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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Announcement: Cambridge IGCSE, and AS & A Level November 2024 past papers are now available.
If you have been wondering how to prepare for the listening, writing and speaking, in English as a Second Language subject – this is a must-read post for you! (There are also tips on, how to handle “mind blank”)
A common question we often get is:
It’s hard to do listening, writing and speaking. Most frustrated things are: becomes blank and wrong grammar.
Farren
Here are the 3 actions you can take immediately to have immediate result.
We would like to suggest you to do a little bit of mindset switch. Some of the inner dialogues that you can start cultivating:
Mindset is undeniably a very powerful factor that could determine either you succeed or fail.
We have a tweetable phrase for you to share with your friends:
“Change your thoughts, and change your results.”
~ Skolatis
Observe what you’re doing currently for this subject. Write it down on a piece of paper.
See what you can do differently to make things better.
Finally, put your new actions into a timetable. There is a saying, if it is not scheduled, it is not real.
Take small actions each day to make small changes. Adjust as you go.
Actions you can take for each topic:
Buy practice books with CDs, so you could familiarise yourself to different topics and the accent of the speaks. Do this at lease twice a week.
If you really want to improve your writing skills, you ought to read a lot. A good example of reading material that could help your writing is Reader’s Digest.
When you read, observe the style of the sentences, then copy the style to your writing.
It is important that you find out and understand how you are being assessed, what is the assessment procedure, and what are the common topics. Use the past exam papers for practices.
When your mind is blank, this is simply a temporary sign of tension. Acknowledge that you have mind blank, then reaffirm yourself that it is just temporary and YOU can do it.
Otherwise, our world-renowned revision course can definitely help you to score A*!
So Farren, this is our A to your Q. Hope you enjoy it. If you do, share with your friends. Best is, make sure you and your friends sign up at here to get our free email course.
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Lanja Omer
United Arab Emirates
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59 responses
hello igcse team
i would like to ask some questions
the summary writing , for example there 3 or 4 point in the article from what they asked can i write 2 points not all??
thank you for you effort
Hello Raghad,
The number of marks is usually a clue to how many different points are needed. For example, if the content has four marks allocated to it, you must provide four relevant points. Be reminded that the points must be taken from the passage and do not repeat similar points even if it was made twice.
Kindly read this article for more tips: https://www.skolatis.com/how-to-write-a-summary/
Hi ,
Can I know how to improve myself on writing an essay in hindi as a second language….. I want some beneficial tips to score well in my exams…..
Hi Ashwath V,
To improve your writing skills, the most important things you need to do are: read a lot and write a lot. Try to read Hindi Articles on various topics which will likely come up to the exams. For example: Health, Tourism, Science and Technology etc. We can?t stress enough of ?read a lot?. By reading, you will gain tremendous knowledge on how to phrase your sentences, types of vocabulary, style, etc?
Besides reading, you ought to practise writing as well. You have to put to use what you have learnt. Practice with past exam papers. Start with the latest paper as they have the newest syllabus format and continue with the older one date back from 5 to 10 years. You can download past papers here: https://www.skolatis.com/cambridge-igcse-past-exam-papers/
Learn two or three idiomatic phrases or sayings and memorise them. Go for sayings that could be used to talk about any topic or topic-specific ones that you know you?ll be able to use in the exam. Compile a list of topic-specific vocab that?s likely to come up. Build your vocabulary by searching for synonyms everytime.
Hello,
Could you please tell me what does ‘D with grade 2 (Two) in speaking and listening’ mean? Does it mean i got a D or that my results hasnt been fully checked because my writing is not there?
Hi Angel,
For some language syllabuses, CIE reports separate oral endorsement grades on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being the highest. For example, the oral component for Cambridge IGCSE English Second Language 0510 is a ‘non-counting endorsement’ – in other words it is certificated separately from the main grade awarded for the written papers, on a scale of 1-5 (as opposed to the standard IGCSE grade scale of A*-U). Performance in this component does not affect the syllabus grade for the written papers. The oral component is a compulsory component of the IGCSE English Second Language syllabus which is recognised by many UK and international universities. For full details of how the 0510 oral test (component 5) should be conducted please refer to the current syllabus here: https://www.skolatis.com/cambridge-igcse-subjects-syllabuses/
Hi, i have a difficulty in french writing and listening paper can you please help me out how to improve my grades in french.
Hi Dhruvi,
1. Pick 3 or 4 practice exam questions that are different from each other (closest to what is expected in the latest syllabus). You can refer to the latest syllabus on what is expected during exams here: https://www.skolatis.com/cambridge-igcse-subjects-syllabuses/.
2. Prepare answers to questions that are likely to come up
3. Find out how to pronounce the words and read them out loud.
4. Learn your answers by heart. Learn your answers one phrase or sentence at a time. Select a chunk and repeat it to yourself over and over until you?ve got it.
5. Understand and learn the questions. Look up any words you don?t know and learn to recognise keywords. Learn each question alongside the answer that goes with it.
6. Learn two or three idiomatic phrases or sayings and memorise them. Go for sayings that could be used to talk about any topic or topic-specific ones that you know you?ll be able to use in the exam.
7. Compile a list of topic-specific vocab that?s likely to come up. If you can, learn the gender of any nouns and the different tenses of any verbs. Learn the vocab so you can use and recognise it.
8. Get a parent or friend to do a mock exam with you. Pay attention to where you slip up and then work on improving those areas.
9. Make useful notes.
Lastly, practice, practice, and more practice. Use our past exam papers (https://www.skolatis.com/cambridge-igcse-past-exam-papers/) to practice and refer to the syllabus (https://www.skolatis.com/cambridge-igcse-subjects-syllabuses/) to get a better idea of what is expected.
how writing part is checked?
please can u tell me its proceger.
Hi Ali,
All the answer scripts will be sent to the examiner for marking. If you wish to find out the detail procedure, please write to CIE directly.
How do we write a perfect article?
And what are the main points that has to be included in the article?
Also how should we wrap up and finish the conclusion in a summary and in an article?
Hi Omar,
You can consider using these A* Model Answers (https://www.skolatis.com/igcse-exam-resources/) very helpful in writing. You will be able to see how questions are being crafted/answered and you can copy the style of the model answer for your exam.
Here are more resources that will help you in writing: https://www.skolatis.com/category/english-as-second-language/
Dear igcse
I would like to raise some questions on summary writing in english as second language they are as follows
1) from the points we have found from the passage are they the ones written in our words to give a summary or do we have to write the summary in our own words but the points be exertly from the passage
2)let’s say I found 6 points but in the marking scheme there were 9 point but my language is excellent how would that be marked
Hello Jiji,
Here are the answers to your questions:
1. You must always use your own words when writing Summary. The points must be taken from the passage, but change them to your own words. Not all the words could be changed, for example: chair is chair, hand is hand… etc. You can’t possibly change all the words, just justify them.
2. The points in the mark scheme indicate all possible answers for Summary. As long as you provide any relevant points within the given points in the mark scheme, you would gain marks.
Thank you
Can I ask a question in physics (0625) when they say you may draw … does it mean that I won’t loss any marks for not drawing and what if I draw whatever the exams asks bt I don’t write down the experiment what would that effect my score
Hi Jiji,
If you refer to the instructions in the exam paper, you should see this:
?You may lose marks if you do not show your working or if you do not use appropriate units.?
When they say ?you may draw?, it usually means that a diagram is not required but you may draw a diagram if it helps your explanation. So, no, you will not lose any marks.
I?d assume this question you?re asking is for Practical Test paper. If they asked to write a plan for the experiment, you will have to write it out, or else you would lose marks even if you?ve drawn a diagram.
Always refer to the instructions and answer the questions as required.
Mmmh what about if I write 106 words in summary is the examiner going to mark the summary or will I get a 0 mark adding to that sometimes the question may ask on a two sides point of view and I got more points from 1 side than the other is that ok or i should have equal point in both sides
Hi Jiji,
You need equal points for both sides. All the extra wordings would be crossed out and won?t be marked. If you have any relevant points in the crossed out wordings, you will not gain any marks. You will still gain some marks for relevant points within the word limit.
When is the feb/March past examination paper going to be posted because I need practice for the paper
Hi Jiji,
We do not have a fixed schedule to update the papers but we are trying our best to have the papers uploaded before the June exam series. In the meantime, you can revise using the older past exam papers.
Hi
i want to see the student response answer sheets with corraction of igcse hindi 0549 .please send me as soon as possible .
I am going to be appearing for listening and writing papers for English this year.
Our teacher says that the speaking test is optional.
What are the advantages of taking that test?
Hi Minahil,
Most of the universities would want to see the grading for “Speaking” test. It certainly beneficial for you if you take the test.
Dear igcse
I would like to acquire about article writing
*should the merits or demerits be in points explanation or without
that’s all for today
thank you kindly in advance