Blog Posts under English

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How to get into university with no GCSEs

by Anita Naik

Without GCSEs, it can feel like your chance to get into university is non-existent. However, this is not the case. The Functional Skills Qualifications can help you access higher education and space on a degree course. Here's what you need to know.

What is the functional skills qualification?

Func...

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Do I need a tutor for the 11 Plus Exam?

by Anita Naik

Grammar schools (and many selective independents) select their pupils on the strength of their performance in the 11 Plus examination. This exam tests applicants on English and maths, verbal reasoning (VR) and non-verbal reasoning (NVR), something your child may need help with.

Vernal and non-verba...

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How to revise for your English Literature GCSE

by Anita Naik

It's a myth that you can't revise for English Literature GCSE. To pass, you need to know the texts but also have more in-depth knowledge about the themes, literary techniques and language used. All of this will show your understanding of English Literature to the examiners, and this is what your rev...

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How to select a topic for GCSE English spoken language component

by Anita Naik

The GCSE English Skills component is now called spoken language. It's mandatory but does not count towards your GCSE grade. However, it's assessed separately at Distinction, Merit, Pass or Ungraded.

It's an individual talk of approximately 5 minutes, with questions and applicable in all exam boards...

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Understanding Literary Devices: Allegory, Alliteration, Allusion

by Sara Vazquez Shaw

Authors use a variety of literary devices to make the complexities of plot, narrative, and character development memorable in their writing. Although the techniques can seem somewhat complicated at times, they are frequently used as a shortcut to create a picture or explain a concept clearly.

Three...

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