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UPDATED TO 2023 SYLLABUS

CAIE IGCSE
FIRST LANGUAGE
ENGLISH
SUMMARIZED NOTES ON THE THEORY SYLLABUS
CAIE IGCSE FIRST LANGUAGE ENGLISH

creative response. Thus, ensure you

understand the text thoroughly.
1. Reading Response
1.3. Planning your Answer
1.1. Identify the RAFTS - Role, Audience,
1. Extract the points and map it out according to the
Format, Topic and Strong Voice question.
1. Choose the best points to include in your
1. Role - who am I writing as?
answer.
1. Is the character formal (e.g. journalist) or
2. It is NOT THE QUANTITY to how many points
informal (writing in a diary)?
from the text you include (3-5 per section of the
2. What is the character’s writing style?
question is enough). You need to focus on the
1. This can be gauged from the text if the
QUALITY of the points taken that you are able
character is mentioned
to develop well with details and personal
2. Character’s background influences tone
thought.
and register - professionals like doctors
2. Plan the structure - the order of how you would like to
or professors are unlikely to use slang
address the question. At IGCSE the question will give
or colloquialisms
you the structure and flow of how you should write
2. Audience - who are you writing for?
your answer.
1. Type of language used and persuasive
1. Point, detail, development and evaluation must
techniques will be determined by the audience
be included.
e.g. a speech to school children versus a letter
1. Point - answers the question
to a principal.
2. Detail - taken from the text
3. Format - what text type is the response?
3. Development - your own extrapolation
1. News report
or evaluation based on what the text
2. Magazine article
implies.
3. Formal letter
4. Formal Report
5. Interview 1.4. Writing Process
6. Journal Entry
7. Speech script 1. Refer to your plan to make sure you do not deter away
4. Topic - what are the 3 bullet points asking for? from what you are supposed to write about.
1. Label each bullet with A1, A2 and A3 for 2. In essence, transfer and expand what you have in your
assessment objectives. plan to the answer sheet in complete and well-
2. Annotate the points in the text that relate to structured sentences and paragraphs.
each bullet with A1, A2 or A3. 3. With a clear plan, there is no need to rush; therefore,
5. Strong Voice - what is the purpose of the writing? you can focus on using good handwriting and ensuring
1. This links strongly to role. Ensure that the tone that all the mechanics of spelling, punctuation and
you choose to employ matches the role, and sentence structure can be applied correctly.
properly conveys the message of the task.
1. I.e. A speech should use persuasive 1.5. Checking and Proof-reading
techniques like power of three,
repetition and powerful adjectives or Check your answer for:
adverbs. Punctuation can be used to
indicate emphasis in the speech. 1. Clear sentence structure
2. Correct grammar and spelling
3. Check punctuation
1.2. Reading and Annotating 4. Content - have I addressed all the bullet points? Are
my points communicated clearly with no doubt to what
1. Reading and Annotating
I am trying to convey?
1. As you read, ensure you highlight/underline the
5. Is my handwriting legible?
key points relating to the question.
1. Annotate the points in the text that
relate to each bullet with A1, A2 or A3. 1.6. Summary Writing (120 words)
2. As part of the READING paper, your
response highly relies on what is Steps
provided in the text. It should only build
1. Read and underline relevant points with pencil
on the material provided, and is NOT a
2. Make a plan by writing the points in your own words

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3. Group the points logically- prioritize points

2.3. Writing Process
4. Check the summary (word count) decrease by
changing punctuation or removing repetition. Add
1. Skim through the passage first, and try to figure out
information by including more points that you think
the overall meaning and purpose of the passage.
are relevant.
Additionally, make an effort to determine the
IMPORTANT: PLANNING-- The fluency of ideas presented by passage's general mood, tone, and atmosphere.
2. Only essential words or phrases should be highlighted;
you is crucial, so you need to plan in order to structure and
sequence the points effectively. Also, don’t break down the do not highlight a large "chunk" of text.
summary into paragraphs. You have to write it in 1 1. Try to come up with three to five options for
paragraph. each section of the question.
Keep In Mind 2. Don't underline large sections of the text. Only
the most powerful phrases should be
Write in your own words as much as possible highlighted.
3. Start your plan
Write in complex sentences to keep within word limit
1. Divide the selected quotations into the three
Clear and direct points categories of Evidence, Explanation, and Effect
Use connectives on a table.
Try to pick out 12-15 points from the text 2. Pay attention to the particular impact the
phrase is having. Additionally, look for any
Use umbrella terms
figurative language that contributes to this
No Opinions effect.
Keep facts and quotes 3. First, explain the explicit meaning of the phrase
Present tense then the implicit meaning tries looking for
connotations, etc.
Paraphrase
4. Write the response
3rd person objective tone 1. Start your response by discussing the
passage's overall impact.

