IGCSE COURSE IN DETAIL
ENGLISH
LITERATURE
Course name: Cambridge IGCSE English –
Literature
Exam board: CIE
This is a two-year course and is examined by
two written papers and two coursework essays
(1200 words each).
This covers prose and poetry set texts in a
1 hour and 30 minute closed text (no book)
examination.
COMPONENT 3:
25% of the overall weighting
A 45 minute examination on a drama text
(open text). Candidates answer one question
on one text. There is a choice of two questions
(one passage-based and one essay).
COMPONENT 4:
25% of the overall weighting
A 1 hour and 45 minute unseen paper. Pupils
will answer a question on a poem or a piece of
prose that they have not previously seen.
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FRENCH
(AS A FOREIGN
LANGUAGE)
Entry requirements
There are no entry requirements, but the
course has been designed for pupils who are
able to study a literary text with confidence.
You must feel comfortable with "closed text"
(no book) examinations.
COMPONENT 1:
50% of the overall weighting
IGCSE COURSE IN DETAIL
Course name: IGCSE French –
Foreign Language
Exam board: Edexcel
This is a two-year course and is examined by
two exam papers at the end of the course:
Syllabus content Paper 1: Listening (50 marks)
Paper 2: Reading and writing (60 marks)
Paper 3: Speaking test (40 marks)*
A key change is the move to closed text or
no book examinations. Lessons will focus on
pupils’ ability to analyse a range of text and
structure a literary response. Exam texts are
as follows: * This will take place at the College on a date to
be confirmed between mid-March and the date
of the final French exam paper.
Poetry:
Songs of Ourselves: a poetry anthology
with a selection of nineteenth and twentieth
century poets from William Wordsworth to
Grace Nichols.
Prose:
10 Stories from Stories of Ourselves
Drama:
Arthur Miller The Crucible
There is no coursework.
Entry requirements
The course has been designed for pupils who
have studied French for at least one year and
therefore have prior knowledge. The head
of department, prior to acceptance onto the
course, will assess pupils who have not studied
French before.
Syllabus content
Pupils will learn to use the language as a means
for practical communication and develop all
four skills of speaking, listening, reading and
writing. They will also learn about the culture of
Francophone countries across the world.
Why French?
– With English, French is the only language
spoken on all five continents. It is a major
language of international communication, and
is the second most learned foreign language in
the world. It is a real career asset to be able
to communicate in French, as it is the official
language of many international organisations
such as the United Nations and UNESCO.
– Being able to speak French is advantageous as
France is the world’s sixth largest economy.
– Learning French is learning the language of
art, as France is such a culture-rich country.
Through the language you get a better
understanding of the worlds of fashion,
gastronomy, literature and the arts.
– Shakespeare’s language takes its roots in that
of Moliere. Therefore, French will better your
understanding of such works you may study in
English and also widen your vocabulary.
– Mastering French, a Romance language,
will help you learn other languages, such as
Spanish or Italian.
Pupils who wish to take any IB course in
French, who have not completed an IGCSE
course, will be admitted only at the discretion
of the head of department.
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