EDEXCEL CERTIFICATE ( igcse ) ENGLISH LANGUAGE PAPER 1

1. EDEXCEL CERTIFICATE (igcse) ENGLISH LANGUAGE PAPER 1 Thoughts on approaching the paper Jonathan Peel SGS 2013

2. MAY 2012 sample material • The exam is 2hours 15 minutes long • You are advised to spend 45 minutes on each of the three sections – you must watch your time! • You should be aware that marks can be lost for poor spelling and punctuation (grammar). • You need to be able to address the anthology questions with minimal time spent reading the passage as though for the first time • THIS PAPER IS WORTH 70% OF YOUR OVERALL MARK – WORK IT OUT! Jonathan Peel SGS 2013

3. Section A: Unseen non fiction • Q 1&2 are short and require little explanation • Q1 should always be about retrieval of information. Here the common error was quoting an example which did not relate to sound – you must answer the question • Q 2 should include the phrase “in your own words”. Do not quote! • Q2 should be worth 4 or 5 marks – you will need 4 or 5 clear points if you are to be successful • Do not waste time on detailed analysis of the language. Jonathan Peel SGS 2013

4. Techniques: Q 1&2 • You will need to SKIM the text for information. • Read the question first –especially Q1. Then skim, looking for the effect/idea required in response to the question. • NB: Consider paragraph structure: Usually information is at the start;explanation and description in the middle and development of the ideas at the end. Jonathan Peel SGS 2013

5. Section A: Q 3 • There will be bullet points – use them to structure your response. Make it easy for the examiner. • The mark scheme gives examiners typical responses based on the bullet points! • The mark scheme requires “valid points which have an engagement with the text and an appreciation of the writer’s techniques…” • It is vital, therefore that this is a PEE/PEARL piece of writing and the word level analysis is emerging. • Try to comment on the whole passage. • This question might need 30 minutes – Q 1&2 will need to be quick! Then you will be able to make a brief plan! Jonathan Peel SGS 2013

6. SECTION B: 45 minutes into the exam • 2 questions on or related to the Anthology, Section A. • The better you know the Anthology, the easier you will find this section. • Think! 45 minutes = 15 (20) on Q 4 and 30 (25) on Q 5. INCLUDING reading time. • You will need to plan Q 5 Jonathan Peel SGS 2013

7. Section B comment • “How does the writer try to share her experiences of being at the race?” • Tricky phrasing. In essence this is a “how does the writer make the passage exciting/engaging?” question and is based in techniques! • Look for the usual TRAPPERS • This is travel writing/autobiography. It tells an exciting tale. Concentrate on this. • Keep quotations BRIEF! • Some things you know will not be relevant to this question, such as the factual comments about the kibla donkey – I could google them from here! Jonathan Peel SGS 2013

8. Q 4: ideas SSS • Setting: Place, time of day, weather and other conditions are all relevant if the writer is making the writing vivid. • Senses: To give a sense of place the writer will use writing which engages the senses – especially sound (onomatopoeia/alliteration) and smell alongside sight. • Sentences: Always look for the unusual – a very short sentence has been placed for effect – what is the effect? How are they punctuated? Jonathan Peel SGS 2013

9. Q5 • Always related to the themes of the Anthology passage used in Q 4. • Part of your revision might be to try to identify themes… • Mark Scheme clearly expects a relationship to AUDIENCE AND PURPOSE • Ensure you note the format descriptors in the question • IN Q 5 and 6: USE TRAPPERS! Jonathan Peel SGS 2013

10. TRAPPERS • Triplets • Rhetorical Questions • Adjectives and adverbs • Personal anecdotes/reflection • Polls and statistics • Emotive language • Repetition • Sentence structure for effect • You can rarely use them all, but try to use some/most in any non fiction writing. Jonathan Peel SGS 2013

11. “write a description of an event or occasion which was important to you” • Apart from “description” this is not too prescriptive • No transactional requirement of letter or speech and so on. This should be the case. Jonathan Peel SGS 2013

12. Section C • Q 6 has 45 minutes and is 1/3 of the paper – make sure you have left enough time • PLAN! • TRAPPERS • FORMAT – this is a transactional piece and has a clear SLAP (Subject, language, audience, purpose) which is dictated by the title • “Write a letter to your local newspaper explaining how the area where you live could be improved for young people” Jonathan Peel SGS 2013

13. “Write a letter to your local newspaper explaining how the area where you live could be improved for young people” Dear sir or madam – this is formal How is this different to a national newspaper? Letters need addresses, salutations and sign offs. Explanation needs facts and organisation – detailed and precise! No need to panic – use the bullets! Jonathan Peel SGS 2013

14. Q6 • Allow plenty of time to plan – even as much as 10 minutes • When planning start to think of the images/effects you will create and jot them down • Plan paragraph by paragraph and use the bullets to help you. • Double check the format! • When you can write without too much stopping to think/plan… BEGIN! Jonathan Peel SGS 2013

15. Other resources • http://jwpblog.wordpress.com/2013/01/06/edexcel-certificate-igcse-english-language-paper-1/ • http://jwpblog.wordpress.com/2012/12/29/edexcel-revision-material-igcsecertificate-anthology-a/ • http://www.edexcel.com/migrationdocuments/Edexcel%20Certificate/English%20Language%20KEA0%20and%204EA0%20paper%201%20exp%20and%20com%20set%201.pdf Jonathan Peel SGS 2013