● Structured Study Slots: Instead of cramming, dedicate consistent, shorter periods to English daily or every other day. For example, an hour for Language on one day, an hour for Literature the next.
● Balance Both Papers: Don't neglect one paper for the other. Both contribute significantly to your overall score. Many students focus too much on Literature and too little on Grammar and Composition, which can be detrimental.
● Weekly Review: Set aside time each week to review what you've covered, especially grammar rules and vocabulary.
● Practice Under Timed Conditions: As you get closer to exams, practice writing compositions and answering comprehension questions within the stipulated time limits. This helps improve speed and efficiency.

● Pre-reading: Before diving into a text (especially a literary one), consider the title, author, and any introductory notes. What do you expect it to be about? This activates prior knowledge.
● First Read for Overall Understanding: Read the text once to get the general gist, without stopping too much for details.
● Second Read for Detail and Annotation: This is where active engagement comes in.
○ Highlight Key Points: Underline or highlight important sentences, character names, setting details, and thematic words.
○ Marginal Notes: Write brief summaries of paragraphs, identify literary devices, note down character traits, plot developments, or your own questions/reactions.
○ Vocabulary Check: If you encounter unfamiliar words, try to infer their meaning from context. If still unclear, look them up immediately and add them to your vocabulary journal.
○ Connect the Dots: As you read, think about how different parts of the text relate to each other. How does a character's action relate to a theme? How does the setting influence the mood?
● Post-reading Reflection: After completing a chapter or poem, pause and reflect.
○ Summarize: Try to summarize the main points or events in your own words.
○ Questioning: Ask yourself analytical questions: "What is the main message here?" "How does the author create suspense?" "What is the significance of this particular symbol?"
○ Discussion: Discuss the text with classmates or your teacher. Hearing different perspectives can deepen your understanding.

● Immersive Reading: Read widely beyond your textbooks. Novels, non-fiction books, quality newspapers, and reputable online articles expose you to a vast array of words in diverse contexts.
● Vocabulary Journal/Flashcards:
○ Word: The new word.
○ Part of Speech: Noun, verb, adjective, adverb, etc.
○ Definition: Clear and concise meaning.
○ Synonyms & Antonyms: Words with similar and opposite meanings.
○ Example Sentence: Crucially, use the word in a sentence of your own creation to solidify your understanding and usage.
● Contextual Learning: When you encounter a new word, don't just look up its definition. Pay attention to how it's used in the sentence and surrounding paragraphs. This helps you grasp its nuance and appropriate usage.
● Active Application: Make a conscious effort to incorporate new vocabulary into your speaking and writing. Start with simpler applications and gradually move to more complex ones.
● Vocabulary Apps/Online Tools: While avoiding external links in the final output, remember there are many digital tools that can aid in vocabulary building if you choose to use them personally.
● Etymology (Word Origins): Understanding root words, prefixes, and suffixes can help you deduce the meaning of unfamiliar words and expand your vocabulary exponentially. For example, 'bene-' means good (benefit, benevolent), 'mal-' means bad (malice, malign).

● Regular Composition Writing: The only way to improve writing is to write. Practice different essay types regularly.
● Seek Feedback: Ask your teacher or a peer to review your compositions. Constructive criticism is invaluable.
● Self-Correction: After getting feedback, analyze your mistakes and actively work on correcting them in subsequent attempts.
● Model Answers: Read good quality essays and reports to understand effective structure, language, and argumentation.