IGCSE ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE |O-Level Notes

~ Provided to you by our team, The Workaholics | TW ~

| In the name of Allah | ‫| بسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم‬

Table of Contents

Page 2 Introduction

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Page 3 Listening | Section I

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Page 5 Writing | Section II

Page 26 Speaking | Section III

Page 34 Reading | Section IV

𝓬𝓼
𝓵𝓲
𝓱𝓸
𝓴𝓪
𝓸𝓻

The Workaholics
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𝓱𝓮
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Introduction

There are many different sections of English IGCSE that students are
generally expected to study & understand. Though there are many, they
aren’t difficult to study or master. In fact, with our notes- we guarantee
you success!

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Throughout our notes, we will explain the 4 different sections of English
IGCSE in an easily understandable manner that will aid you in your
studying and guide you towards your desired mark (A* - 8/9) .

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This document is divided into 4 sections, including:

I.​ Listening

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II.​ Writing
III.​ Reading 𝓵𝓲
IV.​ Speaking
𝓱𝓸
𝓴𝓪
𝓸𝓻
𝓦
𝓱𝓮
𝓣

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Listening | Section I

Listening Examinations may initially look intimidating, but it’s quite

simple once you get enough practice. So let’s look at it from a general
perspective first.

You are guided to your examination hall and sit on your desk

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depending on your candidate number. This is nothing different from
normal, and the staff members are busy setting up the listening
examination equipment.

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You’ve been sitting at your desk for some time, feeling drowsy as you
stayed up late. You can’t focus on anything, and your friends are
whispering random things to you in an attempt to get your focus.

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You cannot let yourself get into this situation ever. These students
𝓵𝓲
usually tend to remain unfocused throughout the exam and solve badly.
So first things first, ensure before the exam, you are following all these
𝓱𝓸

rules:
𝓴𝓪

●​ You have gotten at least 9 hours of sleep the night before the
exam.
●​ Ensure you don’t eat any junk food before the exam, there’s
𝓸𝓻

always the chance that you might get an upset stomach in the
middle of it.
●​ Practice plenty of past papers before the exam. With a minimum
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of 20 papers. You can find plenty of past papers & their

corresponding audio online on YouTube.
●​ Do not give yourself any additional time to solve during practice,
𝓱𝓮

solve under the correct exam condition.

●​ Do not speak to anyone during or before the exam.
●​ Underline keywords (where, when, etc..) in the question before the
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audio begins for your question.

●​ Try to understand the audio rather than scan every word you
hear in the audio mindlessly for the first time it’s played. The
second time, confirm the answer you’ve written.
●​ Read the questions before the audio plays for that part.

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●​ When practicing, keep in mind that the voice actors come from
different parts of the world- America, Britain, and New Zealand- So
it's important to get used to the different accents that these
actors speak in. This can be done by listening to podcasts,
documentaries, audiobooks, etc…
●​ Read the transcript of the recording after you've done the
exercise. This helps you see which parts you got wrong & fell for.
●​ You hear the answers in the order of the questions. In other words,
the first answer comes at the start of the recording and the last
answer is at the end.

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|𝓣
Distractors:

Cambridge uses distractors to lead weaker concentrated students in

the wrong direction. If you underline a keyword in the answer and you

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hear that exact word in the recording, it's probably not the answer!
Watch out for answers like 'The man lives in China' when the speaker
𝓵𝓲
says 'I used to live in China' or 'I always wanted to live in China'.
𝓱𝓸

There are 4 parts in the CAIE (Cambridge) Listening Examination and

there is no stopping the audio as it plays, divided into 4 parts. Every
𝓴𝓪

recording is played twice, but it’s still a test of your concentration.

𝓸𝓻
𝓦
𝓱𝓮
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Writing | Section II

Informal Writing | Sub-Section I

Informal Letters & Emails:

Informal letters are letters written towards individuals whom you have

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intimate/ personal relationships with, such as your parents, siblings,
dear friends, and most commonly your nuclear family. So, you need to
ensure that you don’t use any complicated or formal phrases in

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general you wouldn't use in real life.

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Format of an Informal Letter/Email:
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●​ Salutation, (example: Dear Mary, Hello Sheepa, etc…).
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●​ Introduction, (1 paragraph with 1/ 2 lines).
●​ In the body of the letter, each paragraph is dedicated towards 1
bullet point in the question (3 paragraphs).
𝓴𝓪

●​ Conclusion, (similar to the introduction in terms of length).

●​ Signature, (example: With lots of love, Omar).
𝓸𝓻

Introduction of the Letter/Email:

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Starts with a brief warm friendly opening! Examples include:

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●​ “It was good to hear from you after such a long time.”
●​ “Sorry for not replying sooner. I've been very busy with [insert
event/ excuse].”
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●​ “I’m sorry to take so long to reply. I’ve been revising for my exams
recently.”
●​ Around 2 or 3 sentences, either each sentence a small length,
barely taking up 1/ 2 line.
●​ Have a designated introduction to use in every letter, which only
has to be altered slightly according to every question.

