News, Exam Tips & Revision Advice from Humanitas Learning
Boost your grades for English & the Humanities with our expert tips & advice. Explore exam strategies, revision techniques and insightful news from our expert tutors.
Filter by Level, Subject or Topic
The A* Religious Studies Essay Structure: CHAIN - DARE - PIE
In this blog, our expert tutor, Chris, a long-standing Head of Religious Studies at an award-winning school, will reveal the exact tactical blueprint needed to transition from "telling stories" to delivering A* critical analysis. Using his signature CHAIN–DARE–PIE framework, Chris demonstrates how to transform your essay into a "courtroom" where scholars must fight for their claims. You’ll learn how to master the 40-minute exam window by prioritizing high-scoring AO2 evaluation, building a sustained line of reasoning, and delivering a knockout final verdict that examiners cannot ignore.
How to Master the 12-Marker in Religious Studies (RS) GCSE
Learn how to ace 12-mark questions in GCSE RS with our expert tutor, Chris, a long-standing Head of Religious Studies at an award winning school.
The Role of the Narrator in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (GCSE English)
In this blog, our expert tutor and resident Christmas Carol enthusiast, Ben Huntley, explores how Charles Dickens uses the narrator’s voice to guide the reader through his timeless classic. Ben will teach you how to analyse narrator voice to demonstrate your understanding of the text and achieve top marks in your English Literature GCSE exam.
Elizabethan Fairies in A Midsummer Night's Dream (GCSE English)
In this blog, a Shakespeare specialist and expert tutor breaks down what the Elizabethans actually believed about fairies. By understanding this fascinating context, you can deepen your analysis and gain extra AO3 marks in your GCSE English Literature exam.
Shakespeare Context and The Great Chain of Being (GCSE English)
In this blog, an expert tutor and PhD student in Shakespeare at the University of Warwick provides a clear overview of Tillyard’s ideas and explains how they can help you analyse Shakespeare in your exams.
How to Write a First-Class University Essay
This blog, written by a final-year PhD researcher and experienced undergraduate seminar tutor at King’s College London, unpacks how to write a strong and well-structured university essay that can achieve a first-class mark.
Shakespeare’s Problem Plays (GCSE English)
In this blog, a Shakespeare specialist explains what makes a play “problematic” and how The Merchant of Venice—alongside works like Measure for Measure—forces audiences to wrestle with issues of justice, mercy, prejudice, and power. By the end, you’ll see how recognising its “problem play” status can help you achieve higher marks by showing a deeper understanding of Shakespeare’s ambiguous moral vision and subversion of Elizabethan values. Whether you are studying with AQA, Edexcel, OCR, or Eduqas, this blog will help you to impress your examiner with developed analysis and detailed subject knowledge.
Putting the Story Back in History: How to Master Cause, Consequence, and Narrative in GCSE History
In this piece, expert History tutor and PhD researcher, Ben, will guide you through the importance of narratives and causal chains in history, showing you how to sharpen your understanding of second-order concepts to boost your exam performance.
How to Write a High-Scoring Introduction for A-Level Religious Studies Essays
In this blog, an experienced tutor and Head of Religious Studies at an award-winning school shares the key techniques you need to write introductions that impress examiners, set up a strong line of argument, and make your essays stand out.
Analysing Historical Interpretations (GCSE History)
In this blog, expect tutors provide a step-by-step guide on how to interpret and assess historical interpretations, including example GCSE History questions.
Teleological Arguments (A-Level Philosophy)
In this blog, expert tutors offer a comprehensive guide to teleological arguments, covering both the A-level syllabus and beyond.
School vs University: The Differences Between A-Level History and a History BA Degree
History remains an incredibly popular subject at both school and university levels, but what is the difference between History at A-Level and university?
Oriental Orthodox Christianity (Religious Studies)
In this blog, expert tutors guide you through the fascinating world of Oriental Orthodoxy. We delve into its rich history, distinctive theology, colourful liturgy, diverse denominations, and ongoing global mission.
Pure Land Buddhism (GCSE Religious Studies)
Pure Land Buddhism represents a vibrant and ancient branch of Buddhist thought. This guide aims to demystify its core beliefs and practices, illuminating their direct relevance for your GCSE Religious Studies exam.
Catholic Christianity (GCSE Religious Studies)
In this blog, expert tutors delve into the core principles and key beliefs, teachings and practices of Catholic Christianity, including their basis in Catholic sources of wisdom and authority.
Using Primary Sources to Understand the 1917 Russian Revolution (GCSE History)
A key aspect of GCSE History courses is the ability to comprehend and analyse primary sources. Across all boards - AQA, Edexcel, OCR - answering questions based on primary sources is a substantial part of the exam.
Hume's Fork (A-Level Philosophy)
Hume famously woke Kant from his “dogmatic slumber” through his sceptical arguments against fundamental concepts like necessity and causation. Underpinning this challenge is a notion that is indispensable for A-level Philosophy students: Hume’s Fork.
Protestant Christianity (GCSE Religious Studies)
In this blog, expert tutors break down the core principles and key denominations of Protestantism, crucial for your GCSE Religious Studies exams.
Orthodox Christianity (GCSE Religious Studies)
In this blog, expert tutors breakdown the history, beliefs and practices of this fascinating denomination, comparing it to other forms of Christianity on the GCSE RS syllabus.
Theravada Buddhism (GCSE Religious Studies)
In this blog, expert tutors guide you through Theravada's core beliefs and practices and clarify its key distinctions from Mahayana Buddhism, ensuring you have all the essential knowledge to ace your exams.