Course Title: Getting Ready to Teach

Pearson Edexcel International GCSE

(9-1) English Literature Specification
4ET1 from September 2016
Aims and Objectives

• To support you in getting ready to teach the Pearson

International GCSE in English Literature 4ET1
• You will:
• consider the structure and assessment of the new qualification
and the support available to guide you through these changes
• explore Paper 1, Paper 2 and the coursework route in detail
and take part in planning activities
• explore possible teaching and delivery strategies for the new
qualification
The IGCSE reforms

• New 9-1 grading scale, with 9 the top level

• First examination June 2018
• Coursework option retained
• Favourite anthology texts retained
• Fully linear structure
 Grading

• Broadly the same proportion of students will achieve a grade 4 and

above as currently achieve a grade C and above.
• Broadly the same proportion of students will achieve a grade 7 and
above as currently achieve an A and above.
• The bottom of grade 1 will be aligned with the bottom of grade G.
Key elements

• Simple assessment structure

• Comparison

• Texts refreshed

• Optional Coursework unit retained

Why choose Edexcel International
GCSE in English Literature?

• Text types and text choices

o Engaging and diverse range of texts, poetry and prose
• Coursework and Examination options
• Clear and straightforward question papers and mark schemes
• Broad and deep development of learners’ skills
o Read and respond to material from a variety of sources
o Make comparisons between texts and analyse the ways in
which writers achieve their effects
• Progression to A Level
 Introduction to the Assessment

Paper 2 Paper 3
Paper 1 Modern Drama and (Coursework option)
Poetry and Modern Prose Literary Heritage texts Modern Drama and
Literary Heritage Texts
SECTION A – Unseen Poetry SECTION A – Modern Drama
ASSIGNMENT A – Modern
SECTION B – Anthology SECTION B – Heritage texts Drama

SECTION C – Modern Prose Examination ASSIGNMENT B – Literary

Set and marked externally Heritage
Examination 1 hour 30 minutes
Set and marked externally Total Marks 60 Teacher devised assignments
2 hours Internally set and assessed
Total Marks 90 Externally moderated
40% of total Total marks 60
60% of total
40% of total
Questions will test the following
assessment objectives (AOs)

Paper Section AO
1 A AO2
1 B AO2, AO3
1 C AO1, AO4
2 A AO1, AO2
2 B AO1, AO2, AO4
3 Assignment A AO1, AO2
3 Assignment B AO1, AO2, AO4
Content overview: Paper 1

Section A – Unseen Poetry

A selection of modern poetry should be studied in order to
prepare for the unseen assessment.

Section B – Anthology Poetry

Students will study all poems from the poetry section of:
Pearson Edexcel International English Anthology. Students will
answer one question on: either two set poems or the set
poem and one of their own choice from the anthology

Section C – Modern Prose

Students will study one of the set texts for this paper.
Student will answer one question on their chosen texts.
Teaching should focus on the study of whole texts.
Assessment Overview Paper 1

Paper 1 assesses 60% of the total International English Literature

Qualification. There are three sections on the paper:

Section A: Unseen Poetry

Questions will test:

AO2 Analyse the language, form and structure used by writers to

create meanings and effects (Total maximum mark 20)

Section B: Anthology Poetry

Questions will test:

AO2 Analyse the language, form and structure used by writers to

create meanings and effects (maximum mark 15)

AO3 Explore links and connections between texts

(maximum mark 15)
Total maximum mark for Section B = 30
Assessment Overview Paper 1
(continued)

Section C: Modern Prose

Questions will test the following Assessment Objectives:

AO1 Demonstrate close knowledge and understanding of texts,

maintaining a critical style and presenting an informed personal
engagement (maximum marks 20)

AO4 Show understanding of the relationships between texts

and contexts in which they are written (maximum marks 20)

Total marks for Section C is 40

Total marks for Paper 1 is 90
Set texts – Paper 1: Section B
Pearson Edexcel International Anthology
If - Rudyard Kipling
Prayer Before Birth Louis MacNeice
Blessing Imtiaz Dhaker (new)
Search For My Tongue Sujata Bhatt (new)
Half-Past Two U A Fanthorpe
Piano D H Lawrence
Hide and Seek Vernon Scannell
Sonnet 116 William Shakespeare
La Belle Dame sans Merci John Keats
Poem at Thirty-Nine Alice Walker
War Photographer Carol Ann Duffy
The Tyger William Blake
My Last Duchess Robert Browning
Half Caste John Agard
Do not go gentle into that good night Dylan Thomas
Remember Christina Rossetti
Set texts required for Paper 1
Continued…
Additionally, a selection of modern poetry should be studied in
order to prepare for the Unseen Poetry question in Section A.

