English igcse

[Wobblypig]

Is it possible to improve from a 6 mid year 10 to a 9 end of year 11 ?It seems like a massive jump. We were thinking of a tutor but cousin is doing BA in English literature so was going to try her first. It seems so hard and DH and I are from science backgrounds so don’t really get it at all. In fact, I really don’t understand how anyone manages it. Any tips?

A family member doing a degree in English Literature is unlikely to have the detailed knowledge of the exam paper which is necessary to help. English GCSE (and IGCSE) tests very specific skills, and it's important for anyone tutoring to understand the Assessment Objectives targeted in each question.

FWIW (Head of English here), going from a 6 to a 9 seems quite a big ask, unless your DC's target is a 9. Pupils can learn enough by rote to get a 6, possibly even a 7, but 8 and 9 require flair. Sorry, I know that's what drives scientists crackers.

Thanks, that’s disappointing. So do you think those that get 8 and 9s are just ‘ born’ that way? Like artists?

Candidates who get 8s and 9s will be avid readers, alive to the possibilities of language and structure. There is a confidence in their writing which is evident from the very first sentences, and they can do things instinctively which I have to try to teach others. By this I mean that the very top candidates use different sentence lengths and types instinctively; they have varied and delightful vocabularies, deployed accurately (that's in the mark scheme). In discursive essays they produce work which has a clear and integrated argumentative thread running through it. In descriptive or narrative writing they may use time shifts or other challenging structural techniques.

I'm an IGCSE examiner of over a decade's standing, so the above is based on reading literally hundreds of scrips. That kind of flair isn't really something that can be taught, though I try repeatedly every year.

So really there isn’t very much point trying to get better. Better up concentrating on other gcses and accepting you can’t get a top grade in English. I suppose that at least, is worth knowing.
I do wonder how these children get to be so good. My DS was good at English before gcse ; got scholarships into top schools etc but igcse is just something else.

DD got 8’s in IGCSE English Lang and Lit was in and out of the exam room in 30 mins (ASD) barely revised. It’s her most gifted area and just comes naturally

Still hearing some muttering that IGCSES and international A levels may yet go to CAGS as many of the international students can’t get to exam centres, DD is doing A levels this year so waiting and watching

Again the message seems to be that you either have or you don’t with respect to English.
What is CAGS?

CAGS are centre assessed grades instead of exams

I hope that’s not the case. My son doesn’t do his til 2023 . I suspect the igcse will go ahead in England

My dd got 9s for iGCSE lit and Lang. She worked and worked though. Yes I do think she's a good writer anyway, and she's always done well in the subject, but there are specific things you get points for and she was mindful of those.
As for art I also think the exam seems geared towards getting technique and giving them what they want rather than true artistic creativeness.
So I think it's too much to try and make a 6 in to an 8 or 9 if it's not their favourite subject anyway. My daughter is not good at math (though she got 8 in physics) and though her teacher said she could possibly get a 7 she concentrated on her stronger subjects and got a 6, and as it's not essential for her future plans she was happy with that.

Hi our daughter has been privately been studying IGCSE English where we live in a village close to Strasbourg. We are all native. Her private teacher wants her to sit it one year later when she has been studying and supposedly prepping her for years. Its more for the teachers convenience than our daughter's level. She does really well. So I want to find out how she can sit the English IGCSE via a private college or crammer? or even do an easter revision course? Does anyone have any experience with any London Crammers that can help in such a situation? Or if you wanted your child to sit english language IGCSE? Thank you

Genuine question. What is so important about trying to get a 9 for English. After all a 7 is the old A grade... Don't make your DC feel a failure just because they can't get an 8 or 9 for something.

@OonieM I think your difficulty may be, if literature for example, finding somewhere following the same texts and parts of syllabus. I think entries deadline may be very soon. Is it imperative that she takes it this year?

Teenpluscat- no one said he had to get a 9. We are trying to work out what is achievable and what isn’t. He needs 7 grade 7-9 to stay on at A level.

Turning a 6 into a 7 would be an achievable aim.

Work hard and listen to the teacher - as for anything. Realise that good and versatile use of the language is a skill that can be honed, and which will be useful lifelong.

Improving vocabulary really matters - and encourage this when they're speaking as welll as in written work. Even with SPAG marking, it's better to misspell 'turquoise' than just write 'blue', and even better with 'cerulean'. Best encouraged by example (yours) and lots of reading

@Wobblypig

Teenpluscat- no one said he had to get a 9. We are trying to work out what is achievable and what isn’t. He needs 7 grade 7-9 to stay on at A level.

A 6 to a 7 to meet criteria for 6th form is far more achievable than your original question of 6 to a 9, and much less pressure too. (7x7 though!)