IGCSE English Language
An enjoyable, effective and comprehensive correspondence course that will help you prepare you for your English Language IGCSE exam while enjoying the process. Choose from three exam specifications.
Course fees from £315
Who is this course for and what’s it about?
The IGCSE English Language course doesn't presuppose you have any prior knowledge about English, apart from the having reading and writing skills of an average 12 – 13 year old. However it will show you everything you need to know in order pass the exam in about 8 - 18 months (based on the average time taken by most students). Unlike some correspondence courses which can be quite dry in tone, this course reflects the joy in learning, which I feel should be part and parcel of any English study and should (I hope!) enhance a lifelong love of reading and even writing.
The course consists of 10 chapters, (11 for the CIE course) and they cover all the reading and writing tasks you will need for the exam, such as comprehension, composition and creative writing.
I give plenty of practical guidance, together with short exercises to test your learning. I'll also tell you all about exam technique. There is a mock exam included in the course and the option of doing extra past paper practice. As with all my courses there is unlimited (within reason!) phone and email support.
“My IGCSE English Language course is guaranteed. This means that if a child doesn’t achieve a grade C (or 4) in the exam, and has been consistently achieving that grade for their assignments, I will help them until they do.”
How is the course delivered?
As soon as you apply you will receive a welcome email and a link to enable you to download the full course in PDF format. However there is also the option to purchase the course as a printed book if you prefer.
In addition to the course materials you will have access to a complete audio version of the course in MP3 format. There is also a comprehensive range of additional materials to support your study, including Punctuation Pages and a fully annotated version of the anthology (for the Edexcel Spec A course).
By the time you take the exam you will have had good, solid practice and feedback in each of the exam tasks - hopefully you will have enjoyed the process, too!
Choosing Your Specification
When parents ask me for guidance about IGCSE English Language specifications, they are often overwhelmed by the choice. I totally understand - all the different exam boards and specifications can make the choice seem overwhelming - but it is much more straightforward than it first appears and I’ll do my best to guide you (please pick up the phone or email me if you need guidance - I’m here to help!).
The important thing to bear in mind is that the exams are 80% identical to each other so it’s no big deal if you want to swap. The second thing to remember is that if you want to swap specs for any reason you can do so very easily - I can transfer you from one to another (depending on where you are up to in the course, there might be a small additional fee). But here is the low-down on the specification.
EDEXCEL
SPEC A
Number Of Papers
Two (2h 15m & 1h 30m)
Exam Dates
May/June and January
Advantages
A short anthology needs to be studied before this exam. However two pieces from this anthology are featured in the exam and are reprinted in full in the paper. This takes a big unknown out of the exam.
Disadvantages
You do need to be familiar with the anthology so this is not necessarily a good choice of spec if you want to take the exam in a hurry.
EDEXCEL
SPEC B
Number Of Papers
One (3h)
Exam Dates
May/June and January
Advantages
The first third of the paper has some relatively straightforward questions.
Disadvantages
At three hours, it is a long paper. Also because of the ease of some of the questions on Section A, the grade boundaries are less lenient (so you need to achieve more to get a Grade 4 than you would in Spec A).
CAMBRIDGE (CIE)
Number Of Papers
Two (2h & 2h)
Exam Dates
May/June and November
Advantages
Very straightforward with clear guidelines for the exam tasks. CIE is more focused on factual writing. There is no poetry or fiction. This can suit some students.
Disadvantages
The disadvantages are the flip side of the advantages. Some students like fiction and a bit of poetry, and prefer exam questions that are less prescribed. It’s best to look at past papers to see if this would suit you.
My 15 year old daughter started Catherine Mooney's English Literature & English Language courses last September & got A grades in both this June. We found the courses very straightforward & easy to follow & it was reassuring, having just started with formal home education, to have tutor support & marked assignments so that we knew we were on the right track.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How long does the course take?
It varies. Most students take 8 months from starting the course to sitting the exam, but you can do it more quickly and take longer if you wish (there is no time limit on any of my courses).
What pace should I go at?
It’s always good to aim to complete the course a month before the exam to give time for past paper practice. So divide the remaining weeks by the number of chapters in the course and that should give you your pace.
What if I get stuck?
Pick up the phone or email me - I am here to help! If you have a block about a particular assignment it is usually better to move on with the course and come back to it later.
Can I type my assignments?
Only if you have dispensation to do so in the exam (or intend to get dispensation), otherwise, it’s got to be handwriting I'm afraid. We can all type more quickly than we can write so typing assignments gives an unrealistic expectation of what you can produce in the exam (and what it will look like!).
What about special educational requirements?
The best thing to do is pick up the phone and talk to me and tell me what you need. Over the years I have helped students with a range of special requirements resulting from dyslexia, Aspergers and other physical or mental conditions that get in the way of their ability to do justice to themselves in English. I can’t promise that I’ll be able to help, but if I can help, I will.
What's included in the course?
All course materials available via a private section on my website which you can access anytime
Prompt and encouraging feedback on all assignments
Unlimited (within reason!) email and telephone support
An audio version of the course book in MP3 format
An optional printed version of the course book (at extra cost)
I'm happy to talk over the phone, you can call me on 07722 642709 or email at info@catherinemooneytutoring.co.uk