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The Main Part (Body) of the Letter/Email [IMPORTANT]: (1)

●​ This is the actual content of the letter, where most marks are
concentrated during examiner checking.
●​ Provide more details about the points in each paragraph,
dedicated to an entire bullet point from the 3 provided in the
question in each paragraph.
●​ Use lots of adjectives & verbs, and rely on your thoughts and
emotions. What is preferable is to use lots of emotional words
(such as happily, hateful, angry, upset, etc…). Don't use common

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words such as angry or sad, yet instead use better synonyms with
stronger vocabulary (listed below for reference).

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●​ Use the idea prompts and photos from the question. You are
allowed to, however it is preferable to make up your own
proportional to those in the prompts & photos. For example, if the
prompt is about birthdays and the picture shows cake- then talk
about the other dishes or drinks present. Be imaginative!).

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●​ You should include many names (minimum 2, maximum 4) in your
𝓵𝓲
3 body paragraphs. This shows that you know the individual you
are “sending” the letter to. For example- mention another friend,
𝓱𝓸
family member. Like “Don’t tell Aunt Maria about that though- you
know she’ll get upset!”. This helps greatly in terms of building
content behind your words/ actions in the original prompt. Names
𝓴𝓪

should also be capitalized in the beginning letter.

●​ Try to include in each paragraph (about 1 bullet point), three
separate ideas. If the bullet point demands you state what you did
𝓸𝓻

during the trip- then talk about 3 different things. A place you
visited, a dish you tried, a tour you decided to go on, etc…
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●​ Include idioms in your body paragraphs (only 1 or 2). There are

also a plethora of them listed below for convenience.
●​ It is recommended to add as many shortcuts in your words.
Rather than saying “I will do it!” Instead, rewrite it as “I’ll do it!”. The
𝓱𝓮

more, the better.

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The Main Part (Body) of the Letter/Email [IMPORTANT]: (2)
●​ It is not recommended to add any run-off sentences in your Body
paragraphs, instead focus on forming at least 3 or 4 short
sentences in each paragraph (with each sentence containing 1
idea as stated before, answering to the bullet point).
●​ Leave an empty line in between each paragraph in your work, and
indent the beginning of each paragraph (including the
introduction & conclusion). This helps make your work neater and
easier to read, hence your checking will be done more smoothly

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rather than all the paragraphs melting into each other.
●​ Beware of any spelling mistakes! They make your work seem silly,
alongside crossing out any of the sentences you wrote before.

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This is why you should plan before writing right after you read the
question.
●​ Add a decent amount of punctuation in your sentences.
Maximum 1 bracket for irrelevant yet context-building information-

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For example: “Of course, I had to sneakily hide the candy away!
(You know how upset she gets when she sees them)”. Punctuation
𝓵𝓲
includes question marks (?), exclamation marks (!), full stops
(obviously after every sentence ends), and commas (,).
𝓱𝓸

●​ Add connective words between your sentences, such as: In

addition, Moreover, Likewise, Similarly, etc… (for more examples
check, “Connective Words | Sub Section II”) This is for sentences
𝓴𝓪

that are similar in intentions (both advantages, both similarities,

both are same generally). But if they are different, use words such
as: However, In contrast, etc.. (more examples are provided below.
𝓸𝓻

●​ Be straightforward and clear in your sentences. Do not use too

many words (since you have a word limit) on irrelevant Information.
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Conclusion of the Letter/Email:

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●​ The Conclusion is responsible for ending the letter.

●​ Around 2 or 3 sentences, either each sentence a small length,
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barely taking up 1/ 2 line.

●​ Have a designated conclusion to use in every letter, which only
has to be altered slightly according to every question.
Mine used to be, “Don't forget to tell Aunt Sheepa I said hello! I
have to go now since I have lots of homework pending right now,
which I'll have to complete.”

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Important Tips to Remember:

●​ Take care of any spelling, punctuation, or grammar mistakes.

●​ Don't go too into depth in your points, only surface-level ideas

presented coherently & in short length.

●​ Add details that tell the examiner you know each other as
mentioned beforehand.

●​ Try to use time phrases like: shortly after that/ later that day.

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●​ To maintain the structure of the email. By inventing at the
beginning of every paragraph, and leaving an empty line between

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them.

●​ The Salutation/ Greeting has to be at the top left and alone,

preferably with an exclamation mark.

𝓬𝓼
●​ Plan before answering the question, to avoid any run-off
𝓵𝓲
sentences or irrelevant Information (not in brackets).

●​ Don't overuse any punctuation elements.

𝓱𝓸

●​ Don't be too superficial in your writing.

𝓴𝓪

●​ Practice your handwriting beforehand to ensure you're using as

much space as provided to you (within the word limit).
𝓸𝓻

●​ Overwrite your sentences, introduction or conclusion. Be brief in

the introduction & conclusion especially! Ensure space for your
body paragraphs as they carry the bulk of your marks.
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●​ Overuse the same vocabulary more than once. Use synonyms

instead, and even then, avoid using simple, ordinary & boring
𝓱𝓮

vocabulary.

