Section B of the Edexcel IGCSE English examination is focused on what is referred to as ‘transactional writing’. In this section of the paper, Edexcel IGCSE English students must complete one writing prompt from a choice of two. They have 45 minutes for this task, with 45 marks on offer. 

Transactional writing is an essential part of the Edexcel IGCSE English paper 1, and the examination as a whole. It is worth half of the total marks available for paper 1, which itself is worth 60% of a student’s entire grade. Success in Section B is essential for a high scoring English exam.

Transactional writing is a type of non-fiction writing that aims to communicate information or inspire action. Transactional writing always has a clearly defined purpose and is written for a specific audience. It can also take many forms. Edexcel IGCSE English students may be given the option to write in the following forms:

• A letter (either formal or informal) 

• An email

• A report 

• A newspaper article 

• A speech

• A leaflet or brochure

What this means is that those preparing for their Edexcel IGCSE English examination must practice writing in a variety of forms to ensure that they are not surprised by any prompts they are presented with. 

Why Is Transactional Writing Important in IGCSE English?

Transactional writing is important for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it represents half of the Edexcel IGCSE English paper 1 examination. It is worth 45 marks, which is half of the total marks available for paper 1. Moreover, paper 1 is worth 60% of a student’s entire grade. Therefore, success in the transactional writing section of the exam paper is essential for students aiming for the highest grades possible.

Transactional writing is also important for students beyond their Edexcel IGCSE English examination, with the skills learned through the development of their transactional writing having real-world application. While it is true that most students are unlikely to write a letter to a friend or family member, letters are often required when applying for university placements and positions of employment. Developing these skills at IGCSE-level will be beneficial for students in the years to come, both academically and professionally.

Audience Awareness 

To succeed in the transactional writing portion of the Edexcel IGCSE English paper 1, candidates must be aware of who it is they are writing for. Each prompt will note the text’s desired audience and students must manipulate their writing to appeal to this group. Students must adapt their tone and language to fit their audience. For example, if a prompt requires candidates to compose a letter to a friend, the tone and language of the letter would reflect the audience and would be suitably informal. Similarly, if a letter is being written for the attention of a local politician, it must be considerably more formal in both language and tone.  

Purpose Clarity  

A highly marked piece of transactional writing has a clear purpose. Students should be aware of what it is they are trying to achieve in their essay and craft their writing to express this. For example, is the text’s goal to inform, persuade, instruct, or entertain? The purpose will not be any great mystery and will be made relatively clear to the candidate via the prompt. Thus, reading the prompt carefully is crucial. Moreover, students must stay focused in regard to their writing. 45 minutes is not much time to plan and execute a piece of writing, so students must make sure that everything they write aligns with the purpose of the prompt. 

Structure and Organisation  

Structure and organisation is important to all pieces of writing. Each paragraph should represent a distinct idea that is fully developed, with one paragraph progressing smoothly into the next. To ensure a competent structure it is recommended that students spend roughly five minutes planning out their writing before they start. In doing so, candidates will be able to neatly plot out their work and make sure that a logical flow of ideas is achieved. 

It is also vital that those taking the Edexcel IGCSE English examination are aware of the unique characteristics of the textual forms that occur in Section B. If a student is composing a letter, for example, it must display the characteristics of a letter, including address, dates, and the appropriate salutations. If a student fails to correctly represent the text type on the page, marks will be lost.      

Language Techniques  

Language techniques are also an essential component of a successful piece of transactional writing. This also relates back to the purpose of a text. If a prompt is requiring students to write persuasively, techniques such as rhetorical questions, pathos, and repetition can be used to achieve the purpose of. Moreover, incorporating literary and structural devices such as metaphor, simile, and juxtaposition help to engage the reader and make for more dynamic reading. Ultimately, it is important to be aware of the purpose of the text and craft writing that speaks to this above all else. 

Planning Your Response  

Success in Section B of the Edexcel IGCSE English exam comes down to planning. Most transactional writing essays can be broken down into five paragraphs—some form of introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Before beginning any writing, students should brainstorm ideas for their writing in keeping with this structure, paying particular attention to how the ideas transition from one paragraph to the next. Moreover, it can be helpful to make a list of rhetorical devices that would be best fitted to a student’s chosen prompt. 

While planning is indeed an essential aspect of a successful essay, it is important not to over do it. Students should plan for roughly five minutes, but should try to avoid going beyond this. Eight minutes could represent the absolute maximum amount of time students can denote to planning.

