English IGCSE
Parent Support Session
Welcome
Thank you for attending this parent session and
supporting your child during their GCSE year.
The structure of the course
100% exam
2 exams – each worth 50%
Paper 2 – Reading Passages
Paper 3 – Directed Writing and Composition
A* - E
Brief outline of the papers
Paper 2
Paper 3
Reading Passages
 2 hours
 Candidates answer three
questions on two passages of
600–700 words each, linked by a
common theme.
 40 marks – Reading
 10 marks Writing
Directed writing and composition
 50% of total marks.
 50% of total marks
 2 hours
 Candidates answer two
questions
 10 marks – Reading
 40 marks – Writing
Paper 2
Question 1
Extended Response
Worth 20 marks (15 Reading/5 Writing)
Candidates write about 250–350 words
Task: Candidates write a letter, report, journal, speech,
interview, newspaper report or magazine article.
This is what the question looks like
Paper 3
Question 1
Directed Writing
Worth 25 marks (15 Writing/10 Reading)
Candidates use, develop and evaluate the
information in a discursive/argumentative letter or
article.
Candidates write about 250–350 words
This is what the question looks like
Q1.3
There will be at least two factors to focus on, e.g.
advantages and disadvantages. Candidates should
make two lists before they start in order to make sure
they have enough material for both sides of the
question. Examiners will use A and B, or pros and cons,
in the margin to identify points on each side and to
assess the balance of the two.
The third element of this question is evaluation;
candidates will have to decide which of several
options is better/why something was unsuccessful and
present reasons why they have formed this opinion and
justify it.
The POV is all important here
In this question, your move to the country has
been successful
In favour of country life
Drawbacks to country life which Mr Schmit did
not/should have accounted for
Evaluation of why the move was unsuccessful
1.2/1.3
The keys to the question
Character Audience Register Purpose
Who are they writing as?
Who are they writing for?
What are they writing?
What is the purpose of their writing?
1.2/1.3
Using their own words
Using words or phrases from the passage here and there when they are giving details
within their answer is fine. They should not copy big chunks of text as that does not
show that they understand the text.
Top Tip: Synonyms, Vocabulary and Shades of Meaning
So…
The task is to write a letter from the POV of Maria, Mrs Head, and at this point the question asks
candidates to comment on your thoughts and feelings about your husband’s attitude and behaviour
on this holiday.
1.2/1.3
Squeeze as much relevant information out of the article(s) as possible
1.2: It won’t all be relevant- Candidates have to be discerning here
1.3: It’s all relevant
Candidates have try to use as many ideas from the passages as possible but
they will have to change the way they express them; all the material used
from the passages must be modified to suit the new genre ; for instance a
dialogue between this couple would becomes reported speech in another
genre, or just an opinion indirectly referred to.
1.2/1.3
The devil is in the detail
“Ideas and opinions must be derived from the passage, developing
its claims and assessing their implications with clear and persuasive arguments.”
There appears to be two ideas
1. A positive for moving to the country- freedom
2. The drawback(?) of the internet speeds for the 17 year old
Beyond past papers
https://www.vocabulary.com/
Synonyms – Widening vocabulary
If you were …..what would you say about that?
Paper 2, Question 2
What is it?

Explores how writers use language in two named paragraphs in the passage read for Question 1

Expects the students to do be able to do 2 main things:
1.
2.
Identify powerful language
Explore the powerful language they have identified
Key Words for this Question

