5 GCSE English Mock Tips That Actually Raise Your Marks
Mocks are stressful, but they’re also one of the best chances you get to improve before the real GCSEs. The problem is, most students revise content but don’t fix the small exam habits that actually cost marks under pressure.
In this video, you’ll get five practical tips specifically for GCSE English mocks - covering Literature, Language, and creative writing. These aren’t complicated strategies or unrealistic routines. They’re simple changes you can apply straight away to write faster, stay calmer, and show examiners exactly what they’re looking for.
Watch this before your next timed practice or mock exam.
Five Tips to Improve Your GCSE English Mock Results
Here are five practical tips that will help you perform better in your GCSE English mocks.
Tip #1 - Practice Timed Answers
Make sure you're practising essays under timed conditions.
You want to get used to writing while the clock is ticking so you don't panic in the real exam.
The more often you practice timing, the calmer and more controlled you'll feel on the day.
Tip #2 - Learn Quotes in Detail (Not Loads of Them)
It's far better to know a small number of quotes really well than to memorise lots of quotes with basic explanations.
For each quote, practice linking it to different exam questions and themes.
This makes your revision more flexible and much more useful in mocks.
Tip #3 - Use a Cyclical Structure in Creative Writing
This tip is for English Language creative writing.
Try using a cyclical structure, where your story ends in a similar way to how it begins.
This is a simple but effective way to pick up marks for structure.
Tip #4 - Always Link Back to the Question
This applies to all of English.
Whatever the question is, keep linking back to it in your answer.
This shows the examiner that you are directly answering what's being asked - not just writing generally about the text.
Tip #5 - Embed Quotes Naturally
In English Language, never write phrases like "this is shown through the quote…".
Instead, embed your quotes naturally into your sentences so they flow.
This makes your writing sound more confident, controlled and exam-ready.
GCSE English Mocks - Quick Recap
- Practice timed answers to reduce panic.
- Learn a small number of quotes deeply.
- Use cyclical structure in creative writing.
- Keep linking back to the exam question.
- Embed quotes instead of dropping them in.
Fixing these small habits before your mocks can make a big difference to your confidence and your marks.
