English as a Second Language
A guide for Students
Revision Checklist for IGCSE English as a Second Language
How to use this guide
The guide describes what you need to know about your IGCSE English as a Second
Language (E2L) examination.
It will help you to plan your revision programme for the examinations and will explain
what the examiners are looking for in your answers. It can also be used to help you
to revise by using the tick boxes in Section 3, ‘What you need to do’, to check what
you have covered.
The guide contains the following sections:
Section 1: How will you be tested?
This section will give you information about the different examination Papers that you
will take.
Section 2: What will be tested?
This section describes the skills that the Examiners will test you on.
Section 3: What you need to do:
This section shows the syllabus in a simple way so that you can check that:
• You have practised each skill.
• You can understand and respond, in English, in a variety of contexts and
situations.
• You are well prepared for the level of examination (Core or Extended) you
will be taking. (You will need to check which level with your teacher.)
• You have covered enough topics and themes to enable you to show your
skills in writing and speaking English.
Section 4: Appendix
This section shows you the importance of the command words and phrases that
Examiners use in examination questions. It also gives you additional hints and
details, which will help you feel more confident when you take the examination.
Section 1: How will you be tested?
You will probably take three elements:
• Reading and Writing question Paper
• Listening question paper
Let’s look at the first two papers you will take. If your teacher thinks you should enter
for the Core examination, you will take Papers 1 and 3. If your teacher thinks you
should enter for the Extended examination, you will take Papers 2 and 4.
Your teacher will assess your skills towards the end of your IGCSE course and will
discuss with you which Papers and which level of examination (Core or Extended)
you should take. You may also wish to discuss the decision with your parents.
