IGCSE English language resources :)

Hi I recently sat my GCSE's after being home schooled for a few years and I got an A* so thought I would share a few resources that I found helpful, especially for last minute revision. This is for Edexcel International GCSE option A
Firstly, look at which seen texts from the anthology have recently came up and I would revise them less than others on the anthology. Spend more time on ones that have not come up in a while. In June 2023 in paper 1 (non regional) 'A passage to Africa' came up and in paper 2 it was 'Out Out' so it is unlikely to be these again. Here are some links that might help with analysis of the seen texts.
https://dcsg.fireflycloud.asia/resource.aspx?id=50587 (this is the anthology)
https://studyrocket.co.uk/revision/igcse-english-language-edexcel/paper-one-reading/beyond-the-sky-and-earth-a-journey-into-bhutan (this has most of the seen texts and a little bit of analysis on them all)
http://mrhoyesgcsewebsite.com/ (this also has a few of the texts & ideas about them)
https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/International%20GCSE/English%20Language%20A/2016/Teaching%20and%20learning%20materials/Eng_Lang_A_exemplars_P1_Writing_and_P2.pdf (past exemplar responses)
https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/International%20GCSE/English%20Language%20A/2016/Teaching%20and%20learning%20materials/4EA1_01_01R%20Summer%2019_%20Exemplar%202.pdf (more past exemplar responses)
https://jwpblog.com/2018/11/02/thoughts-on-significant-cigarettes-rose-tremain/ (this website also has some good key ideas on a few of the texts)

For imaginative writing paper 2:
https://www.aqaenglishrevision.com/lang-paper-1/p1-short-story/the-voices (example of a short story)
https://www.wattpad.com/282246868-short-stories-english-gcse-the-decision (more examples of short stories)

'Mrs Rumsey' on Youtube is also amazing at analysing all of the anthology texts so definitely watch all of her videos related to them a few times & take ideas and notes from them (these helped me SO much)
'First Rate Tutors' on Youtube also has a few videos explaining how the English language IGCSE papers are split up, how many marks per section etc... & they have a few vids on the anthology texts also.
You will need to know techniques used in the seen texts (e.g. alliteration, sibilance, metaphors, similes & how they're effective or how they link to themes). If you can memorize some good analysis of certain quotes for each text then when you see the text in the exam you will probably remember them straight away and it will put you in a much calmer headspace to take the exam.
When you know techniques used (language AND structure) and the effects then it will make it much easier to compare it to the unseen text.
As for comparing the texts, just compare structure used (e.g. sentence lengths), tone used, word choices, what the text is about, are they the same type of text? ( are they both a first person diary for example). You can also find videos of how to compare texts so definitely look that up on youtube.

For paper 2 do the same with the seen texts in paper 1 (watch videos, analyse them over and over and make sure you have key themes and ideas memorised about all of the texts). Lots of people will probably be able to predict what might come up so this might make it easier to choose which texts to focus the most on...

I gained the most marks on the seen texts sections due to having memorised stuff from the websites I linked (dont copy the ideas word for word though!!!)

For transactional writing in paper 1 section B I made sure to watch multiple Youtube videos on how to structure every type of text (e.g. a letter, magazine article, speech and so on...). When you memorise the structure it makes the writing part a lot easier. Be as convincing as possible on this section and use as many techniques as you can fit in. Hyperboles are a good choice to use and statistics, quotes and good punctuation would also be good. Make sure you use an appropriate tone for the audience you would be writing to (for example if it is a letter to the government you need to sound formal but if it is a magazine article you could be more chatty and fun or humorous). There are so many youtube videos to help you learn what to include in this type of writing so make sure you use youtube to your advantage! Responses to the section B paper 1 questions should have an introduction, about 3 or 4 main points (depending on how tight you are on time) and a conclusion. Make sure you use an introduction and conclusion to get top marks! Also if it is a letter remember to write addresses, names, dates etc and if it is an article for example you can use eyecatching headings and subheadings.

For the creative writing in paper 2 section B there is 3 choices but if you make sure to use as many techniques as possible (language & structural) then you will be sure to gain marks. I made sure to use alliteration lots, metaphors, adverbs, different sentence lengths, a range of punctuation, one word paragraphs or one word sentences, rule of 3 etc... A cyclical structure would really impress the examiner also. I would recommend searching up more impressive words to use to impress the examiner (instead of using 'small' you could use 'miniscule' or use similes like'as small as an ant in the depths of the desert')
You can find so many techniques to use online and just try to include as many as possible whilst still making your writing an interesting piece.
If you are using these techniques in your writing it is pretty much impossible for you to get no marks. My storyline wasn't very good but because I used so many techniques I managed to get the grade I did! You can find many short story examples on Youtube & I recommend watching Mr Salles and Mr Bruff for help with these. There are sooo many English teachers on Tiktok that should be pretty easy to find too that helped me immensely.
Lastly I would recommend writing atleast 5 quotes from each anthology text (apart from the ones that most recently came up) on flashcards and on the back of the flashcards analyse the quote and the technique used. If you read these over and over before the exam you will probably remember atleast 1 when you are in there and this means you will have 1 main quote and technique to write about atleast.

Good luck anyone taking their edexcel igcse exam in coming years