●​ Don't include headings. It takes up too much space if your

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handwriting is bigger than average.

●​ Write in a formal tone. Use abbreviations, punctuation like

brackets, and a friendly tone & such to enforce an informal tone.

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Idioms | Sub Section II

Idioms: (1)

●​ The ball is in your court: This means that it is up to you to make

the next decision or step.
●​ For example: when two students make a project together and one
says to the other “I’ve sent you all the necessary information and
completed my section of the project. Now, the ball is in your court

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to finalize the project”.

●​ A piece of cake: something that is very easy to do.

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●​ For example: The exam was a piece of cake.

●​ Not my cup of tea: That something is not to someone’s liking or

preference.

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●​ For example: Football is not my cup of tea.
𝓵𝓲
●​ Time flies when you’re having fun: This means that time appears
to pass quickly when you’re enjoying yourself.
𝓱𝓸

●​ For example: “I can’t believe the concert is over already! Time flies
when you’re having fun!”
𝓴𝓪

●​ Miss the boat: To miss an opportunity or chance.

●​ For example: ” I wanted that job, but I missed the boat on the
𝓸𝓻

application.”

●​ It’s raining cats and dogs: This means that it is raining very
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heavily.
●​ For example: “Wow, it’s raining cats and dogs out here! “
𝓱𝓮

●​ At the drop of a hat: Doing something immediately or without any

hesitation.
●​ For example: “She would help her friends at the drop of a hat.”
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●​ All in the same boat: Means that everyone involved is facing the
same difficult situation.
●​ For example: "During the pandemic, we realized that we were all in
the same boat, dealing with similar challenges and uncertainties."

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Idioms: (2)

●​ Hit the books: means to study or read seriously.

●​ For example: if a student has an upcoming exam, they might say, "I
need to hit the books this weekend to prepare." It emphasizes the
act of focusing on studying or learning.

●​ A stone's throw from a place: means that something is very close

or nearby.
●​ For example: "The library is just a stone's throw from home, so we

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can walk there in a few minutes." This indicates that the library is
within a short distance.

|𝓣
●​ Bite the bullet: means to face a difficult or unpleasant situation
with courage and determination.
●​ For example: “I didn't want to go to the dentist, but I had to bite

𝓬𝓼
the bullet and make an appointment."
𝓵𝓲
●​ Sweating the small stuff: means worrying about little things.
●​ For example, She’s always sweating small stuff.
𝓱𝓸

●​ Being in the weeds: means worrying about little things.

●​ For example: “She’s always sweating the small stuff “.
𝓴𝓪

●​ Nitty-gritty: means Essential aspects or details.

●​ For example: ”We need to discuss the nitty-gritty.
𝓸𝓻

●​ Fine print: means important details in documents.

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●​ For example: “Always read the fine print carefully”.

●​ Mired in details: means overwhelmed by details.

𝓱𝓮

●​ For example: “She was mired in details”.

●​ To split hairs: means to argue about minor details.

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●​ For example: “Let's not split hairs over this”.

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Show Instead of Telling Feelings:

Happy:
●​ Her mouth was cheerful.
●​ She was jumping up and down.
●​ She was clapping her hands.

Sad:
●​ His eyes were like a river of tears.

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●​ Her shoulders were dropping.
●​ His face was frowning.

|𝓣
𝓬𝓼
𝓵𝓲
𝓱𝓸
𝓴𝓪
𝓸𝓻
𝓦
𝓱𝓮
𝓣

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Formal Writing | Sub Section III

Formal Writing:

Unlike informal writing, formal writing is written for an audience you

don't know on a personal level. Formal writing has a less personal tone
and the language is more proper; it's usually used to address
audiences who are important or older than you. In formal writing, you
should use a wide range of sophisticated vocabulary and phrases.

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There are two types of formal writing:

|𝓣
-​ Writing an article
-​ Writing a report

𝓬𝓼
Writing an article:
𝓵𝓲
In this exercise, you will be given a topic on which you have to write your
views and opinions. This can either be a two-sided article(for and
𝓱𝓸
against) or a one-sided article(just your opinion)it is up to you to decide!

So how do you attempt to answer this question?

𝓴𝓪

Before you start it is a good idea that you come up with a plan. Use the
blank space below the question to make your plan. In your plan write
𝓸𝓻

down the answers to these questions:

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The audience: this will be specified in the question. So when you write,
keep in mind that you need to write to that audience. Youraudience.
Your language, tone, and vocabulary need to reflect this.
𝓱𝓮

One-Sided or Two-Sided?
This depends on your knowledge about the topic. If you feel that you
𝓣

know a lot about the topic and can weigh up the pros and cons, then go
for two-sided. if you're not too knowledgeable about it, stick to
one-sided.

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How to Introduce the Topic?
Start by saying what the topic is and how important it is in today's
world. Why is it such a problem? Or is it a problem

What is in the Body?

Write down three points (if it's two-sided write two pros and two cons).
You will develop your body based on these points. A few points will be
given in your question paper, and you can use those!

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How will I Conclude the Article?
You need to sum up your points and give your final opinion (even

|𝓣
if it’s two-sided, give your final opinion on the matter). By now,
you've pretty much come up with the contents of your article. Now
organize your points into paragraphs. When writing you need to
use a variety of connecting words and argumentative

𝓬𝓼
[Link]:

Expressing Opinions:
𝓵𝓲
𝓱𝓸
●​ “I agree/disagree with the above statement that...”
●​ “In my opinion, …”
●​ “I believe that…”
𝓴𝓪

●​ “I am in favor of…”
●​ “I am against the idea of…”
𝓸𝓻

●​ “It seems to me that…”

●​ “I sympathize with…”
𝓦
𝓱𝓮
𝓣

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Presenting & Contrasting Opinions:
●​ “It is often said that…”
●​ “First of all I would like to consider…”
●​ “Apart from that…”
●​ “Even though…”
●​ “Furthermore, …”
●​ “In addition, …”
●​ “Moreover, …”
●​ “Nevertheless, …”

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●​ “Despite the fact that…”
●​ “On the other hand, …”

|𝓣
●​ “What matters most in this case is…”
●​ “It is a fact that…”
●​ “There is no doubt that…”

𝓬𝓼
Reasoning: 𝓵𝓲
●​ “As a result of…”
𝓱𝓸
●​ “Owing to…”
●​ “Through…”
●​ “Due to…”
𝓴𝓪

●​ “Consequently…”
●​ “On account of…”
𝓸𝓻

●​ “Therefore, …”
●​ “Hence, …”
𝓦

Concluding:
●​ ”To sum up, …”
𝓱𝓮

●​ ”To conclude, …”
●​ ”It can be concluded that…”
●​ ”I believe that…”
𝓣

●​ ”Thus, I am of the opinion that…”

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Argumentative Verbs (instead of say/tell):
●​ Claim
●​ Assert
●​ Insist
●​ Argue
●​ Allege

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●​ Suggest
●​ Point out

|𝓣
●​ Maintain

Important Tips to Remember:

𝓬𝓼
●​ Use your own [Link] more original your content is, the better.
𝓵𝓲
●​ Give a suitable title
●​ Keep to the word limit
𝓱𝓸

●​ Always have an introduction and conclusion.

●​ Always organise your points into paragraphs.
𝓴𝓪

●​ A final opinion has to be given.

●​ Punctuation,spelling and grammar is very [Link] your
𝓸𝓻

writing once you’re done.

𝓦

Writing a report:
𝓱𝓮

The purpose of a report is often to give information and suggestions to

𝓣

the [Link] are a mixture of fact and opinion and the language
you use will depend on the audience the report is for.A report may
include headings.

1-introduction:
The introduction will cover
●​ The background of the report

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●​ What the background will cover

Here are some phrases to be used for the introduction:-

The aim/intention/purpose of this report is to outline/discuss/present

how ….
It is based on observations/interviews/feed backs from….

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2-body:
The body will cover the content of the report in much detail,you can use

|𝓣
these phrases to help you start the body:-

To begin with

𝓬𝓼
In the first place
Secondly
𝓵𝓲
Moreover
𝓱𝓸

Another aspect to consider

Beside that
𝓴𝓪

On top of that
𝓸𝓻

It would be a much better idea to split the body into two paragraphs.
𝓦

3-conclusion:
In the conclusion we give our opinion on the facts we have discussed
𝓱𝓮

Some phrases:-
𝓣

All things considered, i believe that…

On the whole,i found that
In conclusion,in general

4-recommendations:
Here we give our suggestions on what can be improved and how to
improve them

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Phrases:-
I would like to suggest
I therefore suggest
I recommend
My recommendation is to

Follow these steps to answer the question:

𝓦
[Link] the question carefully and ensure that you know what it is asking
[Link] may be helpful to underline the important points in a pencil.

|𝓣
[Link]’t forget to include complex sentences

𝓬𝓼
𝓵𝓲
𝓱𝓸
𝓴𝓪
𝓸𝓻
𝓦
𝓱𝓮
𝓣

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Synonyms | Sub Section III

1. Angry Mad, Furious

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2. Awful Dreadful, Terrible, Abominable

|𝓣
3. Bad Spoiled, Tainted, Faulty

𝓬𝓼
4. Beautiful Pretty, Lovely, Handsome, Dazzling
𝓵𝓲
5. Begin Start, Open, Launch
𝓱𝓸
𝓴𝓪

6. Big Immense, Huge, Titanic

𝓸𝓻

7. Brave Courageous, Fearless, Dauntless

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8. Break Fracture, Rupture, Shatter

𝓱𝓮

9. Bright Shining, Shiny, Gleaming

𝓣

10. Calm Still, Collected, Quiet

11. Come Approach, Arrive

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12. Cool Chilly, Cold

13. Crooked Bent, Cold, Frosty, Wintry, Icy, Frigid

14. Cry Shout, Yell, Yowl

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15. Cut Gash, Slash, Prick, Nick

|𝓣
16. Dangerous Risky, Uncertain, Unsafe

𝓬𝓼
17. Dark Unlit, Musky, Gloomy
𝓵𝓲
18. Decide Settle, Choose, Resolve
𝓱𝓸
𝓴𝓪

19. Definite Certain, Sure, Positive, Obvious

𝓸𝓻

20. Delicious Savory, Delectable, Appetizing

𝓦

21. Describe Portray, Report, Picture, Represent

𝓱𝓮

22. Difference Disagreement, Dissimilarity

𝓣

23. Do Execute, Enact, Carryout

24. Dull Boring, Tiring, Tiresome, Slow

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25. ​ Keep Hold, Support, Sustain

26. ​ Kill Murder, Slay, Kill

27. ​ Lazy Indolent, Slothful, Idle

𝓦
28. ​ Little Dinky, Small, Itsy-bitsy

|𝓣
29. ​ Look Watch, Gaze, See

30. Love
𝓬𝓼
Like, Admire, Care
𝓵𝓲
𝓱𝓸

31. ​ Make Create, Originate, Beget

𝓴𝓪

32. ​ Mark Label, Tag, Price, Ticket

𝓸𝓻

33. Mischievous Prankish, Playful, Naughty

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34. Moody Changeable, Sullen, Testy

𝓱𝓮

35. Move Plod, Go, Crawl

𝓣

36. Neat Clean, Orderly, Tidy

37. New Fresh, Unique, Original

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Connective Words | Sub Section IV

Usage Connective Words

Addition of and, also, besides, further, furthermore, too, moreover, in

Ideas addition, then, of equal importance, equally important,
another

Time next, afterward, finally, later, last, lastly, at last, now,

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subsequently, then, when, soon, thereafter, after a short
time, the next week (month, day, etc.), a minute later, in the
meantime, meanwhile, on the following day, at length,

|𝓣
ultimately, presently

Order or first, second, (etc.), finally, hence, next, then, from here on,
Sequence to begin with, last of all, after, before, as soon as, in the

𝓬𝓼
end, gradually

Space and
𝓵𝓲
above, behind, below, beyond, here, there, to the right
Place (left), nearby, opposite, on the other side, in the
𝓱𝓸

background, directly ahead, along the wall, as you turn

right, at the top, across the hall, at this point, adjacent to
𝓴𝓪

To Signal an for example, to illustrate, for instance, to be specific, such

Example as, moreover, furthermore, just as important, similarly, in
𝓸𝓻

the same way

Results as a result, hence, so, accordingly, as a consequence,

𝓦

consequently, thus, since, therefore, for this reason,

because of this

Purpose
𝓱𝓮

to this end, for this purpose, with this in mind, for this
reason(s)
𝓣

Comparison like, in the same manner (way), as so, similarly

Contrast but, in contrast, conversely, however, still, nevertheless,

Connectives nonetheless, yet, and yet, on the other hand, on the
contrary, or, in spite of this, actually, in fact

To Summarize in summary, to sum up, to repeat, briefly, in short, finally,

or Report on the whole, therefore, as I have said, in conclusion, as
you can see

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List of verbs with example sentence: (1)

1- Accept: He accepted going to the party.

2- Admire: He admires working with his boss.
3- Admit: She admitted to stealing the money.
4- Adopt: They adopted using green energy in their home.
5- Agree: They agreed to meet up after work.
6- Aim: She aims to finish the project before the deadline.

𝓦
7- Anticipate: They anticipate going on vacation soon.
8- Appear: He appears studying the map.

|𝓣
9- Appreciate: He appreciated having her assistance.
10- Argue: She is arguing and talking to me like that.

𝓬𝓼
11- Arrange: We arranged going on a camping trip next month.
12- Avoid: I’m avoiding eating junk food.
𝓵𝓲
13- Begin: She began learning Spanish last year.
𝓱𝓸
14- Consider: I’m considering taking a class on painting.
15- Continue: They continued studying until midnight.
𝓴𝓪

16- Crave: She craves eating ice cream.

17- Decide: They decided to go to the movies tonight.
𝓸𝓻

18- Defend: He defended taking an extra day off work.

19- Delay: We had to delay going to the beach because of bad
𝓦

weather.
20- Demand: She demands to have her way.
𝓱𝓮

21- Deny: She denied stealing the money.

22- Deserve: He deserves to get the promotion.
𝓣

23- Desire: She desires to have her place.

24- Determine: He was determined to work late tonight.
25- Discuss: We discussed going to the beach this weekend.

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List of verbs with example sentence: (2)

26- Dislike: He dislikes running on the treadmill.

27- Dread: He dreads going to meetings.
28- Endure: She endured doing the same job for years.
29- Enjoy: She enjoys swimming in the lake every morning.
30- Expect: We expect to visit the Eiffel Tower when we go to Paris.
31- Fail: He failed to pass the exam.

𝓦
32- Fear: I fear making a mistake.
33- Finish: Have you finished writing your essay?

|𝓣
34- Forget: Don’t forget to take your medication before bedtime.
35- Go: We should go shopping this afternoon.
36- Hate: I hate doing laundry.

𝓬𝓼
37- Hesitate: She hesitated asking for help.
𝓵𝓲
38- Hope: They hope to find a better job soon.
𝓱𝓸
39- Ignore: Don’t ignore talking to him.
40- Imagine: I can’t imagine living without music.
𝓴𝓪

41- Intend: He intends to go to school next year.

42- Invite: We invited you to go camping this weekend.
𝓸𝓻

43- Involve: This job involves working late nights.

44- Keep: You should keep trying until you find the right solution.
𝓦

45- Like: She likes eating ice cream.

46- Love: He loves playing tennis on Sundays.
47- Mention: He mentioned visiting the museum next week.
𝓱𝓮

48- Miss: I miss having my old friends around.

𝓣

49- Need: She needs to work hard to get into college.

50- Negotiate: They negotiated to get a better salary.

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List of verbs with example sentence: (3)

51- Obey: They obey the rules and regulations.

52- Offer: He offered to take her out for dinner.
53- Persuade: He persuaded me to go on vacation with his family.
54- Plan: We plan on visiting Europe next summer.
55- Postpone: We had to postpone going camping because of
rain.

𝓦
56- Practice: I need to practice speaking Spanish more often.
57- Prefer: She prefers working in the morning.

|𝓣
58- Prevent: You should prevent making the same mistake again.
59- Propose: He proposed taking a break from work.
60- Provide: She provided hosting the party at her house.

𝓬𝓼
61- Quit: Have you quit smoking yet?
𝓵𝓲
62- Recommend: The doctor recommends exercising more often.
𝓱𝓸
63- Reconsider: I’m reconsidering taking this job.
64- Refuse: He refused to attend the meeting.
𝓴𝓪

65- Regret: She regrets studying harder in school.

66- Request: He requested to take a day off work.
67- Resist: She resisted eating chocolate for a week.
𝓸𝓻

68- Risk: He risks getting hurt if he tries that stunt again.

𝓦

69- Select: She selected taking the bus instead of driving.

70- Start: We should start exercising more regularly.
71- Strive: He strives to achieve his goals.
𝓱𝓮

72- Struggle: He struggles to study for exams.

73- Suggest: She suggested taking a break from studying.
𝓣

74- Support: We support taking time off to relax.

75- Threaten: He threatened to quit his job if he didn’t get a raise.

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List of verbs with example sentence: (3)

76- Transfer: He transferred to a different school.

77- Try: I’m trying to eat more vegetables.
78- Understand: Do you understand using a computer?
79- Urge: I urge you to eat more fruits and vegetables.
80- Use: We use going out for dinner when we need a break.
81- Volunteer: He volunteered to help out at the homeless shelter.

𝓦
82- Want: He wants to find the perfect job.
83- Wish: She wishes to go on a road trip this summer.

|𝓣
84- Worry: She worries about making the wrong decision.
85- Yearn: She yearns traveling to new places.

𝓬𝓼
𝓵𝓲
𝓱𝓸
𝓴𝓪
𝓸𝓻
𝓦
𝓱𝓮
𝓣

END OF WRITING SECTION

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Speaking | Section III

General Tips and Rules:

●​ Talk slow: Remember it’s not a race so slow down before you speak,
think carefully about what you want to say, and speak a little
slower than normal.

𝓦
●​ Don’t be afraid to ask questions: If you don’t understand the
question or the activity, don’t worry. Ask the examiner to explain it
again. You could say something like, “Could you repeat that,

|𝓣
please? "
●​ Explain your answers with reasons: when you are asked a
question, don't just answer with “yes” or “no”, your examiner wants
to know how good your English is. Explain your answer with a

𝓬𝓼
reason and say for example, “I agree because……” or “No I don’t
think so because ….”
𝓵𝓲
●​ Faces can tell you a lot: If you can see that your examiner doesn’t
understand you, then say it again using different words or
𝓱𝓸

behavior
●​ Speak clearly: speak clearly so the examiner can hear you, (ex:
practice with a friend so you can gain confidence).
𝓴𝓪
𝓸𝓻
𝓦
𝓱𝓮
𝓣

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What to do to prepare for the speaking exam (AQA - Oxford):

Format of the tests:

PART 1 – PHOTOCARD
This part of the test consists of a photocard the student prepared
during the preparation time. The teacher-examiner will ask three
prescribed questions; these questions are printed on the student’s card
and will have been prepared during the preparation time. After each

𝓦
question, you may also ask the prompt questions printed on the
Teacher’s notes. These prompts are designed to aid the teacher, they
are not a compulsory part of the test. This conversation will last 3 to 4

|𝓣
minute

PART 2 – GENERAL CONVERSATION

The general conversation will cover the two themes not covered on the

𝓬𝓼
photocard. This conversation will last between 6 and 7 minutes. A similar
amount of time must be spent on each theme. (Note: Please be aware
𝓵𝓲
that your teacher will also record the entire conversation using a PC or
𝓱𝓸
voice recorder during the exam.)

Introduction to Part 1: Photocards

𝓴𝓪
𝓸𝓻

As mentioned before, you will be preparing for this part of the exam, and the
teacher or examiner will ask you three specific questions( You will already be
𝓦

prepared, for this part depending on the questions asked as they are included in
the paper you are given and also teacher/examiner will be asking you the same
questions included on the question paper ). The photo you receive will usually
𝓱𝓮

relate to various topics, such as family and friends, social media, your free time,
where you live, social issues, global issues, travel and tourism, school, and
𝓣

studying. Example of Photocards.

You might wonder what the photo will look like and how you can describe it. For
example, if the exam topic is about your free time, the photo may show a
specific activity, like someone skateboarding or surfing. Typically, the photo will
connect to other themes, helping you to elaborate on your answers.

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Tips for Photocard Descriptions & Other Themes:

●​ Remember: When you give a talk describing something that has

happened try to use your tone, voice, and body language to make
the story interesting. It might be sad, funny, or interesting, but
make it lively and keep talking as smoothly as possible. Don’t
worry about saying ’err’ or ‘um’ - everyone does that, even
professional speakers!
●​ Remember: Don’t read out notes when you are talking-it will sound
very boring and robotic. It doesn't matter if you make a few

𝓦
mistakes or search words. Just make sure people understand you
clearly.
●​ Remember: Learn some points for each theme question

|𝓣
(topics)but be selective in choosing them, ensure they're really
strong ones with increased vocabulary and technical words. Let
any of your family members act as an examiner and practice with
them to try and feel the exam vibe, maybe even ask them to ask

𝓬𝓼
you some questions in the same categories of the theme but not
the same theme questions as the examiners can and do ask
𝓵𝓲
questions out of the 30 ones.
𝓱𝓸
𝓴𝓪
𝓸𝓻
𝓦
𝓱𝓮

Introduction to Part 2: General Conversation

𝓣

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Youtube Video: Press

●​ There are 30 questions for this part, but only 6-7 questions are
asked for each theme.
●​ It also depends on how long your answers are, some teachers
usually do 5-6 maximum for each of the themes in this part, so try
to aim for 35-45 seconds per question for your response.
●​ As mentioned before topics in this part can be about:

𝓦
○​ Technology in everyday
○​ Free-time activities

|𝓣
○​ Me, my family and friends
○​ home, town, neighborhood, and region
○​ Social issues
○​ Global issues

𝓬𝓼
○​ Travel and tourism
○​ Life at school/college
𝓵𝓲
○​ Jobs, career choices, and ambitions
𝓱𝓸
𝓴𝓪
𝓸𝓻
𝓦
𝓱𝓮
𝓣

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Solved Examples on Each Theme:

Part 1 | Photocard:

Theme 1:
Your teacher will ask you the following three questions:
●​ What can you see in the photo?
●​ What type of music do you like listening to?
●​ What do you think is the benefit of taking part in musical
activities?

𝓦
You should have already prepared the answers during the preparation

|𝓣
period.

𝓬𝓼
𝓵𝓲
𝓱𝓸
𝓴𝓪

Answers:
First Question:
For the first question, you need to describe what you see in the photo.
𝓸𝓻

Since you will be speaking and not writing, please remember the rules
we talked about on page 26. You can start by saying: In this photo, I see
𝓦

a father and his young son having fun together. The father is sitting on
the floor and playing a guitar. He looks very happy. The boy is sitting
next to him, and he is wearing a metal bowl on his head. He is hitting
𝓱𝓮

some pots and pans with sticks, and making music. They are in a nice
kitchen or living room, and there is a lot of light coming in. It seems they
are enjoying a musical moment, and both are smiling. This shows how
𝓣

they are spending quality time together, being creative, and having fun.

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Second Question:
I like listening to different types of music. One of my favorite genres is
pop music because it is very catchy and fun to sing along. I also enjoy
listening to rock music for its energy and strong sounds.

Sometimes, I listen to classical music when I want to relax or focus on

studying. It helps me feel calm. I also like music from my culture, as it
reminds me of my childhood and family celebrations. Overall, music is
important to me because it makes me feel different emotions and
connects me to memories.

𝓦
Third Question:
I think there are many benefits to taking part in musical activities. First,

|𝓣
music is a great way to express feelings. When I play an instrument or
sing, I can share my emotions and creativity.

Second, being involved in music helps improve focus and discipline.

𝓬𝓼
Practicing regularly teaches me to be patient and work hard to improve
my skills. Also, musical activities can bring people together. When we
𝓵𝓲
play in a band or sing in a choir, we create a sense of teamwork and
𝓱𝓸
friendship. Finally, music can reduce stress and make us feel happier.
Listening to or making music can lift our mood and help us relax.
Overall, musical activities are very beneficial for both the mind and the
𝓴𝓪

heart.

The total mark for this question is 15 marks.

𝓸𝓻
𝓦
𝓱𝓮
𝓣

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Part 2 | General Conversation:
Theme 2 &3:
Note: These questions are made up depending on the topics in the syllabus.

Question 1: How do you spend time with your friends?

