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CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS
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UPDATE NOTICE
0427
IGCSE Literature (English) (US)
Please note the following changes:
Changes to syllabus for 2015
The following table sets outs key changes for 2015. These relate to aspects of the set texts
papers. You are advised to read through the whole syllabus before planning your teaching
program.
Component numbering,
weighting and options
All candidates take Paper 1 (Poetry and Prose): 2 texts (50% weighting)
and Paper 2 (Drama): 1 text (25% weighting)
and Paper 3 (Coursework Portfolio) (25% weighting).
“Closed”/”open” text
Component 1 is a closed text component: i.e. candidates may not take
their books into the examination.
Poems (or extracts from poems) referred to will now be printed on the
question paper for all poetry questions.
Question-types and
number of questions on
set texts
On each set text there will be two questions: one passagebased and
one essay question.
“Empathic” tasks will no longer feature on the question papers.
(Empathic tasks may still be used in Coursework.)
For the requirements of individual components, see syllabus.
It is emphasized that fundamentals of the syllabus, question papers and assessment are the same as
in 2014:
• Syllabus goals: unchanged
• Syllabus assessment objectives: unchanged
• Minimum number of set texts to be covered: unchanged
• Requirement to answer on prose, poetry and drama: unchanged
• Generic marking criteria and their application: unchanged
• Number of questions candidates must answer in set texts papers in the examination as a whole:
unchanged
• Types and style of wording of passagebased and essay questions: unchanged
• Weighting per question answered in the overall assessment: unchanged
• Coursework: unchanged (apart from component numbering)