Time Management  

Time management is a valuable skill for all examinations. Candidates should be keenly aware that they only have 45 minutes to complete their transactional writing task. Within this time, students must plan, execute, and proofread their work. To develop proper time management skills, it is important to revise under timed conditions. While this may be challenging initially, it is the only way to come to terms with the limitations of the task in regard to time. One method of developing time management skills is breaking the writing process down into three distinct parts. Students first set a five minute planning timer, then a 38 minute writing timer, and finally a two minute proofreading timer. Before long, the separate timers can be amalgamated into one. 

Practising Past Papers  

Utilising past papers is a key tip for success not only in the transactional writing portion of the exam, but the Edexcel IGCSE paper 1 as a whole. Engaging with past papers allows for students to familiarise themselves with the format of the exam. Moreover, it offers insight into the types of questions and prompts commonly set. While students should never bank on a particular type of prompt coming up, it is beneficial to see the patterns that form across exam years. 

Feedback and Improvement  

To develop as a writer, Edexcel IGCSE English candidates should seek feedback. This may mean approaching either a teacher or a friend and asking for critiques on a piece of writing. It is important to keep in mind that any criticism is not personal, and should be taken as a means to improve one’s work. Always try to perceive your writing from someone else’s perspective. In doing so, it will be easier to recognise errors and act upon them. 

Students should also make use of past paper mark schemes. It is not always possible to receive feedback from another person, and mark schemes can help provide some direction in lieu of any in-person criticism. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid  

There are a number of common mistakes students make in Section B of the Edexcel IGCSE English paper. The most oft-occurring of these is ignoring their audience. Each transactional writing prompt is explicit in terms of its audience. Candidates are made aware of who it is they are writing for and must stick to this. Losing sight of the audience will impact the amount of marks gained for a piece. Students should also take care not to go off topic when writing. Stick closely to the prompt and make sure every paragraph advances the purpose of the text. Finally, it is crucial that candidates maintain proper spelling and grammar. To lose marks as a result of poor spelling and grammar is frustrating, particularly as this error can be easily corrected through proofreading. 

Below is a truncated response to the prompt, “Write a letter to your MP in support of or opposition to a bill scrapping BTECHs in schools.”

Dear Sir, 

There are a lot of people who think that BTECHs should be scrapped because they aren’t of academic value, but I don’t think this is the right approach. I think they should be kept to offer opportunities for our children. With the world being so unstable because of politics and climate change, limiting our children’s options is a bad idea. Some of my friends did BTECHs and are now successful tradespeople and we need to respect them, not take away the ladder for our children to their positions. 

Why is This Response Weak? 

There are a number of reasons why this is a particularly weak response. First of all, it lacks the essential elements of the form, for example a subject line, date, and the name of an MP (this can be fabricated). Additionally, the response is not clear or organised in its direction. Points in support or opposition must be delineated by paragraphs. It should also be noted how informal the tone and language is in this piece, with the writer using contractions throughout, i.e. ‘aren’t’ and ‘don’t’, which are not suitable in formal writing.

Now, consider the alternative IGCSE transactional writing response:

Rt. Hon. MP Guy Masterson

82 Broadway Way, Edmondshire

HX41 7GH

Michael Smith

24 Drive Road, Camford

BA21 4XY

Re: bill to remove BTECHs from schools. 

20 November 2024

Dear Mr Masterson,

I am writing to address the bill being debated in the Commons on Tuesday, suggesting that the BTECH qualifications should be dismissed from schools. It is my firm belief that this should be reconsidered. I hope that you too will realise that this is the case and vote against the bill.

It is often said that employers want a well-educated workforce. This is absolutely the case, but book-learned education and academia is not the only type of education. Moreover, it is not always wholly relevant to the skills needed in the workplace. Is it not the case that schools should be preparing students for adult life and therefore adult employment? BTECH qualifications may be what is needed to position certain individuals for future gainful employment and allow them to contribute most effectively to the workforce.  

Transactional writing can be a challenging task for IGCSE students. There is a considerable amount of work that must be done prior to the exam to ensure the best possible outcome for Edexcel candidates. At BartyED, our team of expertly trained IGCSE tutors tailor each lesson to the specific needs of the student. Through highly personalised tuition, BartyED tutors offer strategic approaches and insider tips to develop students’ writing skills. Moreover, we develop academic confidence in young learners through positive reinforcement and mentorship. If you think that you or your child could benefit from the experience and guidance of a BartyED IGCSE tutor, contact us today by phone (+852 2882 1017) or email (enquiries@bartyed.com). 

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