The English Department Website

 

IGCSE First Language Syllabus for 2006

Coursework is 50% of the assessment

 The aims of the English Language IGCSE are to enable you to:

Communicate accurately, appropriately and effectively
Understand and respond appropriately to what you hear, read or experience
Enjoy and appreciate variety of language
Develop general skills, which will help in other areas of study (e.g. analysis)
Develop understanding of yourselves and others

The Extended Examination

This is a 2 hour exam.

There are 2 passages linked by theme to read.

There are 3 questions, which might be subdivided, to answer.

The exam counts for 50% of your overall mark.

Coursework

You submit three word-processed assignments, each of about 800 words. 

Coursework counts for 50% of your overall mark.

Extended Examination in detail

 PART 1

Passage A, of approximately 600 words, is followed by Questions 1 and 2:

Question 1 (20 marks)

This question tests your reading skills. You are asked to respond to the first passage. You need to show that you have understood both explicit and implicit meanings and attitudes in the passage and that you are able to select and evaluate information from the passage for a particular purpose.

15 marks are awarded for reading skills and 5 marks are awarded for writing skills.

Question 2 (10 marks)

This question asks you to comment on how the writer of the first passage has used language to achieve particular effects. You need to select words and phrases of significance from the passage and comment in detail on the effects of their effects.

PART 2

Passage B, of approximately 600 words, linked by theme to passage A, is followed by Question 3:

Question 3 (20 marks)

This question asks you to write a summary based on both passages A and B. You need to show your ability to select, and organise what is relevant to the specific summary task.

15 marks are awarded for the content of your summary and 5 marks are awarded for your writing skills

You need to make sure you spend approximately 15 minutes reading the passages and planning your answers.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE IGCSE: Coursework in detail

Coursework now comprises 50% of the overall English IGCSE marks and so you must make sure you do yourself full justice in the work you produce. This is your opportunity to show that you can:

write accurately and fluently using varied sentence structures and vocabulary
structure your work effectively
write with a sense of audience and entertain your readers
argue convincingly using appropriate supporting information and persuasive language
reflect upon experience and be thoughtful in your accounts of what is felt and imagined

(the above bullet points are based on the A grade coursework criteria)

Although you need to check the suitability of chosen topics and tasks with your teacher you have a great deal of choice in selecting what to write about. You will produce your best work when writing enthusiastically about something you care about so choose topics carefully. Your coursework will be completed in class and at home using your laptops. Planning and redrafting are important stages of the process, which you can involve friends and family in. Discuss ideas, share memories, ask friends to read your work and comment. You must include a first draft for one of the 3 assignments in your final coursework folder.

Assignment :1 Informative, analytical and/or argumentative

The most successful writing for this assignment often draws on personal experiences or interests. If you have experienced something unusual, have lived somewhere amazing or feel very strongly about a particular issue, then write about it.

Examples:

A persuasive article about a topical issue
An account of a holiday
A personal reflection on the experience of living in more than one culture
An informative article about a sport or hobby

Assignment 2: Imaginative, descriptive and/or narrative

You are not expected to write a complete story for this coursework assignment as writing a successful story in just 800 words is very difficult. You could write the opening or closing section of a story, or portray a character or setting.

Examples:

A narrative opening in which a character is introduced.
A description of a setting, which conveys atmosphere and introduces themes.
An autobiographical piece e.g. description of  a childhood experience conveying emotion and atmosphere.

Assignment 3: A response to a text containing facts, opinions and arguments, such as an article or speech.

Your written response should select, analyse and evaluate points from the stimulus material. An additional 10 marks are awarded for the reading skills demonstrated in this assignment.

Examples:

A letter responding to a persuasive newspaper article
An article responding to a political speech
A letter responding to a campaign leaflet

REMEMBER: Coursework =50% so set yourself high standards and produce excellent work!