Writer Technique

Meaning

Context

Connotations/Suggestions

Image/Imagery
Is it important?
10 marks
The Question Layout
Mark scheme
Sample question
Context: Hotel owner, reading the winning entry of a competition he has conceived,
designed to drum up business.
He agreed. Reading the winning entry, he’d been entranced by the sensitivity with
which its gifted writer staged scenes of ancient civilisations and romantic journeys
along half-forgotten sandy roads – conjuring a charming mirage of white-washed
walls, embroidered gowns and orange trees laced with sunlight.
Sample question
He agreed. Reading the winning entry, he’d been
entranced by the sensitivity with which its gifted writer
staged scenes of ancient civilisations and romantic
journeys along half-forgotten sandy roads – conjuring a
charming mirage of white-washed walls, embroidered
gowns and orange trees laced with sunlight.
Sample question
He agreed. Reading the winning entry, he’d been
entranced by the sensitivity with which its gifted writer
staged scenes of ancient civilisations and romantic
journeys along half-forgotten sandy roads – conjuring a
charming mirage of white-washed walls, embroidered
gowns and orange trees laced with sunlight.
Sample question
He agreed. Reading the winning entry, he’d been
entranced by the sensitivity with which its gifted
writer staged scenes of ancient civilisations and
romantic journeys along half-forgotten sandy
roads – conjuring a charming mirage of whitewashed walls, embroidered gowns and orange
trees laced with sunlight.
Sample question
He agreed. Reading the winning entry, he’d been
entranced by the sensitivity with which its gifted writer
staged scenes of ancient civilisations and romantic
journeys along half-forgotten sandy roads – conjuring a
charming mirage of white-washed walls, embroidered
gowns and orange trees laced with sunlight.
Sample question
He agreed. Reading the winning entry, he’d been
entranced by the sensitivity with which its gifted
writer staged scenes of ancient civilisations and
romantic journeys along half-forgotten sandy
roads – conjuring a charming mirage of whitewashed walls, embroidered gowns and orange
trees laced with sunlight.
How you can help
1.
Try to encourage your child to read more:
 Well-crafted fiction/narrative non-fiction.
2. Try to encourage your child to listen to famous speeches.
3. Try to talk to them about the reading they do – focus your questions on why a writer uses the language
they do.
4. When you are watching TV/films together, ask them how they would describe a certain
character/setting/scene – if they use language for effect they will be able to appreciate how other
writers use it.
5. If nothing else – try to keep them on track in terms of revision.
Paper 2, Question 3
The summary Question
Worth 20 marks
Students will read passage B – this will be between 550 –
650 words long
Basics
Split into 2 parts
A) Notes – 15 bullet points, 15 marks
B) Summary – written in continuous prose – 5 marks
Students are required to read Passage B and then
summarise a key area of the passage in 15 bullet points
They will then write a summary using their 15 bullet points
Style of Question
How to succeed: Part a
 Take some time over this question: Worth 15 marks – one mark per
correct bullet.
 Students must be able to scan and skim a text for relevant
information
 They need to write clear and concise points
 Avoid repetition
 Read the question carefully to locate relevant points
 Points can be lifted from the text or put in own words
How to Succeed: Part b
Use complex sentences
Put ideas into a logical order
Use connectives
Adopt a relevant voice – avoid first person and opinion
Must be in own words: use synonyms
Make sure the summary is between 200-250 words
Paper 3, Section 2
4 writing tasks to choose from, do 1.
 Worth 25 marks, equating to 25% of the overall IGCSE grade.
 2 of the tasks are descriptive, 2 are narrative.
 350-450 words, spend an hour on it.
Examples of recent descriptive tasks:
June 2015
2 Imagine that you arrive in a large city for the first time. Describe your surroundings and your
thoughts and feelings at that time.
OR
3 Describe a carnival, parade or procession.
June 2016
2 Imagine you discover a box filled with objects you collected as a small child. Describe some of
the objects, and your thoughts and feelings as you look at them.
OR
3 Imagine you are waiting in a café for a friend who is very late. Describe your surroundings and
your thoughts and feelings as you wait.
Examples of recent narrative tasks:
June 2015
4 Write a story which ends with some sort of confession.
OR
5 Write a story which involves a place underground.
June 2016
4 Write a story entitled, ‘The New Beginning’.
OR
5 ‘This was too exciting a temptation to resist.’ Write a story in which these words appear.
How is it assessed?
The mark scheme is broken down into 2 section:
13 marks are for ‘Composition, Content and structure.’
12 marks are for style and accuracy
So, in order to score high marks…
 Students need to write accurately, in a clear structure.
 Students need to go into detail in their descriptions and choose the most effective
vocabulary.
 Students need to deliberately vary the lengths of their sentences for effect.
 Similes, metaphors, emotive language etc. are all valid techniques to employ.
 Taking time to plan will be a major advantage. Visualisation is key.
Examiner’s report 2016
Ways in which the writing of descriptions can be improved:
 remember the key requirements of descriptive writing: you are not writing a story
 try to be original, in both the scenarios and the images you create • make deliberate
choices in your vocabulary to create atmosphere
 write complete sentences with proper verbs: the same rules of grammar apply to all types
of writing
 remember that the majority of available marks are awarded for Style and Accuracy
 check your work for errors of tense and agreement.
Examiner’s report 2016
Ways in which the writing of narratives could be improved:
 plan your story so that you do not run out of ideas for the plot, and you can bring it to an
interesting conclusion
 remember that you can often use your own interpretation of the titles
 make your story believable by creating realistic characters and settings
 ensure that any dialogue is correctly punctuated and paragraphed
 remember that the suggested number of words is a guide, and not a limit
 leave some time to check through your work for errors which will seriously affect your mark,
such as basic errors in spelling, capital letters and punctuation, and unexplained tense
changes.
Past Papers can be found at:
https://isleofman.itslearning.com
Course: BHS IGCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Paper Two
Paper Three