2. Writer’s Effect 2. Use one paragraph to cover one section of the

response, and a different paragraph for the
second section.
2.1. Writer’s Effect 1. Explain Part A in 120 words and Part B
in 120 words
The following reading assessment goals are tested by this 2. No conclusion is required
question which is for 10 points:

1. You must show that you grasp the clear meanings. 2.4. Key Vocabulary
2. You must show that you grasp underlying attitudes
Mood: Mainly to do with the emotion the character is
and meanings.
3. You must choose the information you use carefully feeling internally.
Tone: The way the text/narrator sounds. Ex: The narrator
and only for those purposes.
can sound frightened. We know this because of other
The total mark awarded for the Writer’s Effect question is techniques used in the writing that lets us know that the
15. 10 marks for the content of your answer and 5 for narrator is frightened.
your style of writing. Atmosphere: The feeling caused by the environment
around the narrator. It can be influenced by the objects
within the setting. Ex: When the principal reprimanded the
2.2. What to do While Reading the Text?
student in a stern tone, the atmosphere was suffocating
for the student. The student can react with a frightened
Things to think about while reading the text:
tone.
1. What did the author write about? Find the meaning
and the purpose of the text. 2.5. DOs and DONTs
2. How have they done it? Look for figurative devices
used to create an effect in order to achieve the DOs
meaning or purpose of the text.
3. Why have they done it? What was the writer’s intention 1. First, explain the explicit meaning of the phrase then
in including those particular phrases in the text? How the implicit meaning tries looking for connotations,
did the author want you to feel? etc.

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2. Select diverse selections so that you don’t repeat has the same consonant sound several times, giving a
explanations/ don’t choose phrases that have a similar rhythmic impression.
effect.
3. Use technical terms correctly though they aren’t Example: Mike likes his new bike.
required.
6. Anaphora: whenever a particular word or phrase is
4. Search for the type of sentence and see if there is
repeated at the start of clauses or phrases.
repetition and see what effect the syntax plays.
7. **__Epistrophe: __**a repetition of a phrase or word
5. Look for synonyms for the word created before the
at the end of subsequent sentences.
exam. Some synonyms could be designed or
8. Euphemism: an alternative term or phrase that is used
portrayed.
in place of potentially rude or improper ones.
DONTs
Example: “Passed away” instead of “died”.
1. Don’t make general comments like stating that the
9. Hyperbole: statements that are over-exaggerated
writer has used great imagery.
(sometimes to a level at which it is inhumane) or
2. The following phrase “the writer created an effect of…”
overly stressed.
should be avoided as it is not recommended for the
effect to be stated explicitly, sometimes it is Example: I walked a million miles to get here.
unavoidable.
10. Onomatopoeia: a phrase that describes a sound by
imitating that sound
2.6. Common Linguistic Devices
Example: “Pitter-patter”
1. Alliteration: the occurrence of the same letter or
sound at the start of words that are near together or 11. Personification: to give human-like qualities to non-
adjacent. living things or abstract ideas

Example: “Tasty Tacos” Example: The sun smiled down on us.

2. Metaphors and Similes: 12. Connotations: an abstract idea/ something a word

1. Metaphor: when a writer states that one thing suggests. Connotation can be determined by context
is another while comparing the 2 subjects as well.

