Component 5 Overview (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE English Literature)

Revision Note

Deb Orrock

Written by: Deb Orrock

Reviewed by: Nick Redgrove

Component 5 is the optional component you will do for the CIE IGCSE Literature in English (0475 and 0992) if you are taking the Coursework route, in addition to Paper 1: Poetry and Prose, which is worth 50% of your IGCSE, and Paper 3: Drama (Open Book), which is worth 25% of your IGCSE. