Two students can have the same teacher, use similar techniques, and analyse the same text. Yet one can walk away with a 14/20, while the other scores a perfect 20/20.
It’s tempting to chalk this up to “English being subjective.” Though this is true, writing a 20/20 essay can be considered an exact science. There are specific strategies that will consistently push your essay into Band 6 territory.
This guide will run through how to build a purposeful essay from the ground up - structured enough for you to follow along, but adaptable enough for different questions and modules.
1) Answer the Question (Don’t Write the Same Essay Every Time)
Obvious? Potentially, but still an important point.
One of the fastest ways to lose marks is to treat every module and question like it’s interchangeable. If your essay isn’t shaped to answer the question, it won’t hit the top band.
Master module-specific writing
For Year 11 Advanced English, you’ll likely write essays for 2 key modules:
