Exam Board and Specification Code: Edexcel (4XES2)
The Course
The new and updated course covers four key skill areas: Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking with
grammatical structures and vocabulary embedded throughout.
Reading: Students will learn to:
• read and understand a range of information and publicity texts in formal or informal context
• identify key information, draw comparisons and distinguish facts and ideas
• read and understand a range of short opinion pieces, identifying viewpoints, both stated or implied
• read and understand a range of factual texts on a variety of familiar topics, identifying inferred meaning, opinions, ideas and facts
Listening: Students will learn to:
• listen to and understand spoken English language extracts, informational broadcasts and conversations with one or more speakers, and identify key details, opinions, and information
• listen to and understand extracts from public presentations on general interest topics, identifying facts and viewpoints
Writing: Students will learn to:
• write fluently and coherently on a range of topics, for a variety of purposes, using context-specific vocabulary
• summarise and express their opinions on a topic and develop their responses
• write in a variety of registers, formal and informal
Speaking: Students will learn to:
• speak, express opinions and develop ideas with fluency and coherence on a range of topics, using
context-specific
vocabulary
• respond spontaneously to both predictable and unpredictable questions on a range of topics
• participate in extended discussions on a range of topics, from the familiar and everyday to more abstract themes, without hesitation.
What skills do I need?
The course requires students to be highly motivated in improving their English both inside and outside the classroom, as well as possessing a good working knowledge of English on which to build and improve. The skills acquired on this course, outlined above, will improve students’ chances of success when studying other material in English, as well as giving them an advantage when navigating real-world situations where English is spoken.
How is the Course Assessed?
Each of the four key language skills (reading, listening, writing and speaking) are assessed separately and are equally weighted (25%) as follows:
Reading: Written examination: 1 hour, to include information, explanation, opinion, and narrative in a variety of professional writing styles.
Listening: Written examination: 45 minutes, to include information requests, explanations, opinions,
monologues, dialogues and narration in a variety of styles.
Writing: Written examination: 1 hour 15 minutes, to include informative and explanatory texts, discussions, opinions, advantages and disadvantages, and a summary task in a variety of informal, formal and professional writing styles.
Speaking: Externally assessed Oral examination: 22–23 minutes, focusing on spontaneity, fluency and
pronunciation relating to a variety of topics in a range of speaking styles.
Reading
Pearson Edexcel IGCSE (9-1) English as a Second Language Student Book, 2nd Edition: Peter Clements,
Katherine Bilsborough et al. Pearson Education: ISBN-13: 978 1292726700
