When it comes to GCSE essay writing, introductions often get treated as something to get through quickly.

A few sentences at the start before the “real” essay begins.

But that’s a big mistake, as a good introduction makes all the difference.

It is the first impression. It is the moment the examiner sees that the student understands the question, know what they are being asked to do and have something worth saying.

As your child moves towards their GCSEs, essay writing starts to matter more and more - and not just for English.

Somewhere along the way, they will probably meet a growing list of essay acronyms.

PEE. PEA. PEEL. PEAL. PETAL. PERSI. Possibly several others, depending on the school, exam board or sacred law that only that one teacher adheres to.

So which one is the right one?

The honest answer is: it’s probably not the thing worth panicking about.

They test how well you communicate what you know.

One of the biggest misconceptions about exams is the idea that exams simply test how much a student knows.

They don’t - exams are not mind-reading machines.

A student might understand a text brilliantly. They might have insightful ideas, thoughtful opinions and strong subject knowledge. But if they can’t organise those thoughts clearly and communicate them effectively on paper, the examiner can’t reward what never properly arrives on the page.