It goes without saying that good grades in any IGCSE subject are important. But even more paramount they are perhaps for the mandatory qualifications, one of which is English (along with Mathematics and Science). Still, IGCSE English top grades can be within reach if you are ready to work hard.

But why can nailing your IGCSE English be a determining factor in your future academic and career paths? The truth is, most universities insist on you getting above a C (or equivalent) in English IGCSE in order to be accepted. Additionally, potential employers may look at your grade as an indication of your English ability.

Even if English is your native language, you shouldn’t assume it will be a walk in the park. On the contrary, there is a wide range of question types, complex assessment criteria, and a plethora of literature to familiarise yourself with which can make it a daunting task.

In this post, our IGCSE teachers and examiners offer valuable tips to help you ace your IGCSE English. Here, you’ll find insight into the format of exams, marks, and specifications, as well as suggestions on what to do if you need extra help.

What is the Format of IGCSE English Exams?

In essence, the syllabus of your IGCSE English, course content, and exam format depend on the examination board.

Each board issues suggested textbooks and resources that detail the assessment and its requirements. These materials are also of great use during the revision period.

The syllabus, specifications, and mark scheme should become your rule book since they point out what you need to do to get the IGCSE English top grades.

There are 3 exam boards that set IGCSE English. Each has varying requirements for the number of papers, assessment duration, awarded marks, etc.

IGCSE English Exams

Cambridge IGCSE English: First Language examination consists of two papers and a Coursework Portfolio. Here, we break down the requirements for each element.

Paper 1

Paper 1 assesses reading skills within two hours and awards 80 marks. It is based on three pieces of text and features the following tasks:

Provide responses to a series of short-answer questions related to a 700-750-words-long Text A;
Write a summary of up to 120 words for Text B (the text itself is also 700-750 words);
Answer a series of different length questions following Text C (this text has a wordcount of 600-650 words);
Complete a 200-300 words language task in response to Text C;
Write an extended response (250-350 words) to Text C using an appropriate text type (article, letter, speech, report, journal, or interview).

Paper 2

Paper 2 requires a writing and composition task, which you need to finish within 2 hours. It brings a maximum of 80 marks.

Section A of Paper 2 includes one or two texts (650-750 words combined) followed by a question that requires a detailed answer. For your answer, you have to choose the best text type (speech, article, or letter) and produce 250-350 words.
Section B provides four titles and a single question. Your task here is to write a composition of 350-450 words.

Coursework Portfolio

The third component of the assessment is Coursework Portfolio. It consists of three assignments (each with a word count of 500-800 words) and brings 80 marks in total.

Assignment 1 is a piece of writing based on a non-literary text you select on your own or receive from a teacher. The task requires you to reflect on the facts, arguments, and opinions in the text and write a response to discuss or argue them.
Assignment 2 is descriptive writing. You will receive a set-up and need to come up with a description of a place, its atmosphere, important details, participants, etc. You can submit both prose and poetry, though the latter will additionally require your commentaries.
Assignment 3 is a short story with a defined plot, sufficient details, character and set-up description, etc. Additionally, the task might ask you to include a certain phrase or use a specific narrative form.

To find out more about the assessment, make sure to take a look at the Cambridge IGCSE English syllabus.

Pearson Edexcel

Pearson Edexcel offers two options for the IGCSE English language examination. The difference is that Specification A envisions studying literary works from the anthology list and Specification B requires no such preparatory work. Although both are equivalent qualifications, Specification A is a preferred option in schools, while Specification B is rather for independent learners who want an external exam to test their English competence.

Let’s take a closer look at both exam formats.

Pearson Edexcel Specification A

Specification A features three components:

Component 1 has, in turn, two sections:
- Section A involves working with Non-fiction texts. There will be both familiar literary works and an unseen extract. Within 1 hour and 30 minutes, students need to answer a range of questions to receive up to 45 points.
- Section B of the exam is a Transactional Writing task using a prompt from the choice of two. A selected prompt will require you to produce writing with a specific purpose, audience, and form. You will have 45 minutes to earn a maximum of 45 points.

Component 2 also tests your knowledge of prescribed poetry and prose texts. There are two sections:
- Section A is an essay question carrying 30 marks. The essay must be written within approximately 45 minutes.
- ection B gives three prompts, one of which will lay a foundation for your imaginative writing. Similarly to the previous section, it awards 30 marks and lasts 45 minutes.

Alternatively, there can be a Component 3 that replaces Component 2. Although it also involves the texts Pearson requires you to study, students can pick on their own which literary works to use and which assignments to generate following specific guidance. This is a popular option to assess home-educated students.

