Unseen texts can be one of the trickiest hurdles in English exams—they're unpredictable, sneaky, and love testing your analytical skills when you're already stressed. But fear not! With the right strategies, you can approach them confidently and excel. Let’s break it down, step by step.
This guide breaks down the process into manageable steps to help you tackle unseen texts effectively.
The first thing you need to do is read the question carefully. I know, it sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people miss crucial details here. Look out for the analytical verb: are they asking you to analyse, describe, interpret, or evaluate? These little verbs are your best friends because they tell you exactly what to do. Then, underline any other key words you need to address—themes, techniques, perspectives. These are your golden clues to scoring full marks.
Step two: count those marks! The number of marks equals the number of things you need to mention and how much to write. Yes, it’s that simple. Two marks? Two pieces of evidence and analysis. Four marks? Four pieces. Don’t write an essay for a two-mark question—you’ll just waste precious time. For questions worth more than five marks, check out our guide on acing mini-essays (hint: it’s brilliant).
After gaining an understanding on how much evidence you need to find, identify the text type and its purpose. Is it a poem? A piece of prose? A visual text? Different text types have different purposes, by acknowledging the text type it can help you focus on the relevant features. For example:
While reading, jot down quotes and techniques as evidence. Pro tip: Keep the question’s keywords in mind while hunting for the most relevant bits. Efficiency is key!
Every great answer starts with a solid thesis. Address the question directly, sprinkle in some of its keywords (or the synonyms), and boom—you’re off to a strong start. Then, get organised with the PEEL paragraph structure:
(If you need more PEEL magic, check out our dedicated article: How to Use the PEEL Structure for Perfect Paragraphs)
We’ve got you covered! Download our free practice question and full-mark model answer. At GSA, we also offer classes packed with comprehensive practice questions and mock exams to get you exam-ready.
Follow these steps, keep practicing, and soon you’ll be smashing unseen texts like a pro. You’ve got this!
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