8 Best Tips To Prepare You For Secondary English Literature Exams

A common misconception shared amongst students when preparing for their English Literature examinations is that it is near impossible to or that they have to keep churning out essays in order to get a passable grade.

English Literature is like any other subject and you will need to be prepared in order to ace it. Read on for eight tips on how you can study for English Literature to give yourself an upper hand during your exams.

1. Read your texts actively

Active reading is when you are engaged in the text that you are reading.

When reading your literature text, question yourself as you go to assess your understanding of the text. Ask yourself questions such as: What is the character’s motivation? What is the author’s motivation? Is there any information that you found interesting? What makes this author’s work captivating?

These questions act as a guide to help you critically think and dissect the text so you can better analyse it during your essays.

2. Take notes as you read

Keep a notebook dedicated to English Literature so that you can jot down notes as you read.

Note taking will aid you in keeping track of the characters, the plot-line, and any other information that you find interesting or confusing that you can bring up for discussion. Note taking can be tricky, check out our article on the best note taking tips to find out how you can be a master note taker!

Additionally when reading your text, consider how you feel and what your reactions are towards as the plot unfolds and note it down. This will help you connect to the text better and makes it easier to recall during the exam.

3. Study the text’s style

Scrutinise and analyse the style which the text is presented in. Focus on the style of the text, its form, voice and if it is a play, how the text is performed.

Consider how much of your response to the text is shaped by its written style and form.

Note down important features that can be utilised when you are discussing it during your essays.

4. Utilise study guides

Study guides such as SparkNotes, Course Hero and Cliffs Notes are great online study aids that can help you during your revisions. They succinctly summarise the plot points, themes, character analysis, as well as important quotes of your text.

A good study guide will help you think about important questions pertaining to the text ad you prepare for your exams. Find a guide that works for you!

As great as study guides are, do not make the mistake of basing your whole revision strategy on it as they are no substitute for the original text, and what you will be eventually tested on is your own interpretation and understanding of the text.

5. Ask questions

Do not be afraid to reach out to your teachers or classmates when you have trouble understanding certain texts.

By not asking questions when you are in doubt, you hinder your chances at learning. Even if a question sounds silly, ask away! It is much better that you clarify all doubts before the exams so that you do not run the risk of not knowing how to answer the questions or worse, writing down a completely wrong response to it.

Your teachers are there to make sure you succeed, so do not hesitate to ask them for pointers on how you can improve.

6. Form a study group

Get together with your classmates and create a study group for English Literature. This is where you can discuss and share analysis of the text together. Keep the study group small so that each member of the group has a chance to share their ideas and viewpoints.

The more you share your explanation for your interpretations, raise questions and listen to your friends' view points, your understanding of the texts will deepen and strengthen.

7. Re-read your English Literature texts again

How many times have we re-watched a TV show or movie and thought, huh I did not see that the first time? Likewise, re-reading your English Literature text will help you uncover some new or interesting elements that you did not think about during the initial read.

If you are racing against the clock and dreading re-reading your texts again, do not worry! So long as you have read your text fully the first time, you do not have to re-read it again word-for-word.

Focus on the parts of the text that you are struggling to recall, important quotes, key themes and character development. Revisit any parts of the text that have been highlighted by your teacher and any memorable discussion points made during class.

8. Go over your previous essays

Last but not least, do not neglect your old essays. Go back to your previous essays throughout the year and read the feedback that was given to you.

Ask yourself if you still agree with the interpretations you have presented earlier, how would you have reworked the question again, and if you have understood the feedback your teacher has given to you. Your old essays are a treasure trove for revision!

Hopefully all these tips will come in handy for you, giving you ideas on how you can effectively prepare for your Literature exams. All the best and study hard! 

---

What are some tips you would like to learn? Let us know via Snapask’s Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. If you're new to Snapask, don't forget to check us out!