in work and learning that the pandemic has encouraged, it’s not all good news.
Although working from home may provide more flexibility and convenience, it vastly differs from a traditional office environment, leaving many employees struggling with isolation, loneliness, and social interaction. Remote work often blurs the boundaries between personal and professional time, giving some workers unprecedented stress due to a never-ending workload.
The economic dislocation caused by the pandemic has also been far-reaching, resulting in millions of people losing their jobs or facing reduced wages. This has negatively impacted many households, damaging their ability to pay their bills and support themselves or their families.
Perhaps the best way to address these challenges is to integrate increased social interaction and support systems into remote work and education. Although nothing can replicate face-to-face interaction, initiatives like online book groups or social clubs, where you can have fun and engaging discussions with colleagues or fellow students outside the working environment, could be beneficial.
There’s no absolute answer to overcoming these challenges. All we can continue to do is try and find a balance that helps students and employees feel fulfilled in their work and lives.
If you are an English Literature A level student, at this time of year, with examinations just around the corner, you are probably frantically thinking of ways to remember everything you have learned so far. You will have novels full of notes, with Post-Its throughout; highlighters will have been busy, too, and I expect you have scribblings alongside important quotations in poems, and in any other texts you have studied. But there are other things you can do to improve your learning – enrichment is the way to go!
We all love being read to, don’t we? If you are struggling to engage with a poem, see if you can access a reading online, or perhaps a video of something being performed. Not only does this give you a different immersion experience, but it allows you to hear something that you are probably very familiar with. This is a useful way of helping you revise a text.
It’s movie time! Okay, so school isn’t out just yet – but that doesn’t mean you can’t watch a movie to help you with your A-Level revision. This is particularly useful for Shakespeare, where you may well be writing about one of the Bard’s plays in terms of how it impacts on an audience, and how it works as a piece of drama. After all, plays are written to be performed. So, whether this is the tragedy of King Lear or the silliness of Twelfth Night, watching an adaptation of a play can be valuable revision. Just make sure it isn’t going to confuse you!
A-Level study isn’t all about writing countless essays. Yes, this is important, of course, but so is helping you with your approach to revision. Maybe do a mind map or produce some character studies. Coloured pens can help with identifying key features and important quotations. If you are a visual learner, this can be a particularly useful way of helping you with your revision.
As an English Literature student, you will know that context is important: when a text was written, how it was received, what social and historical issues were prevalent at the time. Find ways of making this fun and memorable – you could look at YouTube videos, use Spark Notes or Google writers and their lives, for example. There are plenty other such platforms, websites and search engines available to you if you want to go elsewhere, too. If you can get a firm grasp on a what was happening when a text was written, it will help you to go in the right direction.
I hope this is useful. A-Levels are tough, but all the hard work will be worth it. Anything you can do to make the revision journey easier will help.
So many of us, when we hear the word exams (in addition to sharing that all too familiar feeling of anxiety), picture blank sheets of paper waiting on rows of single desks lining an echoey hall, the sound of a clock ticking loudly at the front. Whilst this has been the established format for as long as there have been exams, all may be set to change…
Covid and the global pandemic have changed many things but, when it comes to education, it has completely revolutionised the systems used by schools, colleges and universities for communicating with students, delivering learning and assessing achievement. And, whilst students may have returned to classrooms up and down the country, many of the changes implemented look set to stick around and change the way that learning looks for good. So, when it comes to exams, the traditional exam halls and paper tests may become a thing of the past.
There are a number of examination boards – including two of the biggies, AQA and OCR – running trials of digital assessments in a range of subjects, with candidates taking assessments solely online. The aim is that online assessment will be a way to ensure improved fairness in the awarding of grades and, possibly, offer faster and more accurate marking. Whilst some assessments have been available online since 2017, the suggestion is that online assessments will be standard from as early as 2025. In addition, boards are considering the use of ‘smart assessments’ that will adapt, question by question, to the student’s ability as demonstrated in their responses, thus eliminating the need for any tiered papers and allowing students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding in their own way in the allocated time.
Furthermore, many university students are calling for digital assessments to remain in place without the return to traditional in-person exams. The advantages of digital learning have included mental health benefits for many students who have reported less anxiety around assessments and discussions surrounding different approaches to learning recognise the many strengths of an approach that incorporates the technologies currently available. Hybrid or blended learning looks set to become the norm.
However, whilst the benefits of learning and being assessed in this way have been acknowledged, those involved in the decision making appreciate that there are many factors at play and issues relating to equality and the systems used must be considered carefully. Whilst it is clear that assessment boards will continue to investigate and invest in the technologies required for online assessment, the need for the roll-out to be done properly and regulated appropriately is at the forefront of any changes that are likely to happen.
You will be well aware that the study of plays is an important element of your English Literature course. J.B. Prisetley’s An Inspector Calls is a particular favourite, as is Macbeth, Shakespeare’s classic tragedy. Revising a play requires, to an extent, a different approach to other types of text.
So, how can you revise the key dramatic texts that are part of your English Literature examinations?
Firstly, remember that a play is written to be performed – so try and see yourself as a member of the audience of that play. Consider the dramatic devices the playwright has used to interest you – such as dramatic irony* and foreshadowing**. You might want to read key sections of your plays alongside listening to audio recordings, or watching screen or TV adaptations.
Another suggestion is to try and read out sections with some other people – this is a good way of getting into character (so remember to read the stage directions, too). Plays show you clearly who is speaking and how they are behaving.
You might be asked to focus on an extract from a play – one that concentrates on a specific character, such as Lady Macbeth, or a theme such as relationships. One good way of revising is to choose different extracts from your play – and to really ‘zoom in’ on a specific aspect of this. If you want to broaden your ideas further, you can think about how the extract ties into other parts of the play, too.
Understanding context is crucial – when the play was written, what was happening at the time – and so is how the writer has incorporated such details into their writing. You can develop your knowledge further by researching information online and watching audio-video clips can help.
You are writing about a play, so always refer to it as this – it’s not a poem, or a novel. The main difference between a play and poetry/prose is who it is aimed at and the fact it has been written to be performed on the stage. If you can remember this, you’ll be on the right path to success.
*Dramatic irony: When the audience members/readers know more than the characters in the play.
**Foreshadowing: A hint at what is to come later in the play.
Whatever subject you are studying or qualification you are studying for, contact with your teacher or tutor – even when remote – is an invaluable part of that process. They are usually the subject experts, have a full understanding of the assessment process and have, more often than not, supported many other students who felt exactly the same as you do now about their learning. Whether you are confident in your subject knowledge and looking for ways to stretch yourself in order to achieve the very best results or are still a little uncertain and unsure how you might secure the grade you need, your tutors can provide you with the support you require. Here are a few simple strategies every student should try in order to boost the benefits of the contact they have.
Put simply, meet their expectations! If they provide a task, complete it. If they set a deadline, meet it. If you have a meeting, be there. Programmes of study and assessment schedules are in place to meet the needs of everyone; ensuring that there is adequate time for covering all of the content, assessing progress and providing feedback. A tutor works with many students and if you don’t adhere to the plan then you are unlikely to get the time you deserve. If there is a problem with the schedule set out for you, talk to your tutor in advance so that they can make any amendment they possibly can in order to make sure that everyone’s needs are met. If a tutor sees you are committed to your learning and doing what is required they are likely to go above and beyond in the ways in which they support you.
As already mentioned, the tutor is the subject expert. They have the knowledge of the subject but also the ways it is assessed and how to ensure you can demonstrate it when required to do so. Listen to their advice. Take notes where required. Follow their suggestions. However, if there is something you are unsure about, don’t be afraid to ask! Questioning is key to developing a deeper understanding and mastery of a subject but is also a great tool in ensuring there have been no miscommunications or misunderstandings. Your tutor will respect your ability to really engage with the content you are covering together and look for ways to address your questions in more detail.
Receiving feedback is one of the most important parts of the learning journey. However, many of us find getting feedback something that is really, really hard! Instead of thinking about what is said by your tutor as being ‘good’ or ‘bad’, try to consider what you can learn from it instead. If you are given praise for a certain aspect of your work, think about what you did that made this so effective. If there are comments relating to something that hasn’t worked out so well then think about what you might do differently next time. Reflection is key to making progress. Also, apply the same thought process when it comes to your attitude to learning. If a tutor comments on this, avoid taking it personally and think of how you might use what they have said to become a more effective learner.
Don’t forget that any contact that you have with your tutor is designed to benefit YOU. If you are in need of something specific from that contact then, again, do not be afraid to ask! In reality, this involves planning and preparing for any contact you have before you have it. Make a note of any questions you have when studying independently. If you need to revisit any material with them, ask in advance. If you have found a subject area particularly easy or hard, let them know. Remember, your tutor will be looking to support you in a way that is personalised to meet your needs too, so the more effectively you’re able to communicate these, the better they will be able to do this.
It probably goes without saying, or is at least obvious, that reading is an important life skill. If you are studying for an IGCSE in English Language, it is particularly important. You may be struggling with reading the different fiction/poetry and non-fiction texts in the Pearson Edexcel anthology. Perhaps you panic a little when you see the different types of questions and what they are asking of you. Well, fear not because with some clear and simple steps, you can prepare yourself for what is required – so, read on and follow these top tips:
• Reading Widely: For IGCSE, you are largely reading for a purpose – to write about texts in an examination scenario. But the more you read, the better. Try dipping into different non-fiction texts, such as quality newspaper articles or features from magazines – you could even try personal writing, such as extracts from an autobiography. Be critical: what is a text’s purpose? Who is it aimed at?
• Revise: When it comes to the anthology, you will be reading different non-fiction and fiction/poetry texts. You will need to read them several times, though, to be familiar with them. They won’t all be assessed for TMAs so even if you haven’t written about one, you will still need to know it. Perhaps focus on different skills when reading – look for language devices, or narrative viewpoints. Remember: in the examinations, you will only be assessed on one of the non-fiction texts (plus an unseen text) and one of the fiction or poetry texts.
• Recap: It is useful to write summaries of different texts. If you are partial to using a highlighter, look for key words – things that will help you with remembering the main points of the text. If you are creatively minded, you could represent your ideas more visually, such as through pictures. Basically, anything to help you with your recapping skills. You could even skim (to get an overview of the text) and scan (to focus on more specific detail).
So, there you have it. Essentially, the more you read, and the more critical you are of what you read, the better your understanding will be when it comes to examinations. Happy reading!