Circle the instruction words in the question (e.g. ‘Discuss’) and the subject words (e.g. ‘central character’, ‘Atticus’), then jot down what these suggest or imply.

A well-constructed essay needs planning. Decide on how you will deal with the task, which key points to make and in which order. Jot down key quotations.

Make a note at the beginning of how long you have for each task. Stick to these timings to balance the tasks in terms of marks.

After each task or section, read your work in relation to the question. Don’t leave all the checking until the last five minutes.

When you face difficulties, slow down, take a deep breath and keep going. Keeping a clear head when you face difficulties is key! Good luck!