English IGCSE Study Guide

Overview

This guide is tailored to help you focus your revision effectively for the upcoming English
IGCSE Mock Exam. It outlines what you need to revise, provides examples, and offers
tips for each section of the exam. Use this guide to structure your study sessions and
ensure you're well-prepared.

Key Areas to Revise

1. Section A: Reading Comprehension

2. Section B: Directed Writing
3. Section C: Continuous Writing

Section A: Reading Comprehension

What to Revise:

• Understanding Themes and Ideas: Practice identifying the main themes and
ideas in various texts.
• Analysing Language: Focus on how writers use language to convey meaning and
create effects. Pay attention to literary devices like metaphors, similes, and
personification.
• Summarizing Information: Develop your ability to summarize key points from a
passage concisely.
• Inference Skills: Practice making inferences about the text based on evidence
provided.

Examples and Practice:

• Practice Passages: Use past exam papers to practice reading and answering
questions on different passages.
• Literary Devices: Identify and analyse the use of literary devices in excerpts from
books, articles, and poems.
• Summary Exercises: Summarize paragraphs or sections from your reading
material.

Tips:

• Annotate the Text: While reading, underline or highlight key points and literary
devices.
 • Answer Structure: Restate the question in your answer, provide evidence from
the text, and explain your reasoning.
• Practice Inferences: Think about what the author implies but doesn’t directly
state. Use context clues to support your inferences.

Section B: Directed Writing

What to Revise:

• Writing Formats: Review different formats such as letters, reports, articles, and
speeches.
• Tone and Style: Understand how to adjust your tone and style based on the
audience and purpose.
• Using Evidence: Practice incorporating evidence from provided texts to support
your arguments or descriptions.

Examples and Practice:

• Format Examples: Write practice pieces in different formats. For instance, write
a formal letter to a school principal and an article for a student magazine.
• Audience Adaptation: Practice writing the same content for different audiences,
adjusting tone and style accordingly.
• Text-Based Writing: Use a text from a past paper and write a response based on
it, ensuring you incorporate information from the text.

Tips:

• Clear Structure: Use clear headings and paragraphs to organize your writing.
• Formal vs. Informal: Be aware of the differences in formal and informal writing
styles and when to use them.
• Review Examples: Look at high-scoring examples of directed writing to
understand what examiners are looking for.

Section C: Continuous Writing

Descriptive Writing

Examples and Practice:

• Example Prompts: Describe a busy marketplace, a serene beach scene, a bustling

city street, or a quiet forest at dawn.
• Practice Exercise: Choose one of the prompts above and write a descriptive
essay, focusing on using sensory details to paint a vivid picture for the reader.
Tips and Advice:

1. Use Sensory Details: Engage all five senses to bring your description to life.
Describe what you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel.
o Example: "The scent of fresh bread wafted through the air, mingling with
the tangy aroma of citrus fruits stacked in vibrant pyramids."
2. Show, Don’t Tell: Instead of just telling the reader what is happening, show them
through detailed descriptions.
o Example: Instead of saying "The beach was beautiful," describe the
golden sands, the gentle lapping of the waves, and the glistening shells
scattered along the shore.
3. Use Figurative Language: Incorporate metaphors, similes, and personification to
add depth to your writing.
o Example: "The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades
of pink and orange like a watercolor masterpiece."
4. Vary Sentence Structure: Mix short, impactful sentences with longer, descriptive
ones to create a rhythm and keep the reader engaged.
5. Focus on Specific Details: Zoom in on particular aspects to provide a detailed
and immersive experience.
o Example: "The marketplace buzzed with life. Vendors called out their
wares, their voices blending into a symphony of sound. The vibrant colors
of fabrics and spices created a tapestry of hues that dazzled the eye."

Narrative Writing

Examples and Practice:

• Example Prompts: Write a story that begins with "It was the most exciting day
of my life," or "I never thought I would find myself here."
• Practice Exercise: Choose one of the prompts and write a narrative, ensuring it
has a clear structure with a beginning, middle, and end.

