Why Plan?

Under exam pressure, students who dive straight into writing often lose focus halfway through, repeat themselves, or forget to address the question. A short plan prevents all of these problems. It takes 3–5 minutes but saves you time overall because you write more efficiently and never lose your thread.

The 5-Minute Plan

Step 1: Underline the Key Words (30 seconds)

Read the question twice. Underline the focus (character, theme, technique) and the instruction (explore, analyse, compare). If there is a stimulus quotation, identify what it is really asking.

Step 2: Brainstorm 3–4 Points (2 minutes)

Jot down 3–4 key points, each from a different part of the text. For each point, note a quotation and a context link. This is your paragraph plan.

Step 3: Order Your Points (1 minute)

Arrange them chronologically through the text or from simple to complex. The strongest point should come last — examiners remember endings.

Step 4: Write a Thesis (1 minute)

Write one sentence that directly answers the question. This becomes your opening line and keeps your whole essay focused.

Example Plan: Post-1914 Essay

Para	Point	Evidence	Context
1	Birling rejects responsibility	“a man has to mind his own business”	Capitalist individualism pre-WW1
2	Sheila accepts responsibility	“I know I’m to blame”	Younger generation = hope for change
3	Inspector voices Priestley’s message	“fire and blood and anguish”	Written 1945 — post-war socialism, Beveridge Report
4	The ending — cycle repeats	Phone call: “a girl has just died”	Priestley warns the audience: will you be a Birling or a Sheila?

Thesis: Priestley uses the Inspector as a dramatic device to argue that collective responsibility is a moral duty, contrasting the older generation’s refusal with Sheila’s willingness to change.

Planning for Different Question Types

Question Type	Plan Focus
Shakespeare Part (a)	2–3 techniques from the extract + effects
Shakespeare Part (b)	3 points across the play + context for each
Post-1914 Essay	3–4 points tracking theme/character + context
19th-Century Part (a)	2–3 language/structure points from extract
19th-Century Part (b)	3 points from wider text + Victorian context
Poetry Comparison	3 comparative points (both poems in each)
Unseen Poetry	3 comparative points after 5-min reading

Common Pitfalls

• No plan at all: Even 2 minutes of planning produces a more focused answer.
• Over-planning: Your plan should be bullet points, not full sentences. Don’t spend 10 minutes on it.
• Ignoring your plan: Once you start writing, stick to it. Tangents cost time and marks.
• All points from the same part of the text: Spread your evidence across beginning, middle, and end.