IGCSE Directed Writing Explained: A Comprehensive Guide

Section A of paper 2 of the Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE First Language English exam focuses on directed writing. This task requires candidates to answer one compulsory question on one or two texts with CIE suggesting that responses be between 250 and 350 words. Directed writing is an important component of the CIE IGCSE English paper 2 exam as it is one of only two tasks listed on the exam paper and amounts to half of the entire paper’s score. Moreover, paper 2 represents 50% of a student’s total subject score. So, for exam success, it is vital that CIE IGCSE English candidates produce high scoring work in response to the directed writing portion of paper 2. 

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It is important to note that significant changes have been made between the 2024-2026 syllabus and the syllabus for 2027 and beyond, namely reflected in Section A of the exam. Therefore, it is important to be aware of what syllabus you are studying. This blog post will cover both the current 2024-2026 syllabus and the new 2027 version, so, regardless of what syllabus you are studying, you’ll find something to help you.

What is Directed Writing in CIE IGCSE?

The directed writing portion of CIE IGCSE English exam for the 2024-2026 syllabus requires candidates to produce a written response to one or two stimulus texts, following specific instructions on purpose, audience, and format.

There are three purposes that CIE candidates will encounter:

  1. Discursive

  2. Persuasive

  3. Argumentative

Regarding the format, students may be required to compose a response in one of the following three forms:

  1. A speech

  2. A letter

  3. An article

 The aim of the directed writing portion of the CIE IGCSE English examination is not simply to assess a student’s writing ability. The task also investigates how well a student can incorporate evidence into their writing from the one or two stimulus texts they have read, as well as whether or not they can write to a specific purpose and with a select audience in mind. 

For those taking the new syllabus, which will be first assessed in 2027, the directed writing task  calls on students to respond to one or two stimulus texts. However, the task has now been split into two parts. These are Question 1(a) and Question 1(b). 

Question 1(a) is described as a structured question that ‘allows candidates to analyse, evaluate and demonstrate their understanding of the text(s)’. This question is worth 5 marks and tests the testing R3 (analyse, evaluate and develop facts, ideas and opinions) and R4 (demonstrate understanding of how writers achieve effects and influence readers) assessment objectives. 

Question 1(b) is the writing task. Students must compose a piece of writing of between 2050 and 350 words that uses, develops, and evaluates the information in the stimulus text(s). The three purposes of a student’s writing remains the same as in the 2024-2026 syllabus, i.e. discursive, argumentative, or persuasive. However, the new syllabus has added another format to the list. Along with speech, letter, and article, candidates may also have to write a report. 

Key Elements of Successful Directed Writing

Understanding Audience and Purpose 

To ensure a highly marked section A of the CIE IGCSE English paper 2, students must be aware of both audience and purpose. In each directed writing prompt a candidate encounters, from test papers and mock exams to the real thing, there will always be clear instruction as to who the text should be written for. In some cases it may be a friend, in others an auditorium of schoolmates and teachers, or possibly a local politician. Similarly, the purpose of a text will be outlined in the prompt. Candidates may be asked to write discursively, persuasively, or argumentatively and, so, should understand the implications of these purposes. Ultimately, through the alteration of both tone and style, all writing must be appropriately directed towards the audience and purpose as listed in the prompt.  

It is important to note that for the 2027 syllabus, a new writing assessment objective has been added that relates to the concepts of audience and purpose. The writing assessment objective W4 examines how candidates ‘use language appropriate to purpose and to engage the audience’. This means that examiners are now looking explicitly for language usage that speaks to the unique audience outlined in the task. Simply put, active engagement of the reader is now an explicitly named criterion. 

Structure and Organisation 

One of the most important components of the directed writing task for CIE IGCSE English is the structure and organisation of a candidate’s response. When a prompt requires students to write in the form of a letter, this must be the format expressed on the page. Similarly with a speech or magazine article. Failure to follow the prompt’s instructions means valuable marks will be lost. So, it is crucial that students are aware of the layout of a formal and informal letter, as well the importance of using a title and subheadings when writing an article. 

Aside from these specifications, it can be useful for students to follow a five paragraph structure made up of an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. This allows candidates to introduce their thesis, explore it in some detail (including a counterargument, if necessary), and conclude with a brief restatement of the text’s purpose. 

Adopt the Appropriate Language and Style

It is vital that CIE IGCSE candidates match their language and writing style to the directed writing prompt. If this is not achieved, a limited number of marks can be awarded. So, when approaching a question be aware of what it is requiring and the implications of both purpose and audience. 

Regardless of tone—be it formal or informal—students should attempt to write an engaging text that illustrates their mastery of the language. This can represent itself through the use of literary devices and rhetorical/persuasive techniques. The type of response required from a student will help to direct the writing towards certain techniques so, once again, CIE IGCSE English learners should read all prompts carefully. 

