IGCSE English Literature Revision
Exam dates:
Wednesday 23rd May Open book exam 2h15
Exam content
Open book
· A choice of 3 questions on Things Fall Apart
· A choice of 3 questions on Songs for Ourselves
· A choice of 3 questions on Macbeth
1 text-based question marked with a *
1 general essay question
1 empathic task (apart from poetry where there will be 2 general essay questions instead)
· You must choose ONE text-based question.
· You have 45 minutes per question.
· You must bring your books with NO writing/annotations. Your books will be checked before the exam starts. You may not share books or use photocopies. If you forget your books you will have to go without.
Revision:
This is called an ‘open book’ exam. This means that you should use your book during the exam! You must know each work really well so that you can quickly find quotes and examples to illustrate the points you are making.
I suggest you revise the following things, looking back over the work we have done in class and your notes.
Things Fall Apart: Make sure you remember the key events, setting, characters and themes in the story. What voice would you use if you answered an empathic task as one of the characters? What kep events would you refer to to show knowledge of the whole text? How does Achebe use language in the text? Learn some quotes from key passages in the novel to illustrate your ideas.
Songs for Ourselves: Revise each poem by rereading it with the class notes/worksheets we have studied. Make sure you understand each poem and could write on any of them as you may not have a large choice of poems. It is dangerous to only revise 3 or 4 poems: you need to know them all.
Think of themes that link the different poems
Macbeth: Revise themes, characters, plot and setting.I do not advise you to answer the text-based question on Macbeth as the language is difficult. How would you answer an empathic task as one of the characters? Use the class notes you took on characters and themes.Learn the key quotes I have given you.
Empathic task: Remember you must take on the voice of the character. If you do this question for Macbeth you are not expected to use Shakespearian language. Use formal English but make sure you show an understanding of character through your writing.
Text-based question/Essay question : Remember Point-Quote-Comment. You will get good grades for quoting regularly from the text to back up your ideas. You must always analyse your ideas too. Look carefully at the language used and its effect on you, the reader.
Exam technique
Even though you have very limited time for each question in the literature exam, you MUST plan each answer. There is not time to write a rough copy so careful planning is necessary and will gain you higher grades.
1. Read the question carefully and underline the key words/phrases.
2. Choose the question you want to answer and stick to it. You have not got time to change your mind. Find the relevant poem/section in the book.
3. Re-read the question asked and brainstorm your ideas.Remember all rough work must be done on the answer paper.
4. Make a quick plan – what are you going to include in your answer?How are you going to prove to the examiner that you know the work really well?
5. Write your answer. You DO NOT have time to write a rough copy. Cross out any mistakes neatly and re-write the word as you are not allowed corrector pens/erasers.
6. You should aim for 2 sides of writing – you are going to have to write very quickly!
7. Re-read your answer checking for grammatical errors, punctuation, spelling etc. Have you divided your work up into paragraphs?
8. Put a cross through any rough work.