Pearson Edexcel Specification B

Specification B envisions a single 3-hour-long paper totalling 100 marks. The paper is based on unseen pieces of text and is divided into three sections:

Section A Reading with a duration of 1 hour. It involves two unseen pieces of text and a number of short- and long-answer questions. You can earn 40 marks if you answer them correctly.
Section B Reading and Writing will provide a source text and one question requiring an extended answer, for which you will have around 1 hour. This section contributes 30 marks toward your final grade.
Section C Writing envisions 3 tasks. You need to choose one to produce your own piece of writing with the required characteristics (style, audience, etc.). You will have 1 hour to do so and earn up to 30 marks.

Along with this, the assessment may optionally include a speaking component, which appears as a separate grade on the IGCSE certificate.

AQA

AQA IGCSE English course is made up of two papers. Each paper lasts 1 hour 45 mins and is worth 80 marks:

Paper 1 is called ‘Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing’ and consists of two sections:

Reading of a single text and answering 1 short, 2 long, and 1 extended questions. Your reward here is 40 marks;
Writing – it is about producing your own descriptive or narrative text. There are also 40 marks at stake.

In Paper 2, you will find two linked non-fiction texts, one of which is a literary work. Your assignments will include:

Reading and answering the following questions (one short, two long, and one extended answer questions) with a possibility to take home 40 marks;
Writing that represents your own point of view based on the information you received from the provided texts. This component is also worth 40 marks.

Overall, Paper 2 lasts 1 hour 45 minutes.

Additionally, there is also a non-examination spoken language assessment in the form of a presentation. Students are free to choose a topic of their interest, prepare a speech, and answer follow-up questions. They will have around 10 minutes for the entire oral component. Instead of marks, students are awarded a Pass, Merit, or Distinction.

What Are the Top Grades?

No matter which exam board you end up with, all of them have a similar grading scale. The maximum grade you can obtain in your IGCSE English Language exam is 9. Overall, the grades vary from 9 to 1 in descending order.

Having said that, the Cambridge exam board provides two grading systems: 9-1 (International GCSE English – First Language 0990) and A*-G (International GCSE English – First Language 0500). Most schools use the latter option. Except for the grading system, the content, formats, and requirements of both syllabuses are fully identical.

Tips to Get the Top Grade in IGCSE English

Now that you know how IGCSE English assessments take place, let us share some useful tips on how to get ready for them.

Know Your Stuff

Virtually every IGCSE English syllabus and/or specification comes with a list of recommended non-fiction literature. It goes without saying that you should read if not all of these works, then at least the majority of them. Try to do this early in the course instead of leaving it to the last minute.

As soon as you find out about the suggested texts, you must make room in your schedule for reading. Along with dedicated sessions, you can read on your way to or from school, on a big break, while standing in line, etc. (you might find digital books and even audiobooks useful for doing it on the go).

Little by little, you will be able to tick off each book on the list and get sufficient knowledge of the required pieces to head to your English exam confidently.

While consistent reading is critical, it doesn’t mean that you have to do it every single day. Instead, try to vary your tasks to keep your mind engaged. For example, you can switch between reading and writing a summary or discussing a book with your friends. This variety will not only maintain interest but can also enhance your understanding.

Stay Motivated and Consistent

Because IGCSE English requires a lot of reading, many students find it extra challenging. Here is when your motivation plays a significant role.

Ask yourself why you are doing this. ‘Because IGCSE English is a mandatory subject’ is actually a wrong answer. The right one is perhaps to receive a place at your dream university or pursue a specific career path. It can be even something as proving to yourself that you can get the IGCSE English top grade.

Long story short, you need to find your motivation – it will serve as your anchor during challenging times.

Still, the whole process may seem overwhelming. Luckily, you don’t need to focus on the entire syllabus at once. Instead, you can set small, achievable daily and weekly goals. This way, with each small task you complete, you will get one step closer to your ultimate goal.

At the same time, you cannot forget to give yourself regular breaks. Just as athletes need rest periods for optimal performance, your brain requires downtime to process and retain information effectively. A well-rested mind is more receptive to learning.

Last but not least, acknowledge and celebrate your progress along the way. Whether you’ve finished another book, got a good mark for your essay, or been able to maintain your study streak, these small victories deserve recognition.

Develop Strong Reading and Analytical Skills

When you read, it is critical to use your analytical skills along the way. In this case, to fully immerse yourself in the process and make it as effective as possible, it is best not to multi-tasking. In other words, try to avoid distractions – put your phone aside, even better in another room.

But what does it mean to analyse literary texts? Above all, it is about noticing details. Is there something special about the characters, their actions, or the setting? What feelings and thoughts do they evoke in you? What is the main idea of the text and what is its intended audience?

