Transcript IGCSE FIRST LANGUAGE

Paper 2: reading
passages
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Paper 3: Directed
writing and
composition
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Reading marks: 40 %
Writing marks: 10%
=50%

Reading marks: 10 %
Writing marks: 40%
=50%
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2 hours
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2 hours
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Questions will relate to two passages of approximately 600-700
words each, linked by a common theme. These passages will be
printed on the question paper.
• Question 1 (20 marks), which may be subdivided, will require
candidates to respond to Passage 1 only.
It will test your reading comprehension (15 marks):
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Your ability to understand and collate explicit and implicit
meanings and attitudes
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Your ability to select, analyse and evaluate what is relevant to
specific purposes
In addition, 5 marks will be available for Writing.
EXAMPLE (June 2008 paper)
Imagine that you are Donovan Webster.You are being interviewed for a television programme
about your visit to Diudiu in Mongolia.
Your interviewer asks the following questions:
• Could you start by telling the viewers a little about Diudiu’s lifestyle?
• What did you admire most about Diudiu?
• How has your meeting with her made you consider your own life-style and values?
Write the words of the interview.
Begin as follows:
Interviewer: Could you start by telling the viewers a little about Diudiu’s lifestyle?
DonovanWebster: Yes, of course. I think the first thing I noticed was…
You should write between 1 ½ and 2 sides, allowing for the size of your handwriting.
Up to 15 marks will be available for the content of your answer, and up to 5 marks for the quality
of your writing.
[Total: 20]
• Question 2 (10 marks), which may be sub-divided, will be based
on Passage 1 only.
It will test your ability to understand how writers achieve effects
(10 marks).
• Question 3 (20 marks), which may be sub-divided, will require
candidates to summarise material in each of the passages (15
marks) . In addition, 5 marks will be available for Writing.
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Candidates are advised to spend approximately 15 minutes
reading the passages.
Dictionaries may not be used.
QUESTION 2 (June Paper)
Re-read the descriptions of:
(a)the countryside in paragraph 1;
(b) Diudiu in paragraph 6.
By selecting words and phrases from these paragraphs to support your
answer, explain the effects the writer creates in using these
descriptions.
[Total: 10]
QUESTION 3 (June Paper)
Summarise:
(a)the things that make the writer’s lifestyle difficult in Passage B;
(b) the things that enable Diudiu to cope with the challenges of her
lifestyle in Passage A.
Use your own words as far as possible.
You should write about 1 side in total, allowing for the size of your
handwriting.
Up to 15 marks will be available for the content of your answer, and up to
5 marks for the quality
of your writing.
[Total: 20]
This paper will be divided into two sections:
Section 1 – Directed Writing (25 marks)
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Candidates will read one or more short texts which will be printed on
the question paper. They will be required to use and develop the
given information in another form, e.g. a letter, a report,a speech, a
dialogue.
This question will test the following Writing Objectives (15 marks):
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Articulate experience and express what is thought, felt and imagined
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Order and present facts, ideas and opinions
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Understand and use a range of appropriate vocabulary
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Use language and register appropriate to audience and context
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Make accurate and effective use of paragraphs, grammatical
structures, sentences,punctuation and spelling
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In addition, 10 marks will be available for Reading .
Section 1: Directed Writing (June Paper)
Many schools experience disruptive and anti-social behaviour, sometimes on a daily basis.
Imagine that you attend the school at which Mrs Rodriguez is the Headteacher. Mrs Rodriguez has
decided to tackle bad behaviour at your school. Recently there have been some very serious incidents and
she has decided to launch a new scheme that has proved successful elsewhere. She has sent a letter to
parents outlining the scheme and has also invited comments from students.Read the letter to parents,
which is printed on the opposite page, and consider the comments of two classmates which follow it.
Write an article for the school magazine in which you highlight the advantages and
disadvantages of the proposed scheme.
You should:
• Base your ideas on the letter to parents and on the students’ comments
• Add your own ideas and comments based on the reading material
• Remember that you are trying to influence your fellow students
Begin as follows:
Fellow Students! Big changes are on the horizon…
You should write between 1 ½ and 2 sides, allowing for the size of your handwriting.
Up to 10 marks are available for the content of your answer and up to 15 marks for the quality of
your writing.
[25]
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At least two argumentative/discursive, two descriptive and two
narrative titles will be given .
Candidates will be required to write on one title only.
Candidates will be advised to write between 350 and 450 words.
This section will test the same Writing Objectives (25 marks):
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Dictionaries may not be used.
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argumentative/discursive
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Descriptive
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narrative
Section 2: Composition (June Paper)
Write about 350 – 450 words on one of the following:
Argumentative/discursive writing
2 (a) ‘The world is an increasingly dangerous place to live in.’ Discuss what you think and feel
about this statement. [25]
OR
(b) ‘Teenagers are always talking, singing and writing about falling in love, but they are far too
young to know what love really is.’ What are your views? [25]
Descriptive writing
3 (a) For many years you have heard exciting and humorous tales about an elderly
aunt/uncle in your family. Someone gives you a diary that once belonged to this
relative, who is now dead.
Write two diary entries, each describing a memorable moment in this person’s life.
[25]
OR
(b) Describe the discovery of your own secret hideaway. It could be an overgrown
garden or a deserted shack. Concentrate on the detail and atmosphere of the place.
[25]
Narrative writing
4 (a) Everyone thinks you are an ordinary teenager, living an ordinary life. No-one
knows, nor must they ever find out, that you have powers which can only ever be used
for the good of humankind. Write about a day in ‘The Secret Life of…’. [25]
OR
(b) ‘The radio crackled as the distant voice spluttered and died. Now they felt
completely alone,but surely there must be others like them out there?’ Write a narrative
using this quotation asthe beginning or end of your story. [25]
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Find 1 instance of each type of text:
argumentative/discursive
descriptive
 narrative