IGCSE English Language

Tips

Format of the exam

Two hour paper
Question 1 Directed Writing 20
marks
Question 2 PEA
10 marks
Question 3 Summary
20
marks

Reflective learners
Before we begin planning:
What do you think are your strengths and
weaknesses with the Language paper?
Look through your IGCSE folders to help
remind yourself.

Language Paper Question

1

Question is focused on passage A only

Worth 20 marks
Write in the appropriate format (diary,
interview, article, speech, letter)
Select relevant information only
Consider the purpose, form and audience
Use your own words as far as possible
Focus carefully on spelling, punctuation
and grammar (worth 5 marks)
Suggested time length 40-45 minutes.

Question 1: Directed Writing

Were going to read over the November 2011 paper Running with
the bulls
Task:
You are going to spend 10 minutes to PLAN your response.
Write a letter of protest to the organisers. In your letter,
persuade the organisers that the event should be stopped

Begin your letter: Dear Organisers, .

Base your letter on what you have read in Passage A. Be careful to
use your own words.
Write between 1 and 2 sides, allowing for the size of your
handwriting.
You will now spend 35 minutes to write your response.

Mark scheme key points

13-15 ideas are developed throughout with understanding
and originality. Reactions are well linked to the passage.
Candidates have a strong sense of overview
10-12 some well developed thoughts and feelings; passage
is well used but not sustained, some originality
7-9 passage is used satisfactorily; plenty of references but
little originality, mechanical in places
4-6 brief inference to the text, little in the way of developed
ideas, some evidence of understanding the passage

Question 1 Example answer:

Link to the mark scheme

Envoy task:
Your task is to go through the marking criteria with your small group.
Share and discuss the criteria and mark each others papers.
How close have the group got to tackling the task successfully?
The Envoy will work with the group for 15 minutes before sharing
their
thoughts with the group.

Language Paper Question

2
Writers

effect and craft

Analysis at word, sentence and text
level
Use appropriate terminology
Use PEA paragraphs
Focus on SPAG
Worth 10 marks do NOT spend
more than 30 minutes on this task!!

Question 2: PEA
Re-read the descriptions of
(a)the

town of Cascais in paragraph 1, beginning

Cascais, along the coast ;

(b)the

atmosphere and the events as the Running

with the Bulls is about to begin in paragraph 3,
beginning The bull run takes place .

Select words and phrases from these descriptions,

and explain how the writer has created effects by
using this language.

Mark scheme key points

Key words and phrases should be explored explicitly

9-10 wide ranging discussion of language with some high

comments that explore the meaning and association of words;
demonstrating the writers intents and purposes
7-8 Reference is made to a number of words and phrases, there is
some evidence that the candidate understands how language
works
5-6 satisfactory attempt made to identify appropriate words and
phrases. The answer tends to give the meaning of words and
hardly ever explores the effects

Question 2: PEA
General comments on your responses:
TFI (target for improvement)
- Think about the writers intentions; why have they
chosen that specific word or phrase
- Improved identification of words/phrases but not
enough analysis of the meaning and effect
WWW (what went well)
- Improved fluency and awareness of how language
works
- Considering aspects of humour / irony in the
paragraphs
- Nobody overwriting (hooray!!)

Example of what to
consider...
Link to the mark scheme
Question 2 student example

Reflective learners
Before we begin planning:
What do you think are your strengths and
weaknesses with the Language paper?
Look through your IGCSE folders to help
remind yourself.

Reflective learners
Question 3: Strengths
Identifying

the key points in the

passages
Improved focus on the style of writing
required for the task

Reflective learners
Question 3: Weaknesses

Overwriting
Timing and efficiency
Concision
Wasting words with generic phrases
Not enough points for A and/or B
An imbalanced response

Language Paper Question

3
Make effective use of highlighters
Extract relevant points from both passages (min of 15)
Use only the information in the source texts
Re-order points in a logical way, avoiding repetition
Use your own words where possible
NO INTRODUCTIONS OR CONCLUSIONS NEEDED
No more than ONE SIDE
Write in a clear, concise and impersonal style
Focus on your SPAG (spelling, punctuation and grammar)
worth 5 marks
List of points to consider

Question 3: Summarise

Summarise:
(a)how safety and order are promoted at the
Pamplona Bull Run, as described in Passage B;
(b)the

reasons why the local people of Cascais

enjoy the Running with the Bulls, as described
in Passage A.
Use your own words as far as possible.
You should write about 1 side in total, allowing
for the size of your handwriting.
Envoy task

Mark scheme key points

One mark will be awarded for each relevant point, up to 15 marks

Quality of writing
5 All points are made clearly and concisely in your own words
4 Most of the answers are concise and well-focused, even if there is
an inappropriate introduction
3 There are some examples of concision, occasional loss of focus
and repetition of words
2 Generally well focused, often unnecessary explanations and
excessive response beyond the suggested word limit
1- Grossly long, wordy, written in the wrong form (i.e. narrative, diary
entry) and frequent lifting from the passage (i.e. copying!)