It is useful to mark specific fragments of the works that help answer these questions. You should also highlight some short examples that you might want to use later for answering your IGCSE English papers.

If you don’t understand something in a text (this can be a word or a whole passage), mark it as well. You might want to return to it later as the plot progresses and you get more information to work with.

It is also useful to take your notes. You can write down how some events made you feel, what opinions you have about them, how they relate to your own experience, etc. The more details and ideas you note, the better you will remember (and understand!) a book. Yes, it will require more time but your task here is not speedreading. It is taking the most out of reading!

Practice Summary Tasks

Writing text summaries is one of the assignments in your IGCSE English papers. Naturally, you need to practice it before you wind up in an exam room.

We recommend creating summaries after you complete each chapter. They don’t have to be very long or detailed yet they must provide a clear picture of the events that happened, their reasons, and consequences, preferably with examples.

Check out the IGCSE English syllabus of your particular exam board to find their requirements for summaries and stick to them as you write your recaps.

This exercise has one more positive side – as you sum up, you might be surprised to find that you can’t recall the last few critical pages! It can happen because sometimes we just let our minds wander. In this case, just go back to the text and read it again in order not to miss any crucial detail.

Look Past Content

So, it is necessary to analyse what is written as you go along. But equally important is to analyse HOW it is written.

Some papers require a detailed analysis of the language and its features as well as the literary devices and tone an author uses. So, you need to have an eye out for interesting linguistic techniques and highlight them in every text you work on. Again, note some valuable examples you can use as evidence of the points you make.

It is also beneficial to compare literary works among themselves, books of the same author, or books on the same topic. Do they use the same techniques? Or you’ve noticed considerable dissimilarities between them? If so, which approach was more impactful in your opinion?

Do you feel like text analysis isn’t your strong suit and you’re not sure where to begin? In this case, you can start off looking at the annotations and feedback of other readers, your friends, or from textbooks. Try to understand which points they make and how they justify them. Then attempt to use a similar approach for your own analysis.

Practice Writing Different Text Types

Along with reading and analysing skills, you need to hone your writer’s craft.

Can there be a better way to do this than practice? After reading each piece of recommended literature, give yourself a task to write a review, summary, exam question, or short essay.

With every text type, make sure to follow these rules:

Use a clear and logical structure to present your ideas;
Try to make your vocabulary and sentence structure varied and suitable for the text type;
When appropriate, add your experiences and opinions;
Choose the right register;
Pay close attention to grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

If possible, try to write at least two text types for every literary work you’ve read. This way, you will be able to clearly see the differences and similarities between them.

Overall, these assignments will help you develop your analysis skills so that they are razor-sharp by the time you sit your exam.

Develop Your Writing Style

Oftentimes, the difference between the top score in IGCSE English and everything else is your individual style. More precisely, how strongly it shines through your paper. Is it possible to tell that you were the author of this text without looking at the name?

If not, then this is an area you should consider working on.

In a nutshell, a distinct writing style means using a specific tone while benefiting from rich language and diverse structures.

How to Make Your Writing More Engaging?

We asked TutorsPlus English tutors how IGCSE students can improve their writing. As experienced teachers and examiners, they know what makes an English literature essay a standout piece. If your goal is to bring your writing skills up a notch, our amazing tutors are always to your service.

So, here is our tips on how to develop an engaging writing style:

Try to avoid adverbs when possible. Instead, it is better to rely on strong verbs. For example, you can say ‘He ran quickly to the door’ but it won’t sound as good as ‘he sprinted/dashed/rushed to the door’.
Long sentences aren’t always good. It is a common belief that they sound more ‘highbrow’. Oftentimes, however, they are simply too hard to read because of too many ideas packed in a single sentence. That is a no-go if your essay consists of exclusively compound sentences of 20+ words long. On the other hand, diversity is your best friend. Try to combine longer and shorter sentences to achieve more impactful writing.
Look out for different sentence types. More often than not, your writing will use declarative sentences. Still, there should be some room for other types. When it makes sense, try to add interrogative sentences – short and sharp questions are an excellent way to encourage a reader to think, aren’t they? Incentive and exclamatory sentences will also bring more flair to your writing!
Reduce repetition. Almost every word in English has a synonym. To be more precise, many synonyms… or should we say numerous, plenty of, a plethora of, countless… you get the point. Why stick to the same common words when there are good (great, excellent, worthy… ) alternatives to convey your ideas without sounding too boring or repetitive? The same words appearing multiple times in the same paragraph (let alone sentence) may indicate a limited vocabulary.
Take advantage of varied MTVs (moods, tenses, and voices). Again, not every sentence you write should be imperative. Other grammatical structures will come in handy as well. You shouldn’t think that a passive voice might make your sentences weaker. On the contrary, it may add variety when used strategically. At the same time, it would be a good idea to intersperse your imperative mood with a subjunctive (which we did in this sentence) to make your style more distinct.

