With Year 10 summer mock exams underway for many of our wonderful tutees, we want to send a huge 'good luck!' from all of us at BA English Tuition. These mock exams mark a big milestone, but let us reassure you: these are not the real thing. What matters most isn’t perfection, but the feedback you take from them. That feedback will then become your compass as you navigate towards the real thing in 2026. These next few weeks are all about learning, reflecting, and growing.
🖊️ Webinar Reminders: We’ve Timed These Perfectly!
Don’t forget that our Year 10 Pre-Mock Webinars are coming up right before each English paper hits your exam hall and are perfect for a final boost of clarity and confidence:
-
📅 Sunday 29th June, 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Year 10 English Language Paper 1 Pre-Mock Webinar
🔗 Sign-Up Here -
📅 Tuesday 1st July, 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Year 10 English Literature Paper 1 Pre-Mock Webinar (Macbeth and Jekyll & Hyde)
🔗 Sign-Up Here
Let us know if you haven’t received your Zoom link yet; we’ll get it over to you ASAP.
✏️ Jemma’s Top Tips Heading Into the English Mocks
Tip 1: Start with the extract, but think like a detective.
When reading your English Language Paper 1 fiction extract, go beyond what’s happening; look for how the writer is guiding your emotional response. The exam boards frequently highlight that candidates who identify the tone and mood of the text produce stronger analytical responses.
Tip 2: Treat Macbeth like a series of decisions, not just a story.
Rather than memorising scenes, focus on why Macbeth acts the way he does and how Shakespeare builds character. This approach helps massively with any of the theme-based questions, especially if your paper touches on ambition, power or guilt.
📚 KS3 Corner
It’s been a brilliant week across KS3:
-
Our Year 7 tutees have recently tackled The Tempest, exploring the power of language and control.
-
Year 9 tutees had their first taste of AQA English Language Paper 1 and many were surprised by how well they rose to the challenge!
-
For those Year 8s reading Animal Farm, remember: Orwell is never just telling a story. Every character is symbolic. When writing about characters, always connect their actions to the message or warning Orwell is presenting.
🧠 Mental Health Check-in: When Those Results Drop…
Results day (even for mocks) can stir up all kinds of feelings. Here are some new mental strategies to support you when it happens:
-
Change the narrative: Instead of saying, “I didn’t do well,” try “I now know where to grow.” Reframing your mindset actually helps improve memory recall and academic motivation, according to recent educational research.
-
Mood-mapping: Keep a short journal to track how you feel after each paper. You’ll start to see patterns—and where you might need support or breaks.
-
Reward system: Create small rewards for facing tough feedback; watch a show, bake something, play a game. Little joys create resilience.
📌 In Case You Missed It: FAQs Blog Now Live
Our BA English Tuition FAQs Blog is now live and answers the questions we get asked most often; from session costs and what’s included, to our exciting new Maths tuition expansion.
📖 Read the BA English Tuition FAQs Blog HERE
🌞 Summer Edge Tuition Package
Our Summer Edge package offers 4 tailored sessions for £125, ideal for keeping your skills sharp between academic years.
-
Flexible scheduling around your summer plans.
-
Sessions tailored precisely to your needs; KS3, GCSE, or even bridging towards A Level
If you'd like to talk it through with us before signing up, simply schedule in a phone call with us HERE.
🏡 Life Outside the Books
The home learning space renovations continue: new storage, new systems, same dedication. Arlo helped pick out some very colourful flowers for the garden (purple and yellow seem to be favourites this month) though sharing his toy digger during the trip to collect them remains a work in progress.
Much of this week has also been spent fine-tuning our Year 10 Pre-Mock Exam Webinars, right down to the final quote choices and timed question walkthroughs. We've been adapting the sessions based on recent trends in mock papers we've seen across schools and integrating brand-new model paragraphs that really show tutees how to hit the top bands. Safe to say, we’re just as excited for this Sunday as our Year 10 tutees (okay, maybe more).
Remember to stay focused and to stay....BA Tuition!
Add comment
Comments