One of the most common things I hear from GCSE and iGCSE English students is:
“I feel really confident writing about one text, but I struggle with the others.”
It’s completely understandable. Some texts are simply more accessible. An Inspector Calls is generally liked by students because it is easy to read. However Shakespearean plays, and dense 19th century novels have unfamiliar language and can feel distant, or even irrelevant to many students.
Students often compartmentalise their knowledge, treating each text as a separate entity. But if they do this, they are missing a trick: if they can write a great essay on one text they already have the tools to tackle another. They just need to know how to transfer their skills.
This week, I’m showing my students how to take what they’ve already learned about An Inspector Calls and apply it to A Christmas Carol (or any other text on their syllabus!). By recognising shared themes, character arcs, and contextual influences, they can revise more effectively and boost their confidence across the whole exam.
A Simple Way to Make Revision Work Smarter, Not Harder
Rather than approaching each text in isolation, students can: ✔ Spot recurring themes (e.g. power, redemption, responsibility) and see how different writers explore them.
✔ Use similar analytical techniques—PEEL paragraphs, embedding quotes, and linking context—to craft strong essays across different texts.
✔ Recognise patterns in how writers use structure and language to influence the reader.
Encouraging students to bridge the gap between texts makes revision more efficient and far less overwhelming.
How to Transfer Essay Writing Skills
To help with this, I’ve put together a step-by-step guide that walks students through how to apply their knowledge across different texts. This guide includes: ✔ A breakdown of key transferable themes. ✔ A structured approach to linking texts effectively. ✔ Practical examples to help students apply their learning confidently. You can download this below. I hope your teen finds this useful.
Coming Next Week: A Universal Essay Framework
To make things even easier, next week I’ll be sharing an essay structure that students can apply across all extract-based questions in the literature exam.
This simple framework will help them approach any unseen question with confidence and clarity—so keep an eye on your inbox!
Plus… A GCSE and iGCSE English Revision Guide is Coming Your Way!
I know revision season can feel like an uphill struggle, so I’ve also put together a practical GCSE and iGCSE English Revision Guide to help students stay on track. That’ll be landing in your inbox very soon!
As always, if you have any questions about your child’s revision, just send me a quick message from my contact page and I’ll be happy to help.
Best wishes,
Verity
The English Educator
GCSE & iGCSE English Tutor
Looking forward to hearing from you,
All the best,
Verity