Tips and Advice:

1. Create Compelling Characters: Develop characters that are interesting and

relatable. Give them distinct personalities, desires, and challenges.
o Example: "Maya had always been a dreamer, her head filled with stories
of distant lands and daring adventures. But today, her dreams were
about to come true."
2. Start with a Hook: Grab the reader's attention from the very first sentence.
o Example: "The sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder with each
passing second. There was no turning back now."
3. Build Tension and Conflict: Introduce obstacles and conflicts that the characters
must overcome. This keeps the story engaging and dynamic.
o Example: "Just as she reached the summit, a fierce storm rolled in,
threatening to sweep her off the mountain. She had to find shelter, fast."
4. Show Character Development: Let your characters grow and change in response
to the events in the story.
 o Example: "By the end of the journey, Maya was no longer the timid girl
who had left home. She had faced her fears and emerged stronger."
5. Conclude Satisfactorily: Ensure your story has a resolution that ties up the main
plot points and leaves the reader satisfied.
o Example: "As the sun set over the valley, Maya looked out over the land
she had crossed and felt a sense of accomplishment and peace."

Argumentative Writing

Examples and Practice:

• Example Prompts: Argue for or against the statement: "Social media does more
harm than good," or "Travel is the best form of education."
• Practice Exercise: Choose one of the prompts and write an argumentative essay,
presenting clear reasons and evidence to support your stance.

Tips and Advice:

1. Take a Clear Stance: Clearly state your position on the topic in your introduction.
o Example: "Social media has revolutionized communication, but it does
more harm than good by promoting unrealistic standards and
contributing to mental health issues."
2. Use Evidence: Support your arguments with facts, statistics, quotes from
experts, and real-life examples.
o Example: "According to a study by the Pew Research Center, 45% of teens
feel overwhelmed by social media's portrayal of perfect lives."
3. Address Counterarguments: Acknowledge opposing viewpoints and refute them
with logical reasoning and evidence.
o Example: "While some argue that social media connects people globally,
it often leads to superficial interactions rather than meaningful
connections."
4. Organize Your Essay: Use clear paragraphs with topic sentences for each main
point. Ensure a logical flow from one point to the next.
o Example: Start with an introduction, followed by paragraphs that each
discuss a separate reason supporting your stance, and conclude with a
strong closing statement.
5. Persuasive Language: Use persuasive techniques such as rhetorical questions,
repetition, and emotive language to strengthen your argument.
o Example: "Is it worth sacrificing our mental health for the sake of digital
validation? The answer is a resounding no."
6. Revise and Edit: Proofread your essay for clarity, coherence, and grammatical
accuracy. Make sure each argument is well-developed and supported.
General Revision Tips

Here are some practical tips to make the most of your remaining study time:

1. Review Key Concepts:

o Reading Comprehension: Revisit your notes on identifying themes,
analyzing language, and summarizing information.
o Directed Writing: Go through the different formats (letters, reports,
articles, speeches) and review examples.
o Continuous Writing: Refresh your understanding of descriptive,
narrative, and argumentative writing techniques.
2. Practice with Past Papers:
o Spend some time going through past exam papers, focusing on the types
of questions you're likely to encounter.
o Practice answering a few questions under timed conditions to simulate
the exam experience.
3. Focus on Weak Areas:
o Identify the areas where you feel less confident and dedicate more time
to reviewing and practicing those.
o For example, if you struggle with inference questions, spend extra time
practicing those specifically.
4. Review High-Scoring Examples:
o Look at high-scoring essays and answers from past papers to understand
what makes them effective.
o Pay attention to their structure, use of evidence, and language.
5. Summarize Key Points:
o Create brief summaries of key points for each section. Use bullet points
to make them easy to review quickly.
o Focus on important literary devices, writing formats, and argument
structures.
6. Use Mnemonics and Acronyms:
o Use mnemonic devices to help remember key concepts. For example,
"PEE" (Point, Evidence, Explanation) for structuring paragraphs.
7. Stay Organized:
o Gather all your study materials, notes, and past papers in one place to
avoid wasting time searching for them.
o Ensure your study area is quiet and free from distractions.

By following these last-minute revision tips, you'll maximize your study time and go into
the exam feeling prepared and confident. Good luck!