After achieving an A* in 2017, I am sharing my quality revision notes, essays, templates and tactics to help ambitious students reach their goals. These resources have proven a hit across the globe with students and teachers alike - download yourself to see why!
Chat with me on twitter @astarlevels or just drop me an email... happy revising!
After achieving an A* in 2017, I am sharing my quality revision notes, essays, templates and tactics to help ambitious students reach their goals. These resources have proven a hit across the globe with students and teachers alike - download yourself to see why!
Chat with me on twitter @astarlevels or just drop me an email... happy revising!
I created this revision resource so that I had a pre-prepared headline, strapline and engaging opening for every opinion article that could crop up. Produced by a student who achieved an A* in 2017.
Struggling to open your articles quickly with a creative headline and opening? This is the resource for you!
Why it works:
Be inspired to create a witty opening for every article
See how to address Text A & B in your openings (crucial for A Level exam)
Save time in the exam getting stuck on a headline
Versatile headlines and openings that could be re-worked no matter the topic
Model top band opinion articles for every topic
Top band, student written model answer for A Level English Language Paper 2 Question 3 on Language Discourses. Includes full essay & marker annotations with overall feedback.
This essay demonstrates how to analyse the way two texts use language to present ideas, attitudes and opinions in similar and different ways. Students of all abilities will benefit from an example of effective essay writing which they can emulate in their own work.
Why it works:
Shows how to structure an answer to this question that addresses all 3 AOs
Examiner commentary highlights successful elements
Produced by a student who achieved an A* in 2017
This particular response was awarded 34/40
Can be reworked as a template for your future (brilliant!) essays
To find the texts used to write this essay download my free mock exam
Complete revision for language & gender. This resources includes the revision NOTES so you can revise the theory and then an example student ESSAY so you can see how to tackle the exam. Produced by a student who achieved an A* in 2017.
Why they work:
Easy to learn, concise, bullet point revision notes
Essays show how to structure a top band response
Feel confident for your exam
Chat with me on Twitter @astarlevels
Example student written model articles on gender, accent & dialect, social group/ sociolect & occupation.
Why they work:
Top band articles show how to balance engaging style with linguistic theories
Ideas of headlines, straplines & openings
Use as a style model for your future (brilliant!) articles!
I also made a resource with a headline, strapline & engaging opening for every topic that you could be required to write an article on. This is a great tool for students to avoid wasting time starting articles and getting straight on with it. Find it here
Includes two transcripts with accompanying activity sheet & top band model essay response based on the data included.
Why it works:
Activity sheet guides students through the initially daunting task of analysing large chunks of data
Example essay shows students how to approach the question and balance data analysis with child language acquisition theories
Easily turned into a mock question since data is included
Essay can be used as a marking activity
Notes on spoken & written CLA, transcript activity and example essay bundle
Rated 5*!
Complete revision for World English. This resource includes the revision NOTES so you can revise the theory and then an example student ESSAY & ARTICLE so you can see how to tackle the exam. Produced by a student who achieved an A* in 2017.
Why they work:
Easy to learn, concise, bullet point revision notes
Essays show how to structure a top band response
Example article showing how to combine linguistic theory with creative flair
Feel confident for your exam
Chat with me on Twitter @astarlevels
Top band, student written model answer for A Level English Language. Language and social group/ sociolect.
This essay demonstrates how to convey understanding of linguistic ideas by evaluating and challenging the views presented in the question and by other linguists. Students of all abilities will benefit from an example of effective essay writing which they can emulate in their own work. There is also a marking activity at the end & opportunity for students to plan their own answer to the question.
Why it works:
Shows how to select, arrange & argue the most important ideas in essays
Produced by a student who achieved an A* in 2017
Can be reworked as a template for your future (brilliant!) essays
Follow my twitter to stay updated with more essential free resources and news - @astarlevels
Check out my shop for more essays and revision resources: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/astarlevels
I’ve created a comprehensive set of notes for every topic in A Level English Language. There are 9 pages full of theorists, linguists, facts, stats, examples, real world application and more. I used these notes only alongside practice questions & achieved an A* in 2017.
