Candidates can choose to sit two exam papers or the two papers plus a coursework option.

Take	And
Paper 1: Set Texts – Open Books Eligible for all grades. Time: 2 hours 15 mins 75% of total marks	Paper 2: Coursework Portfolio Eligible for all grades. 25% of total marks
Or	And
Paper 1: Set Texts – Open Books Eligible for all grades. Time: 2 hours 15 mins 75% of total marks	Paper 3: Unseen Eligible for all grades. Time: 1 hours 15 mins 25% of total marks
Or	And
Paper 4: Set Texts – Closed Books (A) Eligible for all grades. Time: 2 hours 15 mins 75% of total marks	Paper 5: Set Texts – Closed Books (B) Eligible for all grades. Time: 45 minutes 25% of total marks

Each of the assessment objectives is present in each of the papers, with the following weighting:

Assessment Objective	Paper 1	Paper 2	Paper 3	Paper 4	Paper 5
AO1	25%	25%	25%	25%	25%
AO2	25%	25%	25%	25%	25%
AO3	25%	25%	25%	25%	25%
AO4	25%	25%	25%	25%	25%

Paper 1: Set Texts – Open Books

Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

This paper has three sections: Drama, Prose and Poetry. Candidates answer one question from each section. All questions carry equal marks. Candidates may take their set texts into the exam, but these texts must not contain personal annotations, highlighting or underlining. On each set text, candidates have a choice of three questions as follows:

• Poetry – one passage-based question and two essay questions.
• Drama – one passage-based question, one essay question, one ‘empathic’ question (see below for more details).
• Prose – as for Drama.

Candidates must answer at least one passage-based question and at least one essay-based question. ‘Empathic’ questions address the same assessment objectives as the essay and passage-based questions. These questions test knowledge, understanding and response, but give candidates the opportunity to engage more imaginatively with the text by assuming a suitable ‘voice’ (i.e. a manner of speaking for a specific character).

Passage-based questions ask candidates to re-read a specific passage or poem from the set text before answering. The chapter, scene or page reference will be given on the exam paper (references to several available editions will be provided if necessary).

All questions encourage an informed personal response and test all assessment objectives. This means that candidates will have to demonstrate:

• their personal response, sometimes directly (answering questions such as ‘What do you think?’, ‘What are your feelings about…?’) and sometimes by implication (such as ‘Explore the ways in which…’);
• their knowledge of the text through the use of close reference to detail and use of quotations from the text;
• their understanding of characters, relationships, situations and themes;
• their understanding of the writer’s intentions and methods, and response to the writer’s use of language.

Paper 2: Coursework portfolio

Candidates submit a portfolio of two assignments.

• Each assignment should be between 600–1000 words and should be based on the study of one complete text, equivalent in scope and demand to a set text on Paper 1. This is a guideline. Candidates must not confuse length with quality. Although no assignment is penalised per se because of its length, assignments significantly under or over this word count guidance may be self-penalising.
• The two assignments must be on different texts.
• One of the assignments (but not two) may be on a text prepared for Paper 1. (There is no requirement to include work on a Paper 1 text.)
• Assignments can be handwritten, typed or word processed. Candidates should remember to carefully proofread their work.

Assignments usually follow a programme of study undertaken by a teaching group. The best assignments usually follow a shared learning experience, but are selected by the candidate. It is recommended that the teacher and the candidate discuss which are the best assignments to submit. Candidates do not have to produce assignments under timed examination-type conditions.

Assignments may be completed at any stage during the course. Candidates should undertake more than two assignments to provide a choice of assignments for their portfolio.

Assignment texts can be chosen by teachers or by candidates and teachers together. They must be originally written in English, and of a quality appropriate for study at IGCSE. Candidates within a Centre do not have to submit assignments on the same texts.

Assignments should show that the candidate has studied the whole text. If poetry or short stories are used for an assignment, candidates should cover a minimum of two poems or stories. Candidates are not required to compare poems or stories within the assignment, as it is assumed that the assignment is based on the study of a wider selection of poems or stories broadly equivalent to a poetry or short stories set text.

Paper 3: Unseen

Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Paper 3 comprises two questions, each asking candidates for a critical commentary on (and appreciation of) previously unseen writing printed on the question paper. Candidates answer one question only.

One question is based on a passage of literary prose (such as an extract from a novel or a short story); the other question is based on a poem, or extract of a poem.

Candidates are advised to spend around 20 minutes reading their selected question and planning their answer before starting to write. There are no set texts for this paper.

Paper 4: Set texts – Closed books A

Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

The paper has three sections: Drama, Poetry, and Prose. Candidates answer one question from each section. All questions carry equal marks. This is a ‘Closed books’ paper: candidates may not take their set texts into the exam room. On each text, candidates have a choice of three questions:

• Poetry – one passage-based question, and two essay questions;
• Drama – one passage-based question, one essay question, one ‘empathic’ question (see below for more detail);
• Prose – as for Drama.

Candidates must answer at least one passage-based question and at least one essay question.

‘Empathic’ questions address the same assessment objectives as the essay and passage-based questions. These questions test knowledge, understanding and response, but give candidates the opportunity to engage more imaginatively with the text by assuming a suitable ‘voice’ (i.e. a manner of speaking for a specific character).

Passage-based questions ask candidates to re-read a specific passage or poem from the set text, which is printed on the exam paper.

All questions encourage an informed personal response and test all assessment objectives. This means that candidates will have to demonstrate:

• their personal response, sometimes directly (answering questions such as ‘What do you think?’, ‘What are your feelings about…?’) and sometimes by implication (such as ‘Explore the ways in which…’);
• their knowledge of the text through the use of close reference to detail and use of quotations from the text;
• their understanding of characters, relationships, situations and themes;
• their understanding of the writer’s intentions and methods, and their response to the writer’s use of language.

Paper 5: Set texts – Closed books B

Time: 45 minutes

In this paper, candidates answer one question on one set text. All questions carry equal marks. This a ‘Closed books’ paper: candidates may not take their set texts into the exam room. On each set text, candidates have a choice of three questions as follows:

• Poetry – one passage-based question and two essay questions.
• Drama – one passage-based question, one essay question, one ‘empathic’ question (see below for more details).
• Prose – as for Drama.

‘Empathic’ questions address the same assessment objectives as the essay and passage-based questions. These questions test knowledge, understanding and response, but give candidates the opportunity to engage more imaginatively with the text by assuming a suitable ‘voice’ (i.e. a manner of speaking for a specific character).

Passage-based questions ask candidates to re-read a specific passage or poem from the set text before answering. The chapter, scene or page reference will be given on the exam paper (references to several available editions will be provided if necessary).

All questions encourage an informed personal response and test all assessment objectives. This means that candidates will have to demonstrate:

• their personal response, sometimes directly (answering questions such as ‘What do you think?’, ‘What are your feelings about…?’) and sometimes by implication (such as ‘Explore the ways in which…’);
• their knowledge of the text through the use of close reference to detail and use of quotations from the text;
• their understanding of characters, relationships, situations and themes;
• their understanding of the writer’s intentions and methods, and their response to the writer’s use of language.