As we race towards the halfway point of the academic year, February Half Term is looking like it will be our busiest time yet! With group sessions, mastery webinars, and additional one-to-one tuition slots, we’re making sure our tutees have every possible opportunity to succeed. If you’re looking for that extra push, now is the time to jump in!
GCSE Half Term Group Sessions – The Final Countdown! 🏆
For those who have signed up for our group sessions, expect an email very soon with all the details, including:
📚 The topics we’ll be covering.
📖 Suggested pre-reading and preparation.
✅ How to make the absolute most of these sessions.
We are so excited to get going with these! Every session will be packed with exam-style tasks, expert tips, and focused collaboration to ensure you walk away feeling confident.
📢 Book your spot before they’re gone! Sign up here.
Places are extremely limited, but there are still a small number of one-to-one tuition slots available over half term. If you’d like to book one, drop us an email ASAP at info@ba-english-tuition.com.
Key Stage 3 – Structuring a Persuasive Argument ✍️
Persuasive writing isn’t just about fancy language—it’s about how you structure your argument. Ever watched a reality show contestant give a speech to win? They don’t just throw words around; they build their case step by step.
📌 Top Tip: Structure your argument like a staircase:
1️⃣ Introduction – A bold opening statement that grabs attention.
2️⃣ Your strongest argument first – Hit them with the big guns early!
3️⃣ Counterargument & rebuttal – Show you’ve thought about the other side and can crush it.
4️⃣ Final persuasive push – Your most emotional, hard-hitting point to seal the deal.
The best persuasive pieces don’t just talk, they convince. Give it a go!
Key Stage 4 – GCSE English 📖
Year 10: Jekyll & Hyde – Science, Crime & the Dark Side of Humanity 🧪⚖️
Stevenson’s novel taps into Victorian fears—not just about science, but about crime. Hyde is not only violent; he is the ultimate criminal prototype based on Lombroso’s theory of atavism (the idea that criminals are "born" with primitive features).
📌 Top Tip: Compare Hyde to Jekyll through the lens of science vs crime:
- Hyde is "troglodytic", an almost pre-human figure, reinforcing fears that evolution might regress rather than progress.
- Jekyll, in contrast, is a respected doctor, representing controlled, socially accepted science.
- Their contrast symbolises the battle between progress and primal instincts.
Year 11: Power & Conflict Poetry – ‘Poppies’ & ‘The Prelude’ 🌊🩸
Two very different poems, but both explore how memories shape us.
📌 Top Tip: Using the power of memories is to reflect power and loss:
- Poppies captures personal grief, showing how war affects those left behind.
- The Prelude captures nature’s overwhelming power, reminding us that humans are small in comparison.
- Both poets use contrast—Duffy contrasts war imagery with domestic settings, while Wordsworth contrasts youthful arrogance with nature’s might.
Bringing in big themes like power, nature, and memory can strengthen your response to any poetry comparison!
Key Stage 5 – A Level Revision: Working Smarter 🎓
A-Level exams are a marathon, not a sprint—and the way you revise must be different from GCSEs.
📌 Top Tip: Use the Cornell Note-Taking Method to summarise texts effectively:
- Main section: Key points, theories, or quotes.
- Left margin: Questions or prompts to test yourself later.
- Bottom summary: Condense everything into a short paragraph for quick recall.
This active recall technique improves retention and keeps your notes exam-ready!
Feeling the Love at BA English Tuition ❤️
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and our friends at Chunk Fudge are rumoured to be whipping up some delicious treats for our tutees over half term. And let’s be honest, fudge is the ultimate revision snack. A sugar boost just when you need it, keeping your energy levels high during intense study sessions. Stay tuned for some sweet surprises over the next couple of weeks!
Tip of the Week – Interactive Tools for Revision 💡
Research shows that students who engage with interactive learning tools retain up to 60% more information than those who rely solely on reading. Here are some game-changing online revision tools:
📌 Seneca Learning – Free, interactive quizzes for GCSE & A Level English.
📌 Quizlet – Flashcards to test key quotes & terminology.
📌 BBC Bitesize – Quick, digestible analysis for key texts.
Interactive revision keeps your brain engaged—so swap some of that textbook reading for active learning!
Funny Flashback – Jemma’s Exam Memorisation Fail 🤦♀️
Jemma once thought writing quotes up her arm in washable pen would help her memorise them before an exam. Great idea, right? Except… she forgot she was wearing a long-sleeved jumper. By the time she rolled her sleeves up to revise, her carefully written quotes had smudged into one giant ink stain. Lesson learned? Stick to flashcards.
Life Outside the Books 📚
Last weekend, we braved the theatre for The Gruffalo… and let’s just say, Arlo was hooked. He declared the show a "rooooaaaring success", and we have to agree. 🦊🐍🐻
Meanwhile, our new TV obsession is Severance—a mind-bending series about work-life balance gone wrong. Definitely worth a watch if you like a psychological puzzle.
Have a productive week and we will be back here just before the Half Term fun begins.
Stay focused and stay BA....Tuition!
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