Why they work:
Easy to learn, concise, bullet point revision notes
Omitted endless details on methodology and results
Replaced these with meaningful comments on each study to form the basis of your argument in the exam (crucial to enter top bands!)
Summary sheet includes:
introduction as to why english is a world language
how English spread - inner, outer and explanding circle (kachru’s model)
English and India case study
English and the Caribbean case study
English and Australia case study
American English case study
Advantages and disadvantges of a world language
Singlish
Chinglish
Hinglish
the rise of outer circle english speaking countries and the impact this will have on English in the future
MLE
pidgins and creoles
Tok Pisin
Pitcairnese
and more…
Possible essay questions
Notes for all six topics in A Level English Language
Model essays for all topics in A Level English Language
Have you seen this? https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/world-english-revision-and-example-essay-a-level-english-language-new-spec-11873520
Includes this summary sheet, an example world english essay, an example student article, a revision checklist and a bank of loads of practice essay questions for you to try.
Example coursework for both tasks in A Level English Language. Includes two full pieces of coursework & the data used to produce them.
This language investigation & directed writing with commentary was submitted to AQA in summer 2017 and awarded an A*. This makes it the perfect example to show students what is required of them in the NEA.
Why it works:
Shows how to use current A Level study as a toolkit to study language
Demonstrates how to organise & structure the write-up
Example of the level of analysis & interpretation needed for highest grades
Can be reworked as a template for your future (brilliant!) NEA
Follow my twitter to stay updated with more essential free resources and news - @astarlevels
Check out my shop for more essays and revision resources!
Complete revision for Paper 2. I give you the NOTES so you can revise the theory and then an example student ESSAY so you can see how to tackle the exam. Plus a bank of practice questions. Produced by a student who achieved an A* in 2017.
Paper 2 Section A
Question 1:
gender complete revision notes
accent and dialect complete revision notes
sociolect complete revision notes
occupation complete revision notes
world english complete revision notes
language change complete revision notes
gender A* essay answer
accent and dialect A* essay answer
sociolect A* essay answer
occupation A* essay answer
world english A* essay answer
language change A* essay answer
big bank of practice questions
Paper 2 Section B
Question 3:
language discourses example essay answer
Question 4:
opinion article examples
opinion article example exploring Text A & B
opinion article revision on how to create engaging openings
Total revision for Paper 1 AND 2
Find me on Twitter @astarlevels
I’ve created a comprehensive set of notes for every topic in A Level English Language. They are full of theorists, linguists, facts, stats, examples, real world application and more. I used these notes only alongside practice questions & achieved an A* in 2017.
Why they work:
Easy to learn, concise, bullet point revision notes
Omitted endless details on methodology and results
Replaced these with meaningful comments on each study to form the basis of your argument in the exam (crucial to enter top bands!)
Summary sheet includes:
definitions
opinions on accent inc: Giles, Ryan, COMRES, Montgomery
non std features inc: Petyt, Trudgill, is there a gender difference in the way we modify our accent?, code switching
Identity is closely linked inc: grime music, accommodation theory, Osborne in the 2013 election, Watson, real world application in school and work, policing language
Notes for all six topics in A Level English Language
Model essays for all topics in A Level English Language
I’ve created a comprehensive set of notes for every topic in A Level English Language. They are full of theorists, linguists, facts, stats, examples, real world application and more. I used these notes only alongside practice questions & achieved an A* in 2017.
Why they work:
Easy to learn, concise, bullet point revision notes
Omitted endless details on methodology and results
Replaced these with meaningful comments on each study to form the basis of your argument in the exam (crucial to enter top bands!)
Summary sheet includes:
Fairclough on bosses
Covert power
Small talk (Holmes, Levine)
Face theory
Swales on discourse communities
Nelson, business language
Kim & Elder
Doctor slang!
Leidner on styling
Examples of jargon i.e. paramedics
Notes for all six topics in A Level English Language
Model essays for all topics in A Level English Language
For AQA A Level Psychology Research Methods. This is a revision poster that helps students answer exam questions requiring them to identify a statistical test, to justify the use of a certain test or to decide if a result from a test is significant.
Brightly coloured, clear, big, with an acronym and instructions. Best used looked at regularly i.e. on classroom or bedroom wall.
If you’re studying A Level Psychology or English language, you need astarlevels!