Section C: Modern Prose

Students will chose one text from:
To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee
Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck
The Whale Rider Witi Ihimaera (new)
The Joy Luck Club Amy Tan (new)
Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe (new)

Paper 1 is closed book; there are no prescribed editions to the

set texts.
Section A: Unseen Poetry
Sample Question

The poem in the Sample Assessment Materials is

The Geography Teacher by Brian Patten.

1. Explore how the writer presents the geography teacher in

this poem.

In your answer you should consider the poet’s:

• descriptive skills
• choice of language
• use of structure and form.

Support your answer with examples from the poem.

(Total mark for Question 1 = 20 marks)
 Section B: Anthology Poetry
Sample Questions
Answer ONE question from this section. Either Question 2 or
Question 3.

2. Re-read Blessing and War Photographer.

Compare the ways the writers present powerful images in Blessing
and War Photographer.
You should make reference to language, form and structure.
Support your answer with examples from the poems.
(Total for Question 2 = 30 marks)
3. Re-read La Belle Dame sans Merci.
Compare how the writers present relationships in La Belle Dame sans
Merci and one other poem from the anthology.
You should make reference to language, form and structure.
Support your answer with examples from the poems.

(Total for Question 3 = 30 marks)

Paper 1 Section B Exemplars

Please refer to the exemplar answers in your pack…

Anthology Poetry :

• Response 1 Q2 Level 1 – 6 marks

• Response 2 Q2 Level 2 – 12 marks

• Response 3 Q2 Level 3 – 18 marks

• Response 4 Q2 Level 5 – 25 marks

The detailed commentaries to look at in detail at your leisure

and to retain for reference are also included in your materials.
Paper 1 Section C: Modern Prose

Sample questions from the SAMs

To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee

EITHER
4 Explore the character of Jem in the novel.
You must consider the context of the novel in your answer.
(Total for Question 4 = 40 marks)
OR
5 Show how prejudice is significant in To Kill a Mockingbird.
You must consider the context of the novel in your answer.
(Total for Question 5 = 40 marks)
Paper 1 Section C Exemplars

Please refer to the exemplar answers in your pack…

To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee

Script 1A1 Q4 Level 2 – 11 marks

Script 1A2 Q4 Level 3 – 22 marks

Script 1A3 Q4 Level 5 – 40 marks

Script 1A4 Q5 Level 4 – 28 marks

The detailed commentaries to look at in detail at your leisure

and to retain for reference are also included in your materials.
Set texts – Paper 2 & Paper 3

One Modern Drama text

A View from the Bridge Arthur Miller
An Inspector Calls J.B. Priestley
A Curious Incident of the Dog Simon Stephens
in the Night-time
Kindertransport Diane Samuels
Death and the King’s Horseman Wole Soyinka
One Literary Heritage text
Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare
Macbeth William Shakespeare
The Merchant of Venice William Shakespeare
Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen
Great Expectations Charles Dickens
The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne
Paper 2 is open book. The list of prescribed editions can be found in the
Specification
20
 Assessment Overview – Paper 2
Paper 2 assesses 40% of the total English Literature Qualification.
There are two sections to this paper.

Section A : Modern Drama (Total mark 30)

Questions in this section will test the following:
AO1 Demonstrate a close knowledge and understanding of texts,
maintaining a critical style and presenting an informed personal
engagement (maximum marks 15)
AO2 Analyse language, form and structure used by a writer to create
meanings and effects (maximum marks 15)

Section B: Literary Heritage (Total mark 30)

AO1 (maximum marks 10) and AO2 (maximum marks 10)
AO4 Show understanding of the relationships between texts and the
contexts in which they were written (maximum marks 10)
Section A : Modern Drama
Sample Questions

A View from the Bridge: Arthur Miller

EITHER
1. Alfieri: ‘ You won’t have a friend in the world, Eddie! Even those
who understand you will turn against you, even the ones who feel
the same will despise you!’
Explore the significance of community in the play.
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
(Total for Question 1 = 30 marks)
OR
2. Show how the relationship between Catherine and Beatrice
develops throughout the play.
You must consider language, form and structure in your answer.
(Total for Question 2 = 30 marks)
Paper 2: Section A Modern Drama
Exemplars
Please refer to the exemplar answers in your materials.

