Everything I think that I did, that others might not have, that helped me achieve an A* in 2017. Techniques and advice, student to student, to make revision effective, efficient and relevant to the exam. I truly believe that anyone can do well with the right approach. So here we go! My article links you to other free resources i have, like mock exams, templates and essays, which can be downloaded with a TES account. I have written five pages that explain my unique approach to: saying something useful about studies/ theories analysing data/ grammar getting AO3 marks planning essays and using these to hack the exam <-- game changer! reducing workload memorising theory Follow my twitter @astarlevels and check out the linked resources at the end that will no doubt help you revise. Good luck you can do it!!! :-)

Paper 2 mock for AQA A Level English Language. Includes Text A and Text B. This time covering the topics of gender, new words, change and slang! Please leave a review & follow my Twitter @astarlevels Young people’s language mock American words mock paper Top band model opinion article I have a model answer for every single question - check them out!

This is a collection of exam questions for the new AQA Psychology specification (2016) focused on the topic of cognitive psych/ memory. I also have made workbooks for attachment, social psych and psychopathology - if you liked this then don’t miss them - linked below!! The questions are usefully grouped so that once you have revised the topic you can test yourself on a range of questions that have appeared in the past, giving you ample opportunities to get familiar with the types of questions the exam board have asked in the past and no doubt will again. Even students who can recite their notes off by heart may struggle to achieve the top grades because they have poor exam technique, but this workbook is the ideal resource to improve exam technique simply by practicing! I have meticulously gone through past papers for the old specification and carefully selected the most relevant questions to the new spec, allowing students to prepare for exam questions that are likely to reappear. I found this very useful on the way to getting an A*. I also have these workbooks for attachment, social psychology and psychopathology- https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/attachment-exam-question-booklet-a-level-psychology-aqa-new-spec-11684162 https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/social-psychology-exam-question-booklet-a-level-psychology-aqa-new-spec-11684168 https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/psychopathology-revision-exam-question-booklet-a-level-psychology-aqa-new-spec-11684165

Paper 2 mock for AQA A Level English Language. Includes Text A and Text B. This time on American English. Please leave a review & follow my Twitter @astarlevels. “Mind your slanguage” mock paper Young people’s language mock paper I have a model answer for every single question on my shop, please take a look!

This language investigation 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. Includes full 5 page write up & data used. Title: An investigation into the language used by politicians in resignation speeches 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 I also have an example of the directed writing & commentary: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/original-writing-and-commentary-example-nea-11721778 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 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

Paper 2 mock for AQA A Level English Language. Includes Text A and Text B. Top band model answer for question 3 on this paper! You may be interested in more mocks for this paper. Follow my Twitter @astarlevels to be notified as they come out. “Mind your slanguage” mock paper American words mock paper

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. 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

Fill in the gaps - language and social groups. A great starter, or, once complete, excellent revision resource with lots of AO2! More gap fills

25 practice essay questions for A Level English Language covering gender, accent & dialect, sociolect, world English & ethnicity and language change. Neat & tidy table checklist design so takes up little space and easy to keep track of how many answers have been planned/ written. You may also be interested in an essay question workbook with space to plan each answer. Find it here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/english-language-practice-essay-question-workbook-11877669

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

Example student written model article on world & nonstandard English Why they work: * Top band article shows how to balance engaging style with linguistic theories * Idea 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 https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/opinion-article-revision-a-level-english-language-11683007

A fun lesson starter for A Level students introducing some 'new words' that they will definitely want to remember as examples in their essays and articles. Great way to show the basic idea that the language is not static (in an entertaining way).

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

This template is designed to guide students through close language analysis. I found this kind of approach the fastest and most effective way to label language features for AO1 and then to score really good AO3 with in depth analysis and links to wider ideas and meaning. Slide one is a blank template and the second slide is an example of how the template can help analyse a quote. Hi! If you came from Twitter, thanks for all the retweets, this blew up! If you want to try out the technique yourself, download this resource for free :-) Download to get an editable copy of the BLANK template! Made for A Level but can be adapted for any level really. Even year 7s or GCSE will benefit from this technique. Please leave a review! Follow my twitter to stay updated with more essential free resources and news - @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.

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. There are 3 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!) Includes: Petytt H dropping test Trudgill ing/in’ test Watson on young people & the scouse dialect - reference to language and identity Cheshire playground use of non std variants Slang Slang in the past i.e. Dickens and HG Wells Snell on sociolingusitics Halliday on slang 2013 election Eckert Swales Stormzy & grime Notes for all six topics in A Level English Language Model essays for all topics in A Level English Language Check out my shop for more: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/astarlevels