Chat on twitter @astarlevels
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6 top band, model articles and a worksheet helping students create engaging headlines, straplines and openings. Produced by a student who achieved an A* in 2017.
Why they work:
* Shows how to assess ideas from the texts within your own article
* Demonstrates how to balance engaging writing with linguistic content
* Produced by a student who achieved an A* in 2017
* Can be reworked as a template for your future (brilliant!) articles
Includes:
- 4 example articles (gender, occupation, sociolect, accent & dialect)
- 1 article on language diversity that draws on ideas in Text A & B
- 1 article on world English & non std varieties
- 1 article revision sheet helping students plan engaging openings
This is how I revised and practiced for Paper 1 before achieving an A* in 2017.
Revise every section of paper 1 in full with this bundle! Includes:
Child spoken language acquisition summary sheet
Written and multi modal acquisition summary sheet
CLA transcript analysis guided activity and mock question
CLA student example essay answer
2x model essays for question 1, 2 and 3 to accompany the mock paper with data included
Why they work:
Notes are easy to learn, concise, bullet points without sacrificing interesting and meaningful information on CLA
Child language activity shows you how to approach the initially daunting task of combining data analysis with linguistic theory
Essays are top band and student written so show you how to structure your future (brilliant!) essays!
Notes for all six topics in paper 2
Model essays for all topics in A Level English Language
Data analysis combined with theory application to prepare for A Level English Language, in particular the Year 1 exam. Includes three tasks all based around consolidating theory learning and data analysis skills.
Task 1: glossary of 9 language and gender theory cards to be sorted under the model that they fit best with. Useful activity to consider which theories fit together and can be used to discuss a certain idea.
Task 2: a transcript of men and women discussing marriage that students should label with relevant theories i.e. a woman saying “jolly good” can be labeled with Lakoff’s ideas about empty adjectives as a feature of women’s inferior language.
Task 3 and 4: four different pieces of data - a very versatile task. Students can analyse each piece of data, match it up to one of the four exam questions and then pick one to write an essay answer to.
The poster included complements the activities pack. It is a straightforward resource giving a bedrock of theories, can be used for reference, revision or to support class/ home work.
Complete revision notes including a range of exciting studies, concepts and theories. I achieved an A* in 2017 using these notes alongside practice questions
Why they work:
Easy to learn, concise, bullet point revision notes
Show different lines of arguments that can be used to ‘evaluate’ an idea which is crucial to enter the top bands
Omitted endless details on methodology and results
Replaced these with meaningful comments on each study to form the basis of your argument in the exam (crucial to enter top bands!)
It includes information on:
Early writing
Stages of writing development
Spelling
Types of spelling mistake
Overcoming these challenges
The effects of accent and dialect on spelling
Hand writing development
Socio economic issues surrounding child language development
The ways parents can support children
Scaffolding
The influence of technology
Phonics
Genre
Practice essay questions
Notes on Spoken CLA
Model essay for CLA
Check out my shop for more
Used in relation to AQA A Level English Language to get discussions going on the way different occupational groups may use language. Would make a good starter…
A little freebie to say ‘thank you’ to everyone that has supported the shop!
Follow my twitter to stay updated with more essential free resources and news - @astarlevels
Top band, student written model answer for A Level English Language.
This essay demonstrates how to convey understanding of linguistic ideas by evaluating and challenging the views presented in the question and by other linguists. Students of all abilities will benefit from an example of effective essay writing which they can emulate in their own work. There is also a marking activity at the end & opportunity for students to plan their own answer to the question.
Why it works:
Shows how to select, arrange & argue the most important ideas in essays
Produced by a student who achieved an A* in 2017
Can be reworked as a template for your future (brilliant!) essays
Follow my twitter to stay updated with more essential free resources and news - @astarlevels
Check out my shop for more essays and revision resources: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/astarlevels
“blank canvas” revision - a wacky font on a blank canvas for every topic.
Encourage students to try out different ways of filling each poster. Experimenting with a variety of techniques will keep them interested and starting to think about the topics in different ways.
Just delete the irrelevant topics on the last three slides (covering paper 3) ;)
Follow my twitter to stay updated with more essential free resources and news - @astarlevels