Example: She is a shining star. Example: The color blue can be associated with sadness.
Example 2: “As I tread through the forest, I brushed past
2. Simile: expressions that describe one shrubs, leaves biting at my ankles as I stepped over the
person/thing/attribute to another gnarled roots snaked around the forest floor.”
person/thing/attribute typically using the words “like” → Here, adjectives with negative connotations are used to
or “as”. create a dark atmosphere. “Biting” suggests the leaves are
sharp and dangerous, and the adjective “snaked” is less
Example: Shine like a star
positive than “swirled” or “twisted” which adds to this
3. Pathetic Fallacy: when the writer describes the natural atmosphere.
world as though it had feelings.

Example: “Weeping Willow” 3. Directed Writing

4. Sibilance: the repetitive use of hissing or hushing-like
letter sounds. 3.1. Reading the Question and
Example: Using words like “strange”, “sight” and “glass” in a
Understanding the Prompt
sentence, for example.
1. Read the instructions
5. Assonance and Consonance 2. Read the question. Identify:
1. Assonance: the use of similar or identical vowel 1. Role - who am I as the writer?
sounds repeatedly inside words, phrases, or 2. Audience - who is reading what I have written?
sentences. 3. Format - is this an article, speech, letter or
interview?
Example: They’re some creeps who I wouldn’t meet if you paid 1. What are the structural features that
me a heap of cash! need to be included? i.e. heading
4. Topic - what is the focus of the two bullet
2. Consonance: the group of consonants that are
points?
repeatedly copied. It occurs when a line or sentence

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5. Strong Voice - what is the purpose of the 3. With a clear plan, there is no need to rush; therefore,
writing? you can focus on using good handwriting and ensuring
that all the mechanics of spelling, punctuation and
3.2. Annotating the Text sentence structure can be applied correctly.

1. Identify the relevant information according to what

was given in the question.
4. Descriptive Writing
1. Highlight and annotate the text. Label what you
find. 4.1. General: Do’s and Dont’s
2. You must clearly identify points under TWO
different POV DOs DONTs
These pieces are mostly
Don't start a description and
3.3. Planning Your Response written in present tense to
then turn it into a narrative.
give a sense of immediacy.
1. Extract the points and map it out according to the Don't be vague by using
question. Choose the best points to include in your Safer to base your description terms like “bad”, “good” or
answer. It is NOT THE QUANTITY to how many points over an actual memory or “nice”. You have to be more
from the text you include (3-5 per section of the experience. specific with the adjectives or
question is enough). You need to focus on the adverbs you use.
QUALITY of the points taken that you are able to
The more precise, varied and You can create an observer
develop well with details and personal thought.
uncommon your adjectives who reveals his thoughts or
2. Plan the structure - the order of how you would like to
are the more the reader will feelings but don’t create a
address the question. At IGCSE the question will give
be able to engage with your sequence of events based on
you the structure and flow of how you should write
description. his observations.
your answer.
1. Point, detail, development and evaluation must You need to employ varied
be included. sentence lengths and types. A
Do not forget to describe the
2. Evaluation is emphasized for directed writing, mix of short sentences for
size or shape of an object.
which makes it different from a reading impact and longer one works
response. Some ways to produce evaluations best.
can be by asking the following questions:
1. Are there alternatives to the 4.2. Tackling Descriptive Writing
solutions/suggestions provided by the
text? 1. Select the prompt you would like to respond to.
2. What can be learnt or improved upon 1. Specific prompts: “Write a description of a
from examples in the text? group of people who have become stuck
3. What are some arguments against the somewhere”
ones in the text? 1. Identify subjects/focus areas of the
4. Which arguments are more important? prompt, i.e. “group of people” and
Weigh the options against the “somewhere” indicating the things that
stakeholders involved. For example, a need to be described.
proposition to start school 2 hours later. 2. General prompts: Write a description with the
The stakeholders are: title, ‘The nest’
1. Students 1. Brainstorm the concept of the piece -
2. Teachers what ‘nest’ are you describing? A literal
3. Parents bird’s nest, or a metaphorical nest?
3. Be as organized as possible at this stage. Check your 1. Identify distinct components of a
plan to ensure that you have everything you need to nest
write in the answer. 2. Plan/consider descriptive semantic fields or the
different senses you would portray:
3.4. Writing Your Answer 1. Semantic field: vocabulary or a set of terms
closely linked by subject or usage.
1. Refer to your plan to make sure you do not deter away 2. Senses: smell, touch, sight, sound, taste
from what you are supposed to write about. 1. Depending on your choice of structure,
2. In essence, transfer and expand what you have in your each ‘sense’ would be a focal point.
plan to the answer sheet in complete and well- What do the group of people look like?
structured sentences and paragraphs.

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What sounds can you hear in the Second person: This narrative voice implies that the
location? Are there any distinct scents? reader is the protagonist or a character in the novel, and
3. Focal points can be created by “zooming” into that the events are taking place to them.
aspects of the scene.
1. For the “nest” prompt, this may be Identifier: “You”
describing the bird who made the nest,
Third Person Omniscient: All knowing perspective of the
or the shape, color etc of the eggs.
story. The narrator about thoughts and situations of every
3. Writing the response:
character in the story.
1. Be wary of descriptions or movements that
Third Person Limited: The narrator only knows the
turn into plot. Using present tense may help
thoughts and feelings of a single character.
keep the writing “in a moment”.
1. A good way to think about descriptive Identifier of third person POV: “He/She/They”
writing is like describing a picture, Dual narration: You can write the story from multiple
painting or at most, a live photo. The viewpoints by making sections for different narrators/
character, previous actions or future characters to voice their opinions.
actions of characters within the frame
aren’t captured and shouldn’t be
5.3. Story Openings & Narrative Hooks
written.
2. Structure the description so it flows. Choices
1. Scene-settings
may be by:
2. In Medias Res
1. Each paragraph zooms into a different
3. Mystery/Mysterious opening
part of the picture, e.g. tree canopies
4. Dialogue
[with x, y, x elements] and then the next
5. Third/First person narrator speaking to the reader
paragraph is about the river bank.
6. Questions
2. Each paragraph concentrates on a
7. Bold statements
sense, e.g. smell, then sight, then touch.
3. Specific, precise vocabulary enhances imagery.
A “pink” box leaves a lot to be interpreted. A 5.4. Story Endings
“fuschia box” is different from a “a maroon
box”. 1. Abrupt ending
2. Plot twist
3. Circular narration: The story comes back to how it all
5. Narrative Writing started.
4. “Happily-Ever-After”/Resolved
5. Cliff hanger
5.1. Narrative Writing 6. Implied/Open ending

Exposition/Orientation: It is the backstory on the

characters and place that is explained at the beginning of 5.5. Rules to Write Dialogues
the story.
Rising action: It is made up of a succession of events that 1. Use a new line for each new speaker
build on the conflict and heighten the suspense, propelling 2. Use speech marks
the story to a dramatic climax. 3. Try implementing various dialogue tags
4. Punctuate your sentence within the speech marks
Inciting incident: It is the event that initiates the plot
and pushes the main character into the action. 5. Don’t use quotation marks when writing speech in
Climax: The conflict is confronted during the story's multiple paragraphs
primary, most dramatic event. The climax of a narrative is 6. Capitalize only at the start of sentences
the highest point of tension or drama in the tale. 7. Use single quotation marks to quote within a quote
Falling Action: One can see the results of the climax. TIPS to consider when writing DIALOGUES
Things start to fall in place.
Resolution: The story is concluded 1. Don’t add any dialogue that doesn’t drive the story
forward.
5.2. Narrators 2. Dialogue can be used for characterization. For
example, a character speaking in a certain slang can
First person: The narrator appears recalls his or her own tell the reader more about where the character is
role in the events described, either as a witness to the from, and his/her background.
action or as an integral participant in it. 3. Try to be ambitious while selecting verbs to use.

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the continual signal fire, the boys lose hope and turn viciously
5.6. Narrative Techniques
against one another. It appears that all is lost until a navy ship
Backstory- Provide background information of the arrives and rescues the guys.
character Mac Guffin- When the whole story is centered around an
Foreshadowing- Hinting events that are yet to happen in ordinary object
the story
Ex: It is used in the movie Titanic. The Heart of the Ocean is
Ex: A common phrase used to foreshadow a negative event is emphasized not because it aids the plot to move forward, but
“I have a bad feeling about this.” is used to open and close the movie.
Tip: Use literary devices like Pathetic Fallacy, Imagery,
Chekhov’s Gun- A seemingly irrelevant object/person
extended metaphors
responsible for plot development

Ex: The knowledge that Katniss’ had about the poisonous 5.7. Characterisation
plants, because it is a significant character trait that helped
her trick the Capitol into taking Peeta and herself would Characterization is the representation of a character's
survive the Hunger games. features, motives, and personality in a narrative.
Direct
Flashback- When you alter the time sequence of the
The author directly describes the characteristics of a
narrative (interrupt the chronology of the narrative) to
character.
take the reader back to a scene that happened before the
Indirect
story began or a past event in the character’s life. This
Rather than explicitly describing a character's attributes, an
technique helpful in developing characterization.
author portrays the character as he or she travels through
Ex: The opening line of The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald the world, leaving the reader to deduce the character's
occurs in flashback. qualities from his or her actions through indirect
characterization.
Frame Story- A story within a story
Thoughts of the character
Ex: . The story of Frankenstein contains the story of a The actions of the character
creature, and the story of the creature briefly contains the Word choice of the character including dialect
story of the family with which he has been living. The appearance of the character
The actions and mannerisms of the character
In Medias Res- Beginning the story in middle of some The character's interactions with others (and how others
action react to the character)
Ex: This technique is usually used in films. This opening can Why?
be seen in the tv show Breaking Bad. Characterization is an important component of writing a
novel or short story because it allows you to understand your
Plot twist
characters and how their personalities and perspectives can
Red Herring- diverting attention from a significant object.
help push the storyline forward.
Essentially it is misleading or a false clue.

Ex: Harry Potter regards Sirius Black as a dangerous criminal 5.8. How to Build Tension?
and murderer. Slowly, Harry discovers that this man
murdered his parents and is pursuing him to do the job. When 1. Create conflict to characters (external or internal)
Harry eventually meets Black, he discovers that Sirius is not a 2. If your protagonist is unable to attain his or her goal,
murderer at all. keep escalating the stakes or the impact of the
repercussions.
Unreliable narration- bias in narration
3. Dramatic Irony: when the audience knows something
Ticking clock scenario- time limit for characters to
that the protagonist doesn’t
successfully complete their mission

Ex: In RUN LOLA RUN (a film) Lola has only 20 minutes to 5.9. Highlights from the Examiner's
deliver 100,000 German Marks in order to save her
boyfriend’s life.
Report

Deus Ex Machina- Hand of god What do examiners like?

Ex: In William Golding's Lord of the Flies, the abandoned boys 1. Usage of short sentences to create surprise or
spend the whole novel both establishing and tearing down emphasis.
their fragile civilization. When rescue does not arrive despite 2. Usage of subordinate clauses to begin a sentence.

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CAIE IGCSE FIRST LANGUAGE ENGLISH

3. Detailed description of the atmosphere then zooming 1. Your story should use only one tense that should be
in on a character or two (using each paragraph as a past tense. Unless you're using narrative techniques
different camera)- zooming in or out. such as flashbacks or others.
4. Pathetic fallacy 2. Making a plan starting from the resolution to the
5. Circular narration exposition is a good idea.
6. Usage of extended metaphors 3. Try to limit your coverage to one or two major events.
7. Plot twists A short story cannot have numerous occurrences.
4. Collect a few dialogue tags before hand to use.
What don’t examiners like? 5. Don't use first person narration if you character is
going to die at the ending.
1. Lack of planning that results in a bad/incomplete
6. Do not end your story by saying it was all a dream.
ending.
7. Create a plot that is adaptable to a variety of prompts.
2. They do not recommend taking extra pages.
You can also design characters ahead of time.
3. Do not use incorrect punctuation, especially comma
8. Try to focus your story on a particular theme such as,
splicing.
loss, friendship etc.
4. Make sure that the synonyms you use for a common
word fit the context.

5.10. Tips

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First Language English

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