Tackling IGCSE English Literature Paper 1

The Edexcel IGCSE English Literature Paper 1 exam is comprehensive, testing the candidate on unseen poetry analysis, comparative analysis, and modern prose. This guide will take you through each part of Paper 1 to help you figure out what to expect, how to score top marks, and where to get individualised support. Our expert IGCSE English Literature tutors have also discussed each of these sections at length in separate blog posts, which will be linked here too.

The Paper 1 is a 120-minute Poetry and Modern Prose exam that is worth 60% of the total mark. It focuses on unseen poetry, comparative poetry from the IGCSE anthology, and modern prose.

Section A: Unseen poetry analysis (20 marks)

The student will be presented with an unseen poem, along with a question that typically goes along the lines of: Explore how the author presents thoughts/feelings about…

E.g. In a May 2016 past paper, candidates were given the poem “Snake Woman” by Margaret Atwood and asked: “Explore how Margaret Atwood presents a childhood fascination with snakes.”

Here, students should do the following:

First establish a purpose for the poem as the organising principle for the essay

E.g. In ‘Purple Shoes,’ Irene Rawnsley explores the strong feelings of anger, frustration, and defiance that the speaker experiences in her relationship with her mother.

From there, plan a 5-paragraph essay while paying attention to language choices, form, and structure to back up your thesis statement

Check out this ‘IGCSE English Literature: unseen poetry’ blog post written by one of our expert IGCSE English tutors for more detailed tips and sample responses.

Section B: Comparative analysis of two IGCSE anthology poems (30 marks)

Questions follow this format: compare the way writers convey feelings about [x]

E.g. Compare how the writers of ‘Pity me not because the light of day’ and one other poem of your choice from the ‘Relationships’ collection present changes in relationships.

The prompt invites students to “compare” but they must also “contrast” if they wish to score in the top mark band.
Each body paragraph should be clearly focused on one literary/structural technique that is linked to the purpose of the poems.

Check out our ‘IGCSE English Literature: comparative poetry’ blog post for sample responses.

Section C: Modern Prose (40 marks)

Students will be given a choice of two questions on the set texts, and they must pick one

Questions will look something like these statements: (i) Explore how the writer presents the character of [x] or (ii) Explore how the writer explores the theme of [y]
Including context points in topic sentences, as well as throughout the body paragraph, can be a valuable way of hitting the A04 marks

E.g. When analysing An Inspector Calls, a candidate might choose to discuss how it took place in 1912, shortly before the sinking of the Titanic and WWI. This renders Mr Birling’s initial arguments misguided and gives the audience a sense of foreboding.

Our ‘IGCSE English Literature: prose’ blog post discusses this section at length, and evaluates different levels of analysis in sample responses.

Need help with the exam?

With such varied elements to revise for, achieving top marks in the Paper 1 exam is a challenge for most IGCSE students. BartyED IGCSE English Literature tutors have seen the many obstacles students typically face, and have supported countless students to academic success. With the targeted support from an experienced tutor, acing the Paper 1 or any part of the IGCSE English Literature course is only a matter of time. Find out more about our individualised IGCSE English Literature tutoring programmes here, and work with a BartyED IGCSE English tutor today.