ENGLISH LANGUAGE & ENGLISH LITERATURE IGCSE

All students follow separate IGCSE English Language and English Literature courses, leading to two qualifications.

IGCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE (Edexcel 4TE 1)

Paper One – 60% of grade and lasting 2 hours 15 minutes

Section A n 1 hour and 30 minutes n Two passages of non-fiction (one from Part 1 of Anthology and one “unseen”) n 4 questions on “unseen” passage for 23 marks, including one 12-mark question n 1 question comparing “unseen” and prepared passage for 22 marks n 45 marks in total

Section B n 45 minutes n Transactional writing (eg: letter, newspaper article, speech) n 45 marks

Coursework n 40% of grade n Task A:

Essay of approx. 800 words on two poetry or prose texts from Part 2 of Anthology, including 200 words on why you have chosen these texts – 30 marks, with 6 allocated to the additional 200 words n Task B:

Imaginative writing (e.g. a story, reflection on personal experience) of approx. 800 words – 30 marks

IGCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE (Edexcel 4ET1)

Paper One – 60% of grade and lasting 2 hours

Section A n 35 minutes n Essay in response to an unseen modern poem n 20 marks

Section B n 40 minutes n Essay comparing two poems from Part 3 of Anthology, a “clean” copy of which you have with you in the exam n 30 marks

Section C n 45 minutes n Essay in response to a novel you have studied, which you do NOT have with you in the exam n 40 marks

Coursework n 40% of grade n Task A – Essay of approx. 1,000 words in response to a modern play – 30 marks n Task B – Essay of approx. 1,000 words in response to a work of Literary Heritage – 30 marks

Students continue in Years 10 and 11 to be taught in sets with the aim of the department being to stretch each student to the best of his/her ability. It is hoped to keep the bottom set to a small enough size to allow more individual attention to be given as necessary. Year 10 have 12 periods and Year 11 have 14 periods per ten day cycle.

During these two years the students will regularly experience the ‘Exceptional Performance’ levels of the National Curriculum and some will be entered for the examination early. Students will regularly encounter questions that are problem solving in nature and require them to apply their knowledge in unfamiliar contexts. Questions can have little “scaffolding” and students are expected to fill in the gaps to produce solutions that are not only correct but also well presented. Appropriate use of calculators is encouraged but mental Mathematics is still an essential skill.

All students are entered for the higher tier IGCSE (International General Certificate in Mathematics). IGCSE has three important topic areas not adequately covered in GCSE, which will help the transition into AS mathematics. IGCSE is not bound by QCA rules and has a distinct international element. IGCSE has the same standing as GCSE with leading UK universities.