1. iGCSE Extended Paper – Tips for Success!
Introduction:
This is a two hour exam.
Use your time wisely!
Questions 1 and 3 are worth 20 marks each but question 2 is only worth 10 marks.
Therefore, you should spend about:
40 minutes on question 3
50 minutes on question 1
30 minutes on question 2
Extended

2. Question 3 a) – top tips! Question likely to have 2 focus areas
Keep the points brief (if it’s over lengthy you won’t get the mark!)
Spelling mistakes that change the meaning of the point cost marks
Don’t highlight anything that isn’t related to the actual question
Ensure you have at least 15 and cross out any you’re not sure about if you go over 15
Helpful to have they/it/he/she etc. at start of the point

3. Question 3 a)
Read carefully Passage B, Nature’s Buzz and then answer question 3a) and 3b)
3 a) What are the features of the honeybee and why are honeybees important?
Write your answer using short notes. Write one point per line. You do not need to use your own words. Up to 15 marks available

4. First things first, underline the key things you are looking for in passage B: 1. FEATURES of honeybee 2. IMPORTANCE of honeybee
Once you have what you’re looking for straight in your head, you need to read the passage, highlighting or underlining any important information from the text that refers to the topic you’re going to be summarising.
Spend 5 minutes reading the text and highlighting those key points, aiming for at least 15 SPECIFIC points relating to the question.
Read and highlight 3 features and 3 important points

5. 3 a) They are small and slim
They have short tongues so they prefer open flowers
The queen can live for 3-4 years
Honey is worth million to the economy
Honey has health benefits
Without them fruit wouldn’t blossom

6. First things first, underline the key things you are looking for in passage B: 1. FEATURES of honeybee 2. IMPORTANCE of honeybee
Once you have what you’re looking for straight in your head, you need to read the passage, highlighting or underlining any important information from the text that refers to the topic you’re going to be summarising.
Spend 5 minutes reading the text and highlighting those key points, aiming for at least 15 SPECIFIC points relating to the question.
Read and highlight 3 features and 3 important points

7. Question 3 b) Must be in own words unless impossible e.g. it’s a noun
Should be ordered and organised e.g. 3 paragraphs each containing 5 points
Should not be longer than the lines allow
Should all link together through the use of connectives/linking words – one point per line linked by a connective
Should NOT contain any additional information
Check ALL 15 points are included – tick them off

8. Question 1 Things you need to know!
Voice
Audience
Style
Tone
This question carries 20 marks so this can make a BIG difference to the grade you are going to get. In a minute, we are going to spend a significant amount of time planning so that this response is spot on but the first thing you need to do is READ question 1 carefully:
Things you need to know!
Without something for each bullet you are limited to 6/15 at best
For every bullet there should be 5 details with development
All points made must be rooted in the passage
You must include factual details – names, places, times, actions,
You must try to offer developments to the points you make
You must write in your own words
Spending time planning is crucial
You can get full marks by writing a side and a half so don’t neglect planning

9. Question 1 Read carefully Passage A, Yorkshire’s Finest Moment
Imagine you are the organiser of The Grand Depart. Write a report for the organising committee about the event. In your report you should:
Describe the atmosphere before and during the race
Give your impressions of the challenges of hosting the event
Suggest what impact the event may have now and in the future
Base your response on what you have read in Passage A and be careful to use your own words. Address each of the three bullets.
Write about words.
Up to 15 marks will be available for the content of your answer, and up to 5 marks for the quality of your writing.
[20 marks]

10. Question 1 Read carefully Passage A, Yorkshire’s Finest Moment
Imagine you are the organiser of The Grand Depart. Write a report for the organising committee about the event. In your report you should:
Describe the atmosphere before and during the race
Give your impressions of the challenges of hosting the event
Suggest what impact the event may have now and in the future
Base your response on what you have read in Passage A and be careful to use your own words. Address each of the three bullets.
Write about words.
Up to 15 marks will be available for the content of your answer, and up to 5 marks for the quality of your writing.
[20 marks] V A S T