- I spend time with my friends in different ways. Sometimes, we go to the

park to play sports or just walk and talk. Other times, we watch movies
together at home or go to a cafe to eat. I think enjoying these moments

𝓦
is important because they strengthen our friendship. We also like to
share our news and have fun. Spending time with friends helps me relax
and feel happy.

|𝓣
Question 2: What activities do you do to stay healthy?

- To stay healthy, I try to exercise regularly. I like to go for walks or ride

𝓬𝓼
my bike at least a few times a week. I also pay attention to what I eat. I
try to eat more fruits and vegetables and drink plenty of water.
𝓵𝓲
Sometimes, I cook healthy meals at home with my family. I need to keep
my body fit and feel good.
𝓱𝓸

Question 3: Why is spending time with family important?

𝓴𝓪

Spending time with family is very important to me. It helps us connect

and understand each other better. We often have dinner together and
share our experiences from the day. We also enjoy activities like playing
𝓸𝓻

board games or going on weekend outings. These moments create

great memories and bring us closer. I feel supported and loved when I
𝓦

spend time with my family.

Question 4: How do you balance social life and studies?

𝓱𝓮

- Balancing my social life and studies can be challenging, but I try to

manage it well. I set a schedule for my studies to make sure I finish my
𝓣

homework on time. After that, I reward myself by spending time with

friends or watching a movie. I believe that having a balance is
important because studying hard helps me achieve my goals, and
social time keeps me happy and relaxed.

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Question 5: What do you think is a healthy lifestyle?

- A healthy lifestyle means taking care of both my body and mind. It

includes eating nutritious food, exercising regularly, and getting
enough sleep. I also think it is important to manage stress and take
time for fun and relaxation. Spending time with friends and family helps
me feel good mentally. Overall, a healthy lifestyle helps me to feel
energetic and positive.

𝓦
Question 6: What activities do you enjoy with your family?

- I enjoy many activities with my family. We often cook together, which is

|𝓣
fun and also a chance to learn new recipes. We also like to go for walks
or hikes in nature. Sometimes, we have family game nights where we
play board games or card games. These activities help us bond and
create happy memories.

𝓬𝓼
𝓵𝓲
Check the following for more & better understanding:
-​ How is my speaking exam corrected? Press this link!
𝓱𝓸

-​ Example of a full speaking exam. Press this link!

𝓴𝓪

Please be aware that the teacher/examiner can ask questions in

between while you are answering. The question that may be asked is
related to the topic being discussed.
𝓸𝓻

Please don't be concerned about having a perfect accent; the examiner

𝓦

is fully aware that English is not your first language.

𝓱𝓮
𝓣

END OF THE SPEAKING SECTION

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Reading | Section IV

INTRODUCTION:

CIE:(Note please This is Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language

reading exam)

𝓦
Assessment overview
PAPER COUNT: Paper 1
DURATION OF EXAM:2 hours

|𝓣
FORMAT: Reading and Writing
FROM OVERALL PERCENTAGE: 70% Of total mark
TOTAL MARK TO THIS PAPER: 60 marks

𝓬𝓼
Candidates respond to six exercises:
𝓵𝓲
●​ four reading
●​ Two Structured and essay-style questions Externally assessed
𝓱𝓸

([Link]
𝓴𝓪

FORMAT OF PAPER:
Exercise 1:
𝓸𝓻

Task: read a text and answer a series of questions. The text is approximately
400–450 words long and likely includes facts, opinions, ideas, and attitudes. The
𝓦

first five questions require one answer, and the final one requires three.
Candidates write short (single word/phrase) answers.
𝓱𝓮

Text type: The text may be taken from, for example, an article, blog, or
website.
𝓣

Total marks for exercise: 8

Exercise 2:
Task: read one continuous text divided into five sections, or read up to five
shorter related texts. The text is approximately 600–650 words long. This is a

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multiple-matching task. Candidates read nine questions and select the text that
contains the relevant information or ideas to answer each question. Each
question is worth one mark.

Text type: The text may be taken from, for example, an article, blog, or
website.

Total marks for exercise: 9

𝓦
|𝓣
Exercise 3:
Task: read a text and complete a set of brief notes. The text is approximately
400–500 words long. Each response is worth one mark.

𝓬𝓼
Text type: The text may be taken from, for example, an article, blog or website
𝓵𝓲
Total marks for exercise: Total marks 7
𝓱𝓸
𝓴𝓪

Exercise 4:
Task: read a text that is approximately 550–600 words long and answer six
𝓸𝓻

multiple-choice questions. Each question may focus on the text's main ideas or
details and express attitudes or opinions. There are three options to choose
𝓦

between, and candidates write the appropriate letter (A, B, or C) for each
answer. Each question is worth one mark.
𝓱𝓮

Text type: The text may be taken from, for example, an article, blog, or
website.
𝓣

Total marks for exercise: Total marks 6

The key to success in the reading section is a combination of

consistent practice and effective time management.

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𝓦
|𝓣
𝓬𝓼
𝓵𝓲
𝓱𝓸
𝓴𝓪
𝓸𝓻
𝓦
𝓱𝓮
𝓣

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