edexcel igcse english language a 2025

Hi! So I'm not sure how helpful this will be because I did English Language B not A but most of the principles are the same across the board for any English exam. I've also done English literature this year so I'm familiar with how to analyse poetry. I do know a bit about English Language A from friends. I got one mark off a 9 in my English Language B and I'm predicted at a grade 8 for English Literature.
Advice for paper 1:
I would create a list of things you need to talk about in analysis. This list should include literary techniques, language techniques, structure and any devices you can possibly think of. Think juxtaposition, DAFFOREST, alliteration, similes. In the exam you want to look for as many of those as possible.
You also want to look for what perspective of the writing you've been given, its purpose and audience. When I do my essays I always put this information in the introduction. Then my following paragraphs usually pick out language and devices and link back to what the writer is trying to get across. In every English exam I've ever been in they've always wanted you to discuss what the writer is trying to convey to the reader. You shouldn't just write "this is a simile" you should write "the writer makes use of a simile to give the reader a sense of (insert emotion/feeling/goal)". I'm sorry because you probably already know this as a grade 8 student but it is important.
The other benefit of creating a list for analysis that you can mentally tick off in the exam, is that you can also use the same list for writing articles and such. I wouldn't get too bogged down with the list when writing but it does just make sure you have everything covered.
Advice for paper 2:
The poetry section for paper two is very similar to the analysis questions in paper 1. Essentially you want a list again but this time you want to include poetic devices. You should again centre everything in reference in what it gets across to the reader. As I said previously too, try to talk about the purpose of the poem, its perspective and such in the first paragraph and link constantly to this in subsequent paragraphs.
For the imaginative writing, I was told by my teacher to prepare two or so stories that were vague and could be adjusted in the exam to fit whatever image or question you get in the section. This is what all the top students were doing. We each gave our teacher a few stories we prepared and she gave as feedback. You want to feature quite a few literary techniques in your stories but you also don't want to just shove them in for the sake of it. I think having some stuff prepared is the way to go.
General advice:
People say you can't revise for English Language, they're wrong. You just revise differently. 70-80% of your revision for English Language should be past papers and you should try to mark them yourself but you can also give a few to your teachers if they're not busy.
You're a student doing exams. You should know how to use grammar and avoid comma splicing by now. I'm going to assume you do because you're predicted at a grade 8. However, you should also make sure you know how to use semi-colons, dashes and coloms. If you use some across your answers it just shows a level of competence even if it hardly makes or breaks you.
As I mentioned literally everything should be in reference to the reader. Always always always. It's not good enough to just mention a literary technique, you have to explain why the writer used it.
You should have a decent vocabulary of words to start paragraphs. You can't start every paragraph with furthermore. I understand this is obvious but learn your conjunctives.
You should bring in highlighters and highlight the texts you're given. After you've done that very quickly you want to create a plan. It doesn't have to be really be detailed but please please for the love of god plan what you're going to write before writing.
If you have time, check out examiners reports. These will mention things examiners will want to see and students have missed, as well as giving examples of top grade answers and low grade answers.
As I have mentioned English exams are quite universal. This means you can look up advice videos on YouTube either for your iGCSE exam or you can find videos on a GCSE English language exam and just use your brain to determine what's relevant. Mr Bruff and Salles are obviously quite good. Even if it's AQA or OCR you'll be able to get something from it.
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I'm sorry if a lot of this is quite simple but to be honest English Language is quite simple. You just need to know your devices and practice an awful lot. I hope this helps even tho I didn't take the same exam and I wish you luck for the papers!

Hi! So I'm not sure how helpful this will be because I did English Language B not A but most of the principles are the same across the board for any English exam. I've also done English literature this year so I'm familiar with how to analyse poetry. I do know a bit about English Language A from friends. I got one mark off a 9 in my English Language B and I'm predicted at a grade 8 for English Literature.
Advice for paper 1:
I would create a list of things you need to talk about in analysis. This list should include literary techniques, language techniques, structure and any devices you can possibly think of. Think juxtaposition, DAFFOREST, alliteration, similes. In the exam you want to look for as many of those as possible.
You also want to look for what perspective of the writing you've been given, its purpose and audience. When I do my essays I always put this information in the introduction. Then my following paragraphs usually pick out language and devices and link back to what the writer is trying to get across. In every English exam I've ever been in they've always wanted you to discuss what the writer is trying to convey to the reader. You shouldn't just write "this is a simile" you should write "the writer makes use of a simile to give the reader a sense of (insert emotion/feeling/goal)". I'm sorry because you probably already know this as a grade 8 student but it is important.
The other benefit of creating a list for analysis that you can mentally tick off in the exam, is that you can also use the same list for writing articles and such. I wouldn't get too bogged down with the list when writing but it does just make sure you have everything covered.
Advice for paper 2:
The poetry section for paper two is very similar to the analysis questions in paper 1. Essentially you want a list again but this time you want to include poetic devices. You should again centre everything in reference in what it gets across to the reader. As I said previously too, try to talk about the purpose of the poem, its perspective and such in the first paragraph and link constantly to this in subsequent paragraphs.
For the imaginative writing, I was told by my teacher to prepare two or so stories that were vague and could be adjusted in the exam to fit whatever image or question you get in the section. This is what all the top students were doing. We each gave our teacher a few stories we prepared and she gave as feedback. You want to feature quite a few literary techniques in your stories but you also don't want to just shove them in for the sake of it. I think having some stuff prepared is the way to go.
General advice:
People say you can't revise for English Language, they're wrong. You just revise differently. 70-80% of your revision for English Language should be past papers and you should try to mark them yourself but you can also give a few to your teachers if they're not busy.
You're a student doing exams. You should know how to use grammar and avoid comma splicing by now. I'm going to assume you do because you're predicted at a grade 8. However, you should also make sure you know how to use semi-colons, dashes and coloms. If you use some across your answers it just shows a level of competence even if it hardly makes or breaks you.
As I mentioned literally everything should be in reference to the reader. Always always always. It's not good enough to just mention a literary technique, you have to explain why the writer used it.
You should have a decent vocabulary of words to start paragraphs. You can't start every paragraph with furthermore. I understand this is obvious but learn your conjunctives.
You should bring in highlighters and highlight the texts you're given. After you've done that very quickly you want to create a plan. It doesn't have to be really be detailed but please please for the love of god plan what you're going to write before writing.
If you have time, check out examiners reports. These will mention things examiners will want to see and students have missed, as well as giving examples of top grade answers and low grade answers.
As I have mentioned English exams are quite universal. This means you can look up advice videos on YouTube either for your iGCSE exam or you can find videos on a GCSE English language exam and just use your brain to determine what's relevant. Mr Bruff and Salles are obviously quite good. Even if it's AQA or OCR you'll be able to get something from it.
---
I'm sorry if a lot of this is quite simple but to be honest English Language is quite simple. You just need to know your devices and practice an awful lot. I hope this helps even tho I didn't take the same exam and I wish you luck for the papers!

im trying to get above a 6 in language, and i havent revised any yet. is there any hope im good at english but ive been flopping all the papers recently.

So I'm sitting for paper 1 on the 23rd of May and I'd appreciate any tips because I really wanna get a 9 in it. I'm predicted a high 8 or 9 but i wanna get a secure 9 yk. Also if anyone has predictions for paper 1 or 2 id appreciate it. Im doing the regional paper

When are your exams? I think you'll be fine if you focus on past papers and what you're bad at, so long as it's not like.. Today. If you tell me your weaknesses I can try give advice.

its on friday....