Descriptive vs Narrative Essays
The IGCSE English First Language exam places a strong emphasis on creative writing, with writing descriptive and narrative essays being
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In Questions 1-6 of the Listening papers, you hear a series of short spoken items. The sentences are not connected. For each item, you answer one question as briefly as possible, often with just one or two words.
In Questions 7-10, you hear continuous, connected speech, and the questions may require you to complete a table of information, or complete some notes, or answer individual questions with short responses.
In the exam, you will be given time to read the questions before you hear the cassette/CD. Make sure you use this time well. Read all the questions and underline the keyword(s) in each one.
Decide what type of information each question requires; for example, a number, a place, a street name.
Some time, you’ll hear how some words are changing with the stress on different part of the words. For example: notice how the word interviewer changes to interviewee.
When spoken, the stress on these two words is different: interviewer, interviewee.
Other examples are employer and employee.
There are a small number of other ‘person’ nouns in English which end in -ee.
The last question in the Listening papers usually requires you to answer questions based on a talk or an interview. The questions may ask you to identify people’s feelings and attitudes, as well as testing you on general comprehension.
Note: make sure that you write clearly and that you include all the necessary information.
Listening papers contribute 30% (15% for private candidates) on your overall scores for your English as Second Language certificate. Don’t make the assumption that Listening paper is not important thus not making any attempt to learn the tactics and skills.
In fact, Listening papers could determine either you score A* or not in your IGCSE E2L paper.
The average preparation needed for Listening skills is one year. Best is two years, from getting acquaintance to mastering.
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Lanja Omer
United Arab Emirates
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72 responses
hello, do spelling mistakes count on the listening?
Hello Anthi,
Please download the relevant subject’s examiner’s report and you may find what you need there. Please download examiner’s report here: https://www.skolatis.com/cambridge-igcse-past-exam-papers/
‘listening paper contribute 15% for private candidates ‘
i don’t understand
so what is the percentage contribution of reading and writing paper
How can I find English listening papers to practice and all subjects too. Which link could I go to find all this online exercise before exam?
Pleased help me
I get a bad marks in listening though I do many practice I don’t know what should I do please what should I do I am extremly worry I am in grade 10 and now the year nearly to finish
I want to get A* BUT I DON’T KNOW HOW PLEASE GIVE ME ANY ADVICE TO ATCHEIVE PLEASE????????????????
Hi Shaimaa, on top of the 5 tips above, you can also:
1. Build up your vocabulary – learn a small number of new words daily
2. Try to read through the transcript before you listen to the tape, it could help your confidence when you realise how much you understand.
3. Try not to write when the tape is playing – it is hard to write and listen at the same time – trust your short-term memory!
Lastly, practice, practice, practice!
Hope this helps! 🙂
how can you improve your performance in paper 2 English as a second language.
Thank you
Just practice, practice and practice. Research for tips how to answer each section. You can find all in the Internet.
hello igcse
what does the brackets means in the listening marking scheme
Hi, that shows the possible answers provided by candidates and should be awarded.
Hello i need to know the formal for the oral test that is coming in 2 weeks. Can you help me ?
Hi Raymond, I assumed you meant format. You can refer to the syllabus here: https://www.skolatis.com/cambridge-igcse-subjects-syllabuses/
I have igcse exams after two months but we have 14 chapters in both biology and chemistry and I am too much worried that will i be able to score in such a limited time.any tips
Hi Azan,
You still have a lot of time to study for all your subjects. We’d advise you to first create a revision timetable for all the subjects you’re taking. Then, do targeted revisions based on the latest syllabus which you can find here: https://www.skolatis.com/cambridge-igcse-subjects-syllabuses/. Practice with the latest past exam papers as they have the newest syllabus format and continue with the older ones date back from 5 to 10 years. Revise on the most common mistakes you always seem to make. Read and annotate your textbook for the questions you got wrong. Then, re-do those questions you got wrong.
Alternatively, you can enrol in our A* revision courses. All courses come with a revision timetable that you will find useful: https://www.skolatis.com/cambridge-igcse-revision-courses/
I have my listening exam on this Thursday so i wanted you to tell me some quick tips if possible .. please make it quick..Wish me luck..
THANK YOU .. FOR ALL THE HELP IN ADVANCE ..
love you guys..
has anyone done listening for igcse variant 2 and remembers some of the answers ,i gave my exam tommorrow and I’m very curious about answers ???
Hi Laveeza,
None of the questions would be the same 🙂 … Please do not think you could get any answers prior to your exams 😉 … There is a reason for all the different variants of papers – that is to prevent sharing of answers for different time zone 🙂
Hi I am Asma and I am going to have my listening exam on 6th May and I am not sure about the correct way to write the timing in my listening paper. In my recent mocks paper there was a question about the timing and I heaRd the time in the record player as 20 past four so I wrote it just like that but I got the answer wrong. So is this a wrong way or should I write it as 20:04 or 08 : 04?
Hi Asma,
If you heard correctly, “20 past four”, then the answer should be, 4:20 pm/am (depending on the question).
Alright thanks that silly mistake?
whats the duration of english listening m having exam on 6th may :/
45 minutes
It’s 1 hour…..lol