THE SHORT ANSWER
See how the subject fits together
Language and composition belong alongside literature in your revision plan. Knowing a plot is not the same as analysing how a writer creates meaning.
A revision map, not a prediction of which questions will appear. Official sources and scope
This guide uses the syllabus for the 2027 examination. Curriculum Online also lists a replacement for a later cohort; do not switch to it simply because it appears first on the subject page.
MORE THAN A TOPIC LIST
How is English assessed?
- Paper 1: comprehension and composition.
- Paper 2: literature, including studied texts and unseen material.
This describes the syllabus assessment components. Use the SEC instructions for your year for timing, question choices, materials and submission arrangements. Read the official assessment section. (opens in a new tab)
Check your selected programme
Your school selects texts from the prescribed programme. Confirm your single text, comparative texts and poetry programme for 2027 before making a text checklist.
YOUR SUBJECT, YOUR CHECKLIST
What should I revise?
Choose the checklist for your level. Topic groups are a starting map, not every syllabus outcome. Optional cards only apply if they are part of your programme.
Higher and Ordinary Level have different prescribed programmes and demands. Use your level’s 2027 text list; do not transfer a Higher Level poetry list or comparative requirement to Ordinary Level.
Saved in this browser, separately for each subject and level. A tick is not a mastery score.
Comprehension & close reading
Purpose, audience, tone and evidence in unfamiliar texts.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How does a writer make a reader feel uneasy in an opening paragraph?
Underline two specific choices, then explain their effect rather than naming techniques alone.
Functional writing
Match register and structure to the requested format.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How would you turn the same idea into a speech and a personal letter?
Decide who is speaking, to whom and why before writing the opening.
Composition
Develop a sustained, coherent piece for the chosen task.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Plan a piece about an unexpected change without relying on a memorised essay.
Write a one-sentence direction for each paragraph; check that each advances the piece.
Single text
Character, theme, relationships and the writer’s craft.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How does a particular conflict reveal a character’s values?
Build a claim around a scene and explain its significance; plot summary is only supporting material.
Comparative study
Connections and contrasts using your prescribed modes.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How do two texts present the consequences of a difficult choice?
Compare within paragraphs instead of writing two unrelated mini-essays.
Studied poetry
Voice, imagery, form and your response to the prescribed poems.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How does a poet make an ordinary experience memorable?
Connect short evidence to your interpretation. Do not turn a response into a list of quotations.
Unseen poetry
Interpret a poem you have not prepared.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
What changes between the beginning and the end of a poem?
Read once for meaning, then again for shifts in voice, image or mood.
The prompts are original study exercises, not quotations from SEC papers or predictions of examination questions. Check the official topic scope.
TURN TOPICS INTO PRACTICE
A useful next revision session
- List the texts and modes your class is actually studying.
- Alternate a Paper 1 writing task with a Paper 2 analytical paragraph.
- Rewrite one weak paragraph using precise evidence and a clearer link to the question.
After practising, write down the exact point that stopped you. Revisit that step, then try again without the notes. A tick should record work you have done, not confidence alone.
Before you narrow your revision
Does a topic’s absence last year mean it is due this year?
No. This guide does not infer question probabilities from previous papers. Use past papers to practise skills and interpret instructions, not to exclude valid syllabus content.
Should I complete every optional card?
No. Check your class’s selected programme and your level. A chosen text, elective or prescribed topic is not interchangeable with another student’s programme. Use the full official syllabus for detailed outcomes.
Are the practice prompts real exam questions?
No. They are short, original CollegeRoute study prompts designed to help you apply the topic. They do not carry an official SEC mark allocation or predict examination wording.
Sources and scope
Checked 8 September 2026. Intended for the 2027 examination cohort.
- Curriculum Online: English (opens in a new tab). Official subject information, specifications and associated guidance.
- English: official syllabus / specification (PDF) (opens in a new tab). Used sections: Language, literature and assessment; the subject page also links the 2027 prescribed material.
- State Examinations Commission (opens in a new tab): examination-year instructions, official papers and marking schemes.
These are editorial revision groups, not a transcription of every learning outcome. The practice prompts and study tips are independent CollegeRoute suggestions. Your teacher’s programme, prescribed material and current official instructions remain the reference for exact requirements.