IGCSE English Literature

Tips
Format of the exam:
1hr 45mins (2hrs extra time)
Romeo and Juliet and Of Mice and Men (50
mins each)
60 marks in total
Choice of thematic or character based question
Answer one question in essay format
Include 6-8 paragraphs (PEE123)
Remember to discuss:
-theme
-context
-writers craft
-personal response

Plan for 8-10 minutes.

Take time to check for errors at the end.

Of Mice and Men

Characters:
You will have a question on one or a
combination of the following characters
but
be sure to prepare for a curve ball.
Lennie; George; Curleys Wife; Crooks;
Candy; Curley

Of Mice and Men

Themes:
Know your themes really well. Youll have a
question on one of them.
Cruel nature of humanity
Power literal and metaphorical
Friendship / Loneliness
The American Dream
Things such as racism, ageism, sexism are
motifs which are represented in the novel.

Tips for use of quotes

Keep them bitesize and of course, relevant
to your question.
Try to embed the quotes into your response
for a more fluid and engaging read.
Extension: The higher marks will be achieved
by considering the effect of the writers
word choices and their craft

Of Mice and Men

Choose one of the following questions. Produce a plan to help
with your structure:

(a)Explore

the theme of loneliness in the

novel, considering how successful individual
characters are in overcoming it.
(b)What

do we learn about the character of

Curleys wife and how she reacts to others?
Exam questions planning and introduction

Suggested points to consider

a) Explore the theme of loneliness in the novel, considering
how successful individual characters are in overcoming it.
Many different characters are affected by loneliness, and candidates will be
rewarded for any appropriate individuals selected:
Shifting

nature of work as an itinerant ranch hand

No home, possessions (bleak bunk house), long-term friendships,
relationships
No security in poor job conditions, despite wanting a dream of
success/farm/stability
Above time for G/L (though they do travel together and George looks after
Lennie) (Lennie is more lonely because of his simplicity and problems)
Crooks black, disabled (separates him even more)
Curleys wife the only woman, lonely
No-one really overcomes loneliness, although they try to deal with it:
Georges friendship with Lennie is an attempt to counter loneliness
Crooks wants a share in Georges and Lennies dream of a farm
Curleys wife tries to befriend/seduce the ranch hands
Despite efforts, there is a bleak ending: dreams are unfulfilled, there is
Curleys wifes death, and George kills Lennie to save him from his troubles.

Suggested points to consider

b) What do we learn about the character of Curleys wife and
how she reacts to others?

Her appearance rather cheap-looking. Reference to red dress

(dangerous? provocative?)
Her frustration marriage is not what she hoped/dreamed
(Hollywood), after a row with her mother she married Curley (not for
love)
Her attempts to seduce the ranch hands
She has a mean streak
Her reactions to others:
She shows her feelings about Curley and indicates that she has little to
do on the ranch
She tries to exert power over others/men ranch hands eg Crooks she
could get him lynched
Comes into the mens territory the barn to try to get some company
She is provocative: gets herself into the situation with Lennie, and
provokes the tragedy.

Romeo and Juliet

Themes:
Know your themes really well. Youll have a
question on one of them.
Love
Death
Youth v Old Age
Fate/Destiny
Things such as light and dark, violence
represented in the play are motifs.

Romeo and Juliet

Characters:
Youre sure to have a question on one or a
combination of the following characters but
be sure to prepare for a curve ball.
Romeo, Juliet, Tybalt, Mercutio
Curve balls include: Friar Lawerence, Lord or
Lady Capulet, The Nurseeven Benvolio

Romeo and Juliet

Choose one of the following questions. Produce a plan to help
with your structure:

(a)What

do we learn about the character of

Romeo as the play progresses?
(b)The

contrast of youth and old age is

important in this play. How far do you agree
with this statement?
Exam questions planning and introduction

Suggested points to consider

a) What do we learn about the character of Romeo as the play
progresses?

Initially he is presented as young, headstrong and playful,

being infatuated/lovesick with Rosaline
However, when he encounters Juliet he changes his affections
being struck by her love and beauty
He has a nave charm in wooing her honeyed courtship words
Despite the family feud, he shows himself capable of planning
a secret marriage to her
He becomes more of a peacemaker, trying to break up the
fight in the market-place
He has a strong sense of family honour: when Mercutio is killed
he is duty-bound to respond by killing Tybalt
He shows that he is prepared to do anything for love even to
die when he thinks Juliet is dead.

Suggested points to consider

b) The contrast of youth and old age is important in
this play. How far do you agree with this
statement?

Clearly there are many examples of contrasting young and old

characters, so it is hard to argue that it is NOT important. However,
more sophisticated responses may note that there are other (more?)
important themes. Look for evidence drawn from the portrayal of a
range of younger (includes Romeo, Juliet and their peers) and older
characters (includes older family members, Nurse, Friar).
Youth is commonly represented as impulsive, headstrong, passionate,
hasty, nave
Older characters are often marked by greater wisdom, caution,
restraint (see especially the Nurse and the Friar)
The young males are energetic, cocksure, aggressive
Older characters (Capulets and Montagues) often have set views,
bound by traditional attitudes, hostilities and expectations
Not all young act in identical way: variations in how they are presented
Similarly, some of the older characters reveal more personal and
distinctive traits.

Remember to PEA
See example
Exam questions planning and
introduction