A View from the Bridge, Arthur Miller

Script 2A1 Q2 Level 4 – 22 marks

Script 2A2 Q1 Level 5 – 28 marks

Script 2A3 Q2 Level 2 Level 2 – 11 marks

Script 2A4 Q2 Level 3 – 14 marks

The detailed commentaries to look at in detail at your leisure

and to retain for reference are also included in your materials.
Paper 2 Section B Literary heritage
Sample questions from the SAMs, Paper 2

Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare

11 ‘Love is a major theme in Romeo and Juliet.’
How far do you agree with this statement?
You must consider language, form and structure and refer to
the context of the play in your answer.
(Total for Question 11 = 30 marks)

Great Expectations, Charles Dickens

18 How does Dickens present Miss Havisham in Great
Expectations?
You must consider language, form and structure and refer to
the context of the novel in your answer.
(Total for Question 11 = 30 marks)
 Paper 3: Modern Drama and Literary
Heritage Texts (Coursework Option)
Assessment Overview
• Paper 3 is available as an alternative to Paper 2
• Paper 3 assesses 40% of the total English Literature Qualification
• Students will be required to respond to teacher-devised tasks to
write two coursework assignments
• These will be internally set and assessed and externally
moderated by Pearson
• Set texts for the assignments are the same as those for Paper 2,
Sections A and B
• Teaching should focus on the study of whole texts to encourage
reading skills and to produce clear and coherent writing
• There is no prescribed word length for the coursework paper.
Setting the Questions for Coursework
Assignments could take the following formats:
Assignment A
• Explore the ways in which Priestley presents women in An
Inspector Calls.

• In what ways does Miller present conflict in A View from the

Bridge?

Assignment B
• ‘Jane Austen allows the reader to see many different forms of
love in Pride and Prejudice’. To what extent do you agree?

• How does Dickens portray city life in Great Expectations?

Approaches to teaching context:
relevant to Paper 1- Modern Prose text (13%)
& Paper 2/3 Literary Heritage text (7%)
AO4: Show understanding of the relationships between
texts and the contexts in which they were written

• Relate all context points to the text: it is not sufficient to

add a ‘bolt-on’ paragraph at the start of the answer
• Place all examples firmly in the text
• It is a literary essay and not a ‘History’ essay
• Look for 3 or 4 points which can be evidenced from the
Modern Prose text or from the Literary Heritage text
Approaches to teaching context:
relevant to Paper 1- Modern Prose text (13%)

• Example from Paper 1, To Kill a Mockingbird

• Such features as questioning the fairness of the law and

Tom Robinson’s trial
• the racial prejudice in Maycomb society
• divisions in the white society of Maycomb (the ‘comfortably
off’ and the poor, from the Cunninghams to the Ewells)
• racial segregation shown in the separate homes of the black
people and the visit to Calpurnia’s church. Relevant
reference may be made to the Jim Crow Laws or Scotsboro
Trials which may have informed Tom Robinson’s trial
Approaches to teaching context:
Paper 2/3 Literary Heritage text (7%)

• Example from Paper 2, Romeo and Juliet

• Italian setting: connotations of violence and revenge/heat
of the day
• Tybalt’s name related to violence ‘King of Cats’
• Quarrels and misunderstandings through duelling in
Shakespeare’s time. Tybalt’s duel was intended to be a duel
with Romeo to recover his wounded honour
• Example from Paper 2, Great Expectations
• Contrasts of social class: Satis House and Pip’s humble
abode
• ‘nouveau riche’ : Miss Havisham’s father was a rich brewer
• Apprenticeships for boys (Pip apprenticed as a blacksmith)
• Estella is adopted: many children abandoned at birth/
mothers put into the workhouse.
Course planning

• Take a moment to decide whether the examination or the

coursework route is better for your candidates
• After the course, devise a schedule to cover the close study
of the poems in Part 3 of the Anthology
• Decide which texts you will choose for Modern Prose,
Modern Drama and Literary Heritage
• After the course, study past papers to devise relevant
practice questions and mock examinations
• Allow sufficient time for lessons on essay planning and
writing to time
• Pay particular attention to word-based analysis and close
reference and to how to include quotations
• Work on extending technical vocabulary but encourage the
avoidance of ‘feature spotting’
Support
For more information, please contact subject advisors,
subjects pages/communities.
Free Support:
Teachers will be provided with a comprehensive Teacher Guide and Scheme
of Work. This will include:
Introduction
Key Features of the qualification
Qualification overview
Topic Guidance
Planning and 2-year Course planner
Bibliography and suggested resources

Published resources: Edexcel International GCSE English Literature

Student Book (new edition 2016)
• The materials available were designed in response to feedback from
teachers, however it is not necessary to purchase them to deliver the
International GCSE.
Next steps

• Sign up to subject advisor updates: email

[email protected]

• Visit the website for support materials:

www.edexcel.com/english