How to Get Good Marks in IGCSE English

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Tips to get good marks in IGCSE English?

IGCSE English has a vast syllabus to study. So, you have to make a long-term plan to prepare for it. And grasp the amount of knowledge that helps you to get good marks in IGCSE English.

IGCSE English Tutors

Let’s first understand the examination format to get good marks in IGCSE English

You have to take two papers. Paper 1 and paper 2 or component 3. In which:

  • Paper 1 is a reading paper that contains extended writing questions and structured questions. It carries 80 marks and has a time limit of 2 hours. Apart from this, you have to find answers to three reading texts.
  • Paper 2 is a writing paper that contains a composition task & an extended writing question. It carries 80 marks and has a time limit of 2 hours.
  • Component 3 is a coursework portfolio that contains three extended writing assignments. It carries 80 marks.
  • The optional paper named component 4 is a speaking and listening test. It contains conversation and individual talk. It carries 40 marks and has a time limit of approx. 10-12 minutes.
  1. Improve reading: Read novels, magazines, and newspapers daily. Learn new words. Make a list of vocabulary. Also, read different types of texts and genres. All these things help you to acquire a good score on your reading paper.
  2. Enhance writing: Make a habit of writing. Write reports, summaries, essays, and letters daily. Pick any topic and start writing. Try to describe or explain various situations. Use unique or appealing words with the help of a thesaurus. And lastly, pay attention to punctuation, spelling, and grammar while writing.
  3. Take help from online resources: There are numerous ways to learn English. First, look out for your syllabus and then collect resources. Watch YouTube videos and listen to the podcast as well.
  4. Practicing past years’ papers is the best way to acknowledge the exam pattern. So, practice at least 10 years past papers and analyze each question.

Concentrate on all the command terms and learn their meanings properly.

  • Describe: Main features and give characteristics/ state all the points of a topic.
  • Give: Provide an answer from a given source.
  • Explain: Lay out reasons or purposes/ proffer evidence that supports your arguments/ focus on how and why.
  • Identify: Recognize the text or style/select the appropriate writing style.

Some tips by our team for reading & writing paper

  • Know your texts, type, and tone.
  • Gather information that is useful to write an answer.
  • Know all linguistic and literary techniques like similes, metaphors, etc.
  • Keep points shorter.
  • Don’t repeat sentences or points & Highlight important text
  • Focus on quality, Maintain accuracy, and Link ideas and events
  • Underline the keywords and then frame answers & Write an effective conclusion.
  • Avoid grammatical mistakes but don’t hesitate to use complex sentences
  • Put maturity in your text with proper use of punctuations
  • Write supporting details but avoid repeating words, phrases, and sentences.
  • Read and understand the extract carefully, Use asterisk and carats. Also, check and correct yourself.
  • Use appropriate language, and demonstrate proper structure or sequence in your texts.
  • Put relevancy in your text by making direct connections and giving references
  • Your tone should be clear as well as formal. You can also use short quotations to make your text attractive.
  • Write short paragraphs or fragments. After writing, read your writing task carefully and correct your mistakes.

Make a revision schedule to get good marks in IGCSE English

Our IGCSE English Tutors advise you to make a revision schedule in which you have to focus on the techniques that help you to get an A* in the IGCSE English examination:

  1. Start with writing formal letters, reports, interviews, diary entries, etc.
  2. Understand which writing style is suitable for them.
  3. Use different tones according to the task. Make sure you explain everything properly with the help of arguments and factual details.
  4. Practice how to turn passages into reports.
  5. Practice reported speech and tenses as much as possible.

At last, use short sentences, practical grammar, and unique vocabulary.

No matter what, you have to read or write. It must be clear and concise. And easily understandable to your examiner.

How do you fulfill assessment objectives?

  • Develop and analyze ideas, facts, perspectives, biases, and opinions.
  • Engage yourself with a wide range of genres and text types.
  • Read literature, fiction, and non-fiction texts.
  • Focus on writers and their writing ability.
  • Use language and style that affects and influences your examiner.
  • Express clearly what you thought, felt, or imagined.
  • Convey narrative, persuasive, descriptive, argumentative, and discursive writing styles.
  • Organize and collect your ideas, then fabricate texts that attract the examiner.
  • Write examiner’s centric reports, articles, journals, summaries, interviews, etc.
  • Find focus and purpose while writing, speaking, reading, and listening.
  • Put clarity in each phase of your task.
  • Engage in the conversation correctly.
  • Pay attention to literary and non-literary texts.
  • Explore or analyze questions and prompts.
  • Improve presentation skills and effectively organize your content.
Improve yourself by following these tips?
  1. Watch YouTube channels and documentaries.
  2. Search for a book that helps you improve your grammar, or you can get help from your Online IGCSE tutors.
  3. Don’t hesitate while make mistakes. Just learn from them. And improve yourself gradually.
  4. Speak and read daily.
  5. Gauge your progress.
  6. Take help from your mentor or seniors.
  7. Try to find out what the examiner wants.
  8. Make revision notes.
  9. Learn from a variety of sources.
  10. Be confident and relaxed.
We come to an end
  • The crux behind how to get an A* in the IGCSE English examination is QUALITY. So, focus on the quality of each point of your work. Before you start, go through the IGCSE syllabus content, and get the knowledge of your coursework.
  • Try to fulfill the examiner’s demand and enhance your understanding capability. Also, check out the marking scheme and the specimen papers that help you analyze what is coming in the examination.
  • Develop the ability to communicate clearly and precisely. Make sure that you address your audience the way they want. Don’t give up, and trust yourself.
  • Keep motivated and hydrated. Also, bear patience and organize yourself. All these things help you a lot in your studies. Be consistent and set realistic goals. And lastly, don’t chase perfection. Good Luck!  
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