11. Under the question , in your answer booklet, draw a table with 3 columns, one for each bullet:
Atmosphere before and during race
Challenges of hosting the event
impact of event now and in future
2 million people/busy
Excitement of crowds
Intense/whole of Yorkshire
Classy/lavish 18th C house
Positivity/making money
Spend a good 20 minutes planning before writing, this does not have to be a lengthy piece, plan for 20, write for 30

12. United spirit local community
Atmosphere before and during race
2 million people/busy
Whooping crowds
Intense/whole of Yorkshire
Classy/lavish 18th C house
Positivity/making money
How do you develop this detail?
What does this show?
enthusiasm
Detail
whooping crowds
Why?
United spirit local community
Detail in own words
15 of these – 3 paragraphs – at least band 2 – 10/15
The atmosphere both before and during the race was great! All the crowd were shouting and screaming showing their enthusiasm and united spirit for supporting the local community
Development
Development

13. Top Tips:
Don’t forget, include all of the key points in your table and tick them off as you go, develop the ideas, make inferences about thoughts and feelings your character might have but stay true to the text and remember to write carefully, using paragraphs, high level vocabulary and correct punctuation.
25 minutes!
Reminders:
Write in paragraphs
Check you sound like the voice you’ve been asked to take on – this will help you get 4/5
Develop/extend on each of the points you make
Check you’ve been true to the meaning of the text – do you have 15details in there?
Check you’ve covered all 3 bullet points EQUALLY

14. Question 2 Begin by reading the question. Question 2
Re-read the descriptions of:
what the crowd saw and felt in paragraph 5, beginning “the crowds were left…”
the description of Yorkshire in paragraph 7, beginning “the real winner…”
Select four powerful words or phrases from each paragraph. Your choices should include imagery. Explain how each word or phrase selected is used effectively in context.
Write about 200 to 300 words.
Up to 10 marks are available for the content of your answer.

15. The first thing you want to do is draw a circle or a box around the two paragraphs they have asked you to focus on.
Once you have done that, you need to have a think about what the question is asking you. It asks you to look at the ‘words and phrases’ in the paragraphs and ‘explain’ how effectively these words are used in the passage. Tip – where possible go with a phrase it increases the odds of it being in the mark scheme!

16. What do you need to do to get high marks on this question?
First, you need to go re-read both of your circled paragraphs and you need to find at least 4 POWERFUL words or phrases in each paragraph (8 in total) that you think are powerful. Underline them.
These are your “__” quotations, and if you pick the right ones then you’re on your way to getting at least 6/10
Both parts of a) and b) must be done equally well
Stay away from feature spotting e.g. simile unless you can comment on the effect

17. You should now have a grand total of 8 quotations underlined, 4 from each paragraph.
Start off by writing your first quotation in quotation marks then put a dash after it. For example: “Hidden gems” – This question is not marked for writing and so don’t waste time being overly flowery in your language and introducing every quotation with waffle – just write the quotation.

18. “Hidden Gems” –
Directly after your quotation, you need to give a dictionary-like definition of the word or phrase you’ve written – you get credited for this and it helps you make the leap to the effect.
In this case:
“hidden gems” – tells us it was concealed and precious

19. “hidden gems” – tells us it was concealed and precious
Once you have done your definition, you need to infer from the language used. Why has the writer chosen the words “hidden gems”? What does this communicate about Yorkshire? You could say something like: “This image makes Yorkshire sound a place that is of great worth and undiscovered”

20. Now move on to your next choice and do the same
Now move on to your next choice and do the same. CME – Choice, Meaning, Effect.
Quote (C – choice)
Give a dictionary-like definition (M – meaning)
Make inferences about the language used in the context of the passage (E- effect)
On your own, practise this approach on one you have chosen from either paragraph