Referencing the Source Text

What marks directed writing as different from other written tasks is the need to reference one or two source texts. In Paper 2 of the CIE IGCSE English exam students will be presented with one or two stimulus texts and a corresponding prompt. Students must incorporate information from these sources into their response. This means taking care when reading to recognise the key points from the source material. In addition, students must be adept at incorporating quotations into their writing. However, it is not a good idea to overly rely on direct quotations. Thus, it is essential that students learn how to paraphrase correctly. Put simply, great care should be taken to correctly reference the source text(s), with a failure to do so costing valuable marks. 

For candidates sitting the 2027 syllabus, it is essential that they complete Question 1(a) before moving on to the longer writing task, this being Question 1(b). The reason for this is that Question 1(a) is designed to help students process and evaluate the stimulus material(s) prior to tackling the writing task. In this sense, Question 1(a) is not simply a warm-up task, but rather a means to gain marks via the analytical examination of the stimulus text(s) and a way to prepare for the longer writing exercise in Question 1(b). 

How to Approach an IGCSE Directed Writing Task

Step 1: Read the Prompt Carefully 

While it may sound obvious, it is essential to carefully read the directed writing prompt before beginning any work. The prompt lays out all the relevant information and requirements students must be aware of before writing, i.e. the format, purpose, and audience for their text. In fact, it is beneficial to read the prompt before even looking at the stimulus texts. This way, CIE IGCSE English candidates know what it is to look out for. 

Step 2: Pay Close Attention to Question 1(a) (2027 Syllabus)

For those sitting the 2027 syllabus, Question 1(a) is a crucial step to success in the later writing task. Students should pay close attention to this question and aim to shore up the 5 marks on 

offer by analysing and evaluating the ideas and opinions within the stimulus material(s), as well as the writer's technique. Once more, this question is not a throw-away, warm up task. Rather, it should be treated as genuine analytical work, as the answer supplied will form the basis of the work completed in Question 1(b). 

Step 3: Plan Your Response 

Before beginning any writing, it is a good idea to plan out a response. This can begin by highlighting all the relevant details mentioned in the prompt. Next, students can use the stimulus texts to help direct each body paragraph, building paragraphs around paraphrased quotations from the original texts. Using the five paragraph essay structure—introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion—can be a successful way to structure an essay. Similarly, developing each body paragraph around the PEEL model—point, evidence, explain, link to question—is also advisable. 

For students taking the 2027 course, Question 1(a) serves as a plan for the writing task outlined in Question 1(b). There is an essential continuity between these two parts of the exam. Lastly, on top of the possibility of an article, letter, and speech, the report format has been added to the new syllabus, meaning students should prepare for this, too. 

Step 4: Write Clearly and Concisely 

The CIE IGCSE directed writing task emphasises brevity. The recommended length for a response is between 250 and 350 words. So, students should take care to maintain a clear focus in their writing. For some, this can be quite challenging. If that is the case, leaving time at the end to proofread is vital as this will allow CIE IGCSE English candidates to catch any digressions before handing over their paper. In addition, it is important to write clearly. It can be easy to produce a hurried scrawl during a written exam, it makes life harder for the examiner. While examiners are not strictly marking for legibility it can indeed play a role in how a text is perceived and, consequently, how it is marked.  

It is important to note that, for candidates taking the 2027 syllabus, this word count only applies to Question 1(b). There is no word count for Question 1(a), nor does it share a word count with the writing task. 

Step 5: Review and Edit 

Proofreading is as important as planning. All students should leave five minutes or so at the end of an essay to proofread their text. In doing so they can rectify any mistakes in spelling, grammar, and/or punctuation. Moreover, it is possible to see if the text functions well as a whole. Candidates can, through the act of proofreading, ensure their response meets the task’s purpose and format before moving on to the next section of the exam paper.

Common Mistakes in IGCSE Directed Writing and How to Avoid Them

Ignoring the Task Requirements 

The most common mistake made during the CIE IGCSE directed writing task is misreading or ignoring the requirements. This is an unfortunate error that can be easily avoided by highlighting the most essential parts of the prompt, such as the format that response should take, as well as its purpose and audience. 

Poor Time Management 

As with all examinations, time management is key to success. Poor time management may result in incomplete responses, or responses containing spelling and grammatical errors, errors in punctuation, or problems with structure. Thus, all candidates should practice writing essays under timed conditions to develop their abilities. These sessions should also include time for planning and proofreading. 