Focus on Grammar

Needless to say, grammar is also important to nail your IGCSE English exam even though it is not its primary goal.

No matter how good your oratory skills are, you are not immune to spelling and grammar issues. Even confusing ‘it’s’ with ‘its’ or ‘their’ with ‘they’re’ or ‘there’ can lead to dropped marks.

Are there grammatical mistakes that you are making again and again? If so, work on eliminating them, so that they don’t cost you marks in your IGCSE English final exam.

But how to minimise these pesky errors? We have a few tips:

If you’re not sure how to spell something or you have doubts about the structure of a sentence, you need to be ready to express your ideas differently. Use a different word, one that you know you can spell correctly. At the end of the day, linguistic flexibility is one of the skills you ought to master.
Install a grammar-checking app on your devices. When you write something and it is not quite correct, such software will underline it. Some apps will not only correct you but also explain the issue. Try to remember the cases when you got it wrong and why.
Ask AI to check your grammar. Whenever you need to complete a written essay at home, let AI check it. If it finds some rough spots in your grammar, ask for explanations and clarifications.
Write as often as possible. The more you write, the better you’ll become. Such exercises are useful not only for reducing mistakes but also for training yourself to build consistent and logical narration.
If you struggle to understand where your grammar mistakes lie, just ask your teacher! After all, it is their job to help you improve your English, and they are usually pleased to be able to help. At the same time, you can count on a professional IGCSE English tutor to get a detailed analysis of your writing. They can help you identify grammar issues as well as any inconsistencies in your style and structures.

Use Past Exam Papers

Past papers should give you a better understanding of the IGCSE English exam and different question types.

From them, you will be able to learn the examples of tasks, literature excerpts, specific requirements for your answers, etc.

Most importantly, they can give you much-needed practice. Practising with past papers is almost the same as setting and sitting your actual exam, especially if you keep track of time. So, be strict with yourself and see what you can do in the allotted time for each question. Even ask a family member to time you, so that you keep on track.

Past papers can also help you identify your weaknesses and the areas you need to pay more attention to. This can form the structure of your revision planning.

Time Management During the Exam

We have already mentioned time management when discussing practicing with past papers. Now, let’s take a look at some time management techniques that will come in handy when preparing for your IGCSE English exam.

When it comes to Paper 1 (Reading), the marks allocated to each question should guide how much time you spend on it. As a general rule, multiply the number of marks by 1.5 to determine roughly how many minutes you should work on a question. For example, a 10-mark question should take about 15 minutes.

In Paper 2 (Writing), you typically have 90-105 minutes (depending on the exam board) to complete two pieces of writing. A good strategy is to spend:

3-5 minutes planning each piece;
1 hour – 1 hour 20 minutes writing your both pieces;
7-10 minutes of proofreading and editing;
The remaining time you can use to fill possible gaps in your answers.

Keep a watch or check the clock regularly, but avoid obsessing over time.

Also, it is helpful to set mental checkpoints. For instance, by the one-hour mark, you should have completed your first piece and be well into your second one.

If you find yourself running out of time, prioritise completing all required sections rather than perfecting one answer at the expense of leaving another blank. Remember, you can’t score marks for work you haven’t attempted.

Get IGCSE English Top Grade with TutorsPlus

English is one of the subjects that requires two-way communication. In other words, there must be feedback to pinpoint whether your train of thought went in the right direction and how clearly you can express yourself.

It is great if your family and friends can lend an ear and eye to your English self-appraisals. And it is even better if your English teacher can help you during the revision.

But even that might not be enough. Our best IGCSE English tip is to get professional guidance. With an English tutor, you can prepare for the examination as thoroughly as possible.

A tutor can give an unprejudiced expert opinion on your weak and strong points, and even suggest ways to improve your skills. Most importantly, they are able to provide practice to equip you for the upcoming experience of taking the exams themselves.

Here, at TutorsPlus, we are happy to become your reliable partner over the course of your educational journey.

With years of experience under our belt and a deep understanding of your needs, our tutors are committed to helping you make the most of your talents. Let yourself get the grade you deserve. Call us now at 022 731 8148 or get in touch via info@tutorsplus.com to learn how we can be of service to you.

By Sara Lloyd

Sara has been an education consultant for TutorsPlus for 15 years, and is an expert on international IB education. She is also a parent of two lively children.

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