The A–Z of Cambridge Igcse English Language: For an A* by an A* Student

By Akanksha Madan

If you’re tired of studying from vague textbooks and average online resources, then this concise, crisp guide to achieving excellence in Cambridge IGCSE First Language English is the answer to your problems.

This comprehensive guide includes:

- Key foundation concepts for success

- Tasks to develop ‘independent learning’ skills

- A step-by-step process to each exam component, including the keys to success, structure, and phrases to use for:

• Comprehension Task
• Persuasive Writing - Letter, Report, Journal, Speech, Interview, Newspaper, Article
• Language Task (Writer’s Effect)
• Summary and Note-Making
• Argumentative and Discursive Writing
• Descriptive and Narrative Writing

- Over 20 sample answers!

This book won’t just help you learn—it will help you be the A* student you’ve been longing to be.

 “Akanksha’s method is immaculate – the resource is accessible to all levels and aptitudes of students” – Harsha Malaney, Curriculum Consultant, Billabong Schools “

This book is an invaluable cache of interesting observations. It is an A* effort, by an A* student with all the ingredients and simple tips to get an A*.” – Sanjoy Bhattacharjee, Head of Faculty – English, Aditya Birla World Academy

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing India
• Release date: Oct 11, 2018
• ISBN: 9781543703894

Akanksha Madan

Akanksha Madan is a high school student who has grown up reading books, from J.K. Rowling to Simone de Beauvoir. She scored a 90+ percent average in her International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) exams and is currently doing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). She lives in Mumbai with her parents.

Book preview

Copyright © 2018 by Akanksha Madan.

ISBN:         Hardcover           978-1-5437-0391-7

                   Softcover            978-1-5437-0390-0

                   eBook                    978-1-5437-0389-4

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

www.partridgepublishing.com/india

CONTENTS

Introduction

The Foundation

Comprehension Task

Persuasive Writing

Letter Writing

Formal Letter

Informal Letter

Report Writing

Journal Writing

Speech Writing

Interview Writing

Newspaper Report

Article Writing

Language Task (Writer’s Effect)

Note Making and Summary

Discursive/Argumentative Writing

Descriptive and Narrative Writing

Descriptive Writing

Narrative Writing

Sample Answers

How to Study

For my par

ents

Introduction

Hi! If you’re reading this book, you’re on the right path to getting that A*!

I wrote the Feb/March 2017 exam session and scored an A* in English Language, amongst other subjects. Over the course of two years leading up to the IGCSEs, I collected multiple resources and wrote many notes. Studying was a pain because most textbooks were vague and useless, and searching for resources online meant scrolling through five to ten websites before finding anything valuable. And so I decided to channel my frustration productively by condensing all my knowledge into this book—a comprehensive guide to acing the subject—with the hope of easing the life of other students.

I must take this moment to acknowledge that not everything in this book might be perfect. Each and every sample in this book is something I wrote in the process of studying; they were works in progress that took me to that A*. In fact, I think you will find this book helpful because of the fact that I am no expert. This is a real book with real samples written by someone who actually wrote the exams. There are no samples here written by experienced teachers who expect students to emulate the skills they gained over the years. This book is a student’s honest approach to studying the subject. There is no unnecessary frilly language but instead simple, succinct approaches to every concept. This book is everything I wished I had while studying. I have tried to cater this book to the 2017–2018, 2019, and 2020–2022 syllabi to the best of my capabilities and knowledge.

There are often points in this guide where I ask you to go and search for something on your own or read something online. I request you to please do so. The one epiphany I had whilst studying was that what I retained best was not what was spoon-fed to me but the knowledge I found for myself. So whilst what I say may seem tedious, it is my humble request that you try it out for yourself because what you will learn will stay with you, and anyway, nothing worth having comes easy.

I hope this book becomes your go-to guide on your IGCSE journey. All the best on the path to your A*!

The Foundation

The Syllabus

Check the details pertaining to your syllabus. If you don’t know which components (i.e. papers) you are taking, please ask your teacher. Sit and make notes for each component—that includes the weightage, marks, assessment objectives, and individual questions for the syllabus—in a fresh notebook. Your relevant syllabus can easily be found online on Cambridge’s website. Read your syllabus from cover to cover without fail!

The ideas we will be discussing below are pertinent to your overall approach to the syllabus. These are concepts you need to be conscious of while reading the passages and while writing your exam answers.

The Modes of Persuasion

Created by our good ole friend Aristotle, these modes are also called the rhetoric appeals.

Ethos

It is used to establish your credibility as an author and make the audience trust you, thus breaking the barrier between you and them.

How: personal pronouns such as us and we to create a sense of unity; grammar, syntax, and jargon appropriate to the audience

Pathos

This is for emotionally appealing to your audience and eliciting guilt, fear, joy, amusement, or other feelings from it.

How: emotional anecdotes, provocative diction and tone

Logos

This is used to appeal to the reason and logic of your audience and substantiate your argument (also increasing credibility).

How: facts, statistics

When reading and annotating any passage, underline the parts that are persuasive. Also, when writing your own response, be sure to incorporate all three modes in a balanced