Support

As a valued student of Start Learning you will have the facility to use our personal tutor service.  At Start Learning we have a friendly team of highly qualified and experienced tutors.  A tutor will be allocated to our student for 12 months, starting from when study materials are received.  The tutors are contacted via email and are responsible for marking assignments and guiding you through the course to ensure you are ready for your examinations.

Entry Requirements

No entry requirements.
At Start Learning we believe that everyone should be given the opportunity to expand their knowledge and study further.  Students will be given plenty of resources to help them overcome obstacles.  Start Learning tutors will also aid our students and answer queries.      

Recommended Hours of Study

It is recommended that 180 hours of your time should be allocated towards studying for the IGCSE examinations.

Course Contents

What does the course prepare me for?

As well as preparing you for the examinations, there is guidance on many of the basics of English Language including:

· Common errors

· Punctuation rules and conventions

· Spelling

· Nouns, adjectives, verbs and adverbs

· Sentence structure

· Paragraphing

· Presentation of essays

The main thrust of the course, however, is to prepare you for the examinations. To this end the focus on essay planning and writing in coherent sentences and paragraphs whilst employing a variety of styles and a wide vocabulary will be of enormous benefit to you.

What will be in the examinations?

If you have looked at the full specification on the Cambridge website, you will have noticed that there are various options including coursework. Please note that we will be preparing you only for the examinations options, Papers 2 and 3. These two written papers are the only papers you will need to take to gain an IGCSE. No coursework is required.

The papers have the following structure:

Paper 2: Reading Passages (Extended)

2 hours

Candidates answer three questions on two passages of 600–700 words each, linked by a common theme.

Eligible for Grades A*–E.

50% of total marks – 40% on Reading and 10% on Writing.

Paper 3: Directed Writing and Composition

2 hours

50% of total marks – 10% 0n Reading and 40% on Writing.

This subject is only available to students whose native language is English. It is not suitable for students whose mother tongue is another language. For these students, there is English as a Second Language, although a course for this specification is not offered by Start Learning.  To find out more details they should go to the Cambridge website: http://www.cie.org.uk/.

This course is only concerned with English Language; there is no specific study of literature although reference is made from time-to-time to literary texts and techniques.Designed for students for whom English is their mother tongue, IGCSE First Language English develops the ability to communicate clearly, accurately and effectively in both speech and writing. Students learn how to employ a wide-ranging vocabulary, use correct grammar, spelling and punctuation, and develop a personal style and an awareness of the audience being addressed. Students are also encouraged to read widely, both for their own enjoyment and to further their awareness of the ways in which English can be used. IGCSE First Language English also develops more general analysis and communication skills such as synthesis, inference, and the ability to order facts and present opinions effectively.

Where do I sit my examinations?

Students are reminded that it is their responsibility to find and register with a centre to take the examinations. Start Learning cannot take any responsibility for this.

The following is a list provided by Cambridge on their website:

http://www.cie.org.uk/profiles/students/ukcandidates
/#contacts

Who is the awarding body?

The awarding body is University of Cambridge International Examinations.

What is the course title and code for this qualification?

Cambridge IGCSE First Language English Syllabus code 0500.