Retelling instead of analysing
Summarising the plot earns few marks. We teach analysis of method and effect.
English
English Language and Literature tuition
English marks feel subjective to students, and that is usually why they stall. We make the criteria explicit: what an examiner is looking for, and how to produce it under time pressure.
- Language and Literature
- Set texts
- Unseen extracts
What happens next
- 1. A free consultation about the student's stage and goals.
- 2. A shortlist of tutors, reviewed by a person before it reaches you.
- 3. A free compatibility trial before anything is paid for.
Founding lessons from £25 per hour. No grade or place is ever guaranteed.
Who English tuition suits
Strong readers who write weak essays, and reluctant readers who need a way in, both benefit from the same clarity about criteria.
- Students who write fluently but score inconsistently
- Students who struggle to structure an argument
- Students facing unseen poetry or prose
- Students who need to raise reading confidence generally
What usually gets in the way
These are the patterns we see most often, and what a tutor does about them.
Quotation without purpose
Evidence needs to be short, embedded and interrogated. We practise exactly that.
Timing on long papers
Planning is the first thing dropped under pressure. We build a two-minute plan that survives the exam.
Unseen texts
Unseen extracts reward a repeatable reading method rather than luck.
What we cover
- AQA
- Edexcel
- OCR
- WJEC / Eduqas
Language
- Reading and analysis
- Descriptive and narrative writing
- Transactional writing
- Spoken language
Literature
- Shakespeare
- 19th-century novel
- Modern texts
- Poetry anthology and unseen poetry
Skills
- Essay structure
- Embedded quotation
- Comparative writing
A typical first four weeks
Every plan is adjusted at the consultation, but this is the shape most engagements take.
- Week 1
Mark the current work
The tutor marks a recent essay against the real criteria and shows precisely where marks stop.
- Week 2
Structure
A repeatable paragraph and essay framework, practised on a familiar text.
- Week 3
Analysis and evidence
Close reading of method and effect, with short embedded quotation drills.
- Week 4
Timed essay and review
A full timed response, marked feedback and a plan for the next block.
What families ask
Do tutors know our set texts?
We match on the specific texts wherever possible. Tell us the titles at your consultation.
Can you help a reluctant reader?
Yes. Early sessions usually focus on access and confidence before exam technique.
How do we start?
Book a free consultation. We talk through the student's stage, goals and timetable, then recommend a tutor and arrange a free compatibility trial before anything is paid for.
Related support
Talk to us about english tuition
Tell us the stage, exam board and timeline. We will recommend a tutor and arrange a free compatibility trial.