IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) offers up to 70 subjects to its students, including more than 30 languages. Students can take them in any combination. The groups under which the subjects are ordered are
Students have to choose 2 languages, one subject each from groups 2 to 5. The 7th subject can be chosen from any group 2 to 5. Apart from giving an international education certificate, high scores on the IGCSE have other benefits too.
There are two options for the language English – English as the first language (EFL) and English as the second language (ESL)
Cambridge IGCSE First Language English (EFL) is curated for students whose first language is English. The course enables the students to
Cambridge IGCSE Second Language English (ESL) is curated for students whose native language is not English but have a working knowledge. The course enables the students to
Thus, the students improve their communication abilities in this language, increasing their opportunities for further studies or for a planned career.
To choose the right option, consider two major parameters
Paper 1 and Paper 2 of the EFL require the students respond to texts provided in the examination
Paper 1 – Extended Response to Reading
Paper 2 – Directed Writing – Two Questions
Let us dig deeper into the component – Speech writing – which is one of the tasks in the paper. Speech is the expression of or the ability to express thoughts, ideas, and feelings by articulate sounds.
If you have not written any speech, then surely writing one will be intimidating. But with the right techniques, anyone can write a speech. The main purpose of giving/writing a speech is making the audience buy your idea or pay attention to your thoughts and ideas.
The large variety of plants in Hawaii must have spread over considerable distances because the Hawaiian Islands have never been connected to other land masses. This necessitates a method of transportation as well as ecological parity between the source area and the recipient area.There is some debate around the involved transit technique. Some biologists claim that air and ocean currents transport plant seeds to Hawaii.
The results of flotation experiments and the brisk air currents, however, call into doubt these presumptions. Transport by birds is more likely to happen, either externally through unintentional feather attachment of the seeds or inside through fruit digestion and subsequent seed release. Even though it’s likely that fewer kinds of plant seeds have traveled to Hawaii externally than internally, more plant species are known to be suited to external than to internal travel.
The passage talks about the plantation in Hawaii islands. Since it is an island, the author emphasizes the long-distance dispersal of seeds for the growth of the plants.
He then talks about the dispute in the methods of seeds dispersal – ocean and air currents, and birds. He also discusses the reasons causing doubts on the hypotheses.
Let us consider a few examples for paraphrasing the chosen relevant points:
The speech should be well planned out and smooth. The essence of your idea that you want to share with the audience should be strong and firm and use words that are simple yet impactful.
1. Always write the speech in the first-person point of view, as you are the person delivering your idea in front of the audience. Use of personal pronouns is a strong way to connect. For example
“I am sure that you would agree with me…”
“I believe that you would have come across…’
“We all follow the same…”
2. Use anecdotes – philosophical, inspirational, or humorous. These can be used to – convey messages or for motivational purposes or deter the audience from doing something rather than handing over a list of rules.
3. Use Rhetorical questions – By bringing out the questions, you are not expecting any answers rather sets your audience thinking on your idea.
4. Clear Paragraphs – Have clear topic sentences with separate ideas for each paragraph though they are not mentioned. Each paragraph has to have the path indicators depending on whether it is in line with the previous paragraph or contradicting the previous idea. For example, ‘Another’, ‘In addition to’,
5. ‘Furthermore’, ‘Additionally’ – all these are indicators that you are conveying the same idea present in the previous paragraph. And ‘Yet’, ‘But’ ‘In contrast’,
6. ‘Contrary to’ – all these indicate that you are deviating or giving the other version of the idea presented in the previous paragraph. Each paragraph should have a topic sentence, supporting details, colorful vocabulary, and a concluding sentence.
7. Range of vocabulary – Sometimes a range of vocabulary included in your speech can take care of repetitive words and make your sentences stand out. Also building vocabulary helps in the paraphrasing task.
Keep the sentences short to avoid deviating from the topic. This makes sure that the reader/listener is on the same page as you are.
8. Appropriate closing – A good speech as it should have a strong opening should have an appropriate closing too with a small reiteration of your idea and a thanks to the audience.
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Book your Free Counselling Session now!No, dictionaries are not allowed to bring in the IGCSE english exam.
Yes. Students can use the British language, American and Australian languages in the IGCSE English exam.
To write a speech one needs to point out the relevant information from the passage. The student needs to put and complete the sentence in a logical manner. There must be a flow in the passage. And with the appropriate closing to end the speech.
Speech writing is the art and process to write a summary in a logical manner. In order to describe a topic for 5-10 mins of duration. Thus, This is called speech writing.
First, start with the introduction. Second, followed by the body (main content). Last, End with a conclusion. Thus this is the format of speech writing.
Tips for IBDP-TOK and a Sample Essay
