iGCSE English Language

Your exam, explained

Overview
● Your exam code is 4EA1
● You will take two examinations for this qualification.
○ Component 1
■ Paper code 4EA1/01
■ 60% of the total iGCSE
○ Component 2
■ Paper code 4EA1/02
■ 40% of the total iGCSE
Let’s look at the two papers…
Paper 1: Non-Fiction Texts and
Transactional Writing
● Part 1 of your anthology
● 2 hours and 15 minutes long
● 90 marks available in total
● 2 Sections:
○ Section A: answer ALL questions
(1 hour 30 mins)
○ Section B: answer ONE question
(45 mins)
● 60% of your total qualification
Paper 2: Poetry and Prose Texts and
Imaginative Writing
● Part 2 of your anthology
● 1 hour and 30 minutes long
● 60 marks available in total
● 2 Sections:
○ Section A: answer ONE question
(45 mins)
○ Section B: answer ONE question
(45 mins)
● 40% of your total qualification
Paper 1:
Non-Fiction Texts and
Transactional Writing
Paper 1, Section A
● This is a 2 hour and 15 minute exam.
● For this section you will be given an
extracts booklet.
● The booklet will contain ONE extract
from Section 1 of your anthology, as
well as ONE UNSEEN TEXT.
● You will therefore be familiar with
one of the texts, and one of the texts
will be new to you.
 You are told which text to focus on,
the paper normally starts with text
Paper 1, Question 1 ONE

You are being asked to select

evidence: this means you can quote
directly from the text

Specific lines are Two marks are

pointed out to you available for
this question
 Again you are told which part of the text to
look at specifically. This is also text ONE.
Paper 1, Question 2

This is in BOLD, so it is important!

This means you should not quote from the
text: you should be using your skills of There are 4 marks available for this
paraphrasing and summarising. question.
 The line numbers are again given
Paper 1, Question 3 to you, this is again Text ONE

This question might

be phrased a couple
of ways, but it is
about identifying the
EMOTIONS of
someone in the text

Do not quote
entire sentences! A
few words per
quotation will be 5 marks available for
enough this question
 Now move on to Text
TWO.
Paper 1, Question 4
This question asks
about LANGUAGE and
STRUCTURE. Think
about rhetorical devices
and structural devices.

This answer
needs
paragraphs
that are well
structured,
and evidence!

The number of marks available is in light grey here,

This means they are looking but also at the end of the pages provided for the
for analysis of quotations! answer. You can always ask for more paper if you
need it in the exam.
 This is a COMPARE question, meaning you have to
look at BOTH of the texts and find similarities and
Paper 1, Question 5 differences and comment on them.

This phrasing is
similar across
exam papers, so
you can prepare
to practise this
kind of question.

This means always support your points

with at LEAST one quotation, and do This question can give you up
analysis on those quotations. Note that the to 22 marks, so make sure
quotations should be short. you have enough time to do it
justice!
Paper 1, Section B Transactional writing is writing to
INFORM, EXPLAIN, REVIEW,
ARGUE, PERSUADE, ADVISE.
● For this section you will be given a Generally you will use a combination.
choice between TWO questions. Text types asked of you for this tend to
● This is the TRANSACTIONAL be ARTICLE, SPEECH, or LETTER.
WRITING section.
● ONLY answer one of the questions.
Do NOT answer both of them - a
number of students will do this every
year, do not let it be you!
● 45 marks are available for this
section, making this one minute per
mark!
 Note that it says EITHER - choose just one
question to answer, 6 OR 7, not both! The FORM of the text
is given here The AUDIENCE of
Paper 1, Question 6 the text is given here:
this informs how
formally you will
write.
You can
understand the
PURPOSE of the
writing from this -
‘express’ probably You can get up to 18 marks for your
means a structural and grammatical features,
combination of your use of vocabulary and your correct
INFORM, use of punctuation.
EXPLAIN and
possibly
PERSUADE

Up to 27 marks are available for using the correct form, tone,

and register, and up to 18 marks for the clarity of your writing.
 The AUDIENCE of
the text is given here:
The FORM of the text
Paper 1, Question 7 this informs how
is given here
formally you will
write.

You can
understand the
PURPOSE of the
writing from this -
the article title You can get up to 18 marks for your
here probably structural and grammatical features,
indicates a your use of vocabulary and your correct
combination of use of punctuation.
INFORM and
EXPLAIN

Up to 27 marks are available for using the correct form, tone,

and register, and up to 18 marks for the clarity of your writing.
That’s all for
Paper 1!