2. Syllabus Overview
Qualification Aims and Objectives
The Pearson Edexcel International GCSE in English qualification enables
students to:
• read a wide range of texts fluently and with good understanding,
• read critically and use knowledge gained from wide reading to inform and improve their own writing,
• write effectively and coherently using Standard English appropriately,
• use grammar correctly, punctuate and spell accurately,
• acquire and apply a wide vocabulary alongside knowledge and understanding of grammatical,
terminology, and linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language,
• listen to and understand spoken language, and use spoken Standard English effectively.
3. Content Overview
1. Non-fiction Texts
This section focuses on contemporary non-fiction texts and develops skills to analyse how
writers use linguistic and structural devices to achieve their effects. Students explore links and
connections between writers’ ideas and perspectives.
2. Transactional Writing
Skills for transactional writing for a variety of purposes and audiences are developed together with
the use of accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar.
3. Poetry and Prose Texts
Students learn to analyse how writers use linguistic and structural devices to achieve their effects.
4. Imaginative Writing
This section develops imaginative writing skills to engage the reader and the use of accurate
spelling, punctuation and grammar.
4. Anthology: Prescribed Texts
1. Non-Fiction Texts
• From The Danger of a Single Story, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• From A Passage to Africa, George Alagiah
• From The Explorer’s Daughter, Kari Herbert
• Explorers or boys messing about? Either way, taxpayer gets rescue bill, Steven Morris
• From 127 Hours: Between a Rock and a Hard Place, Aron Ralston
• Young and dyslexic? You’ve got it going on, Benjamin Zephaniah
• From A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat, Emma Levine
• From Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan, Jamie Zeppa
• From H is for Hawk, Helen Macdonald
• From Chinese Cinderella, Adeline Yen Mah
5. Anthology: Prescribed Texts
2. Fiction Texts
• Disabled, Wilfred Owen
• "Out, Out−", Robert Frost
• An Unknown Girl, Moniza Alvi
• The Bright Lights of Sarajevo, Tony Harrison
• Still I Rise, Maya Angelou
• The Story of an Hour, Kate Chopin
• The Necklace, Guy de Maupassant
• Significant Cigarettes (from The Road Home), Rose Tremain •
Whistle and I’ll Come to You (from The Woman in Black), Susan Hill •
Night, Alice Munro
9. Resources for Exam Preparation:
Overall Revision
• Follow this link for more subject-specific details:
https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/subjects/english.html
• Make use of the past papers and syllabus notes on the above website.
• Ensure that you have studied the paper map and your notes on exam techniques. •
Work from the syllabus resources:
• Official Edexcel Textbook, Edexcel International GCSE (9-1) ENGLISH LANGUAGE A, Student
Book.
• Ensure you work through all the resources on Landi College LMS
• Study from your class notes.
• Work through the language and structure of all the prescribed texts.
• Remember that English is a skill, and it is essential to practise the techniques required for the
examination.
10. Exam Tips:
• Read the exam question carefully. Short questions expect you to either quote and/or answer using
your own words, and the instruction must be followed.
• Write in formal English. Avoid colloquialisms and slang.
• Structure your answer in an essay-style format with fluent paragraphs. Avoid paragraphs that resemble
stand-alone ‘bullet points’.
• Stay on the topic specified in the question. Don’t write down everything you know – marks are only
awarded for information within the scope of the question.
• Your answer must analyse the language and techniques used. Avoid creating a content summary of the
passage.
• Be precise. If you refer to imagery or the effective use of language (eg. adjectives/adverbs) you must
give examples and explain why they are effective.
• Ensure that your supporting quotations are brief enough to draw attention to the specific point of
language that you are referring to.
• Keep the P-E-E chain technique in mind as you write: Point ⇨ Evidence ⇨ Explain.
11. (Exam Tips continued)
• In order to structure your answer logically, you need to plan (briefly) or know which points you will be
making before you begin to write.
• Use the correct terminology in your answers, eg. colloquialisms, oxymoron, irony, personal anecdote,
etc.
• Spelling and grammatical accuracy is important – take note of the words you tend to misspell.
• Transactional Writing: Demonstrate your knowledge of required format, language techniques,
sentence construction, grammar, and vocabulary. Tailor your response to the audience specified in the
question.
• Imaginary Writing: Create a plot and characters that have depth and allow you to demonstrate the
techniques of creative writing.
• Practise writing past papers for Paper 1 and 2. Use the mark schemes and AOs to refine your
answers.
