IGCSE Paper 2 Tips
IGCSE Paper 2 Tips Part 1 – Passage A ● Question 1
○ Read the question first.
○ Read Passage A with the question in mind.
○ Look at the question again to make sure you understand.
○ IMPORTANT: whatever the question asks you to create, it is VITAL that you include details from Passage A but EQUALLY VITAL that you include your own original ideas/details.
○ The mark scheme’s top band says that the best marks will be awarded to students who make inferences from the information that is already there and who further develop (with original ideas) what is already expressed in Passage
A.
○ IMPORTANT: you MUST create the type of document that the question asks for. If they ask for a newspaper report and you do it as a questionandanswer interview, for example, you will probably get a very low mark on this question.
○ The three points (listed underneath the question; it is usually three points) that you must include in your piece of writing MUST be included, although you do not have to use them in order. Moving them around MIGHT allow you to avoid summarising Passage A.
○ AVOID SUMMARISING!!!
○ Your language should sound appropriate to the task (e.g. if it is a newspaper report, the parts which are not quotations should sound fairly formal/not too chatty). ● Question 2
○ Answer a) and b)!!!
○ Bullet points are fine BUT make sure to write your explanation after each quotation in full sentences
○ Three quotations is enough to get into the topband (910/10) if you explain them well.
○ Choose short quotations (individual words/short phrases).
○ The best answers talk about WHY the author chooses particular words—avoid literal explanations and focus on thematic/symbolic/emotional reasons (the effect of the words).
○ Using a group of examples which illustrate different aspects of a similar theme is also an effective technique, as long as you are not merely repeating yourself.
○ Use quotation marks.
○ Generally speaking, each explanation
○ Read the question first.
○ Read Passage A with the question in mind.
○ Look at the question again to make sure you understand.
○ IMPORTANT: whatever the question asks you to create, it is VITAL that you include details from Passage A but EQUALLY VITAL that you include your own original ideas/details.
○ The mark scheme’s top band says that the best marks will be awarded to students who make inferences from the information that is already there and who further develop (with original ideas) what is already expressed in Passage
A.
○ IMPORTANT: you MUST create the type of document that the question asks for. If they ask for a newspaper report and you do it as a questionandanswer interview, for example, you will probably get a very low mark on this question.
○ The three points (listed underneath the question; it is usually three points) that you must include in your piece of writing MUST be included, although you do not have to use them in order. Moving them around MIGHT allow you to avoid summarising Passage A.
○ AVOID SUMMARISING!!!
○ Your language should sound appropriate to the task (e.g. if it is a newspaper report, the parts which are not quotations should sound fairly formal/not too chatty). ● Question 2
○ Answer a) and b)!!!
○ Bullet points are fine BUT make sure to write your explanation after each quotation in full sentences
○ Three quotations is enough to get into the topband (910/10) if you explain them well.
○ Choose short quotations (individual words/short phrases).
○ The best answers talk about WHY the author chooses particular words—avoid literal explanations and focus on thematic/symbolic/emotional reasons (the effect of the words).
○ Using a group of examples which illustrate different aspects of a similar theme is also an effective technique, as long as you are not merely repeating yourself.
○ Use quotation marks.
○ Generally speaking, each explanation