Overcomplicating Use of Language 

It is often thought that the more complicated a person’s language is, the more clever they are. However, this is not the case. Emphasis should be placed on expressing ideas clearly and concisely, rather than overcomplicating expression in an attempt to be perceived as a good writer. Keeping writing simple means it can be understood and properly assessed. The focus for the CIE IGCSE directed writing task should always be on clarity and conciseness over complex vocabulary and syntax. 

Treating Question 1(a) as a Formality (2027 Syllabus)

As previously mentioned, the 2027 syllabus now has split the task into Question 1(a) and Question 1(b). Moreover, Question 1(a) is critical to the successful completion of the coming writing task. Therefore, students who treat it as a minor inconvenience or formality, rushing to move on to the longer writing task, are leaving 5 marks on the table and will likely undercut their success in Question 1(b).

Example of a Weak IGCSE English Directed Writing Response

NOTE: These examples are based on the 2024-2026 syllabus. Consequently, they lack the inclusion of a Question 1(a) response that is essential to the 2027 syllabus. However, the work is still indicative of a weak and strong writing and is worthy of attention for candidates sitting all versions of the IGCSE English Paper 2.

Below are the opening paragraphs of a student response to a directed writing task. The prompt required candidates to compose a letter in response to an article discussing screen time among young people.

Dear Digital Trends,

Your magazine made an article recently called “Are screens scrambling our kids' brains?” and I thought it was interesting. But, there were some problems with it, too. Let me explain. 

The article talks about how kids should only use tech for two hours a day. The reason is because if they used technology too much they could end up becoming overweight somehow. But the problem is that the source for this information is old and that means it is probably out of date and not that useful anymore for us. The study’s not even really about technology at all so why quote it? It should really be up to the parents to decide anyway. 


The issues with this response are quite obvious. The response lacks the correct format of a formal letter. There are no addresses listed, nor is there a subject line. Additionally, the language is far too informal. Beginning a sentence with ‘but’ can be appropriate for informal writing, however, it is not when composing a letter to a magazine. Moreover, the rhetorical question is poorly executed and the use of contractions is not recommended.

Example of a Strong IGCSE English Directed Writing Response

The following is a stronger version of the student’s response.

17 Floor, Methodist House, 

36 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai

Hong Kong

Digital Trends,

14 Industry Park, Kowloon Tong

Hong Kong

Subject: A response to “Are screens scrambling our kids' brains?”

Dear Digital Trends, 

Your recently published article, entitled “Are screens scrambling our kids' brains?” posed a number of interesting arguments. However, there are certain issues that should be raised with regard to this article. 

The article writes how the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) recommends maximum two hours of entertainment screen time daily. This is a reasonable statement as there is a relationship between excessive screen time and obesity. However, it should be noted that the AAP’s study is 25 years old and focused on nutrition in children rather than technology’s impact. Thus, to reference it with regard to the negative influence technology can have on younger people is somewhat disingenuous. Ultimately, the recommendation that screen time be limited to two hours is sound with regard to younger children, yet may need to be revised by parents as their child grows. This is because older children increasingly use devices for socialising and may be more mature in handling their content consumption. 

Here, readers can see a response worthy of higher markers. The format of a letter is properly adhered to in this extract. Moreover, the tone and language is far more appropriate. The writer’s authorial voice is commanding and speaks to a confidence that aids in achieving higher marks. 

How BartyED’s IGCSE English Tutors Can Help with Directed Writing

The CIE IGCSE English directed writing task is often a challenge for students. As the IGCSE examinations are the first major set of exams for young learners the pressure is often difficult to overcome, let alone the unique requirements of the directed writing portion of the CIE IGCSE English exam. 

At BartyED, our team of expert IGCSE English tutors work closely with students to help guide them through their IGCSE examinations. We provide personalised tuition that targets individual strengths and weaknesses in a given subject area. Not only that but our experienced tutors offer tips to improve in time management as well as other essential exam techniques necessary to achieve high marks. 

If you think that you or your child could benefit from the guidance of a BartyED tutor, you can follow this link to our contact page, or get in touch with us via phone, email, or WhatsApp, or complete the form below. 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The topics themselves can be considerably varied. Students may encounter source material discussing all manner of topics. What is guaranteed, however, is that a student’s response will be either in the form of a letter, speech, article, or, as of 2027, a report, and must be either discursive, persuasive, or argumentative.

  • Yes. However, it is important not to go overboard. Use direct quotations sparingly. It is preferred to paraphrase.

  • The exam paper suggests between 250 and 350 words. This also applies to the 2027 syllabus. It should be noted that there is no word count offered for Question 1(a) in the new course.

  • Question 1(a) is found on the updated 2027 syllabus. It is a 5 mark question that tasks students with analysing, evaluating, and demonstrating understanding of the stimulus material(s). Success in this question means a strong foundation for Question 1(b), the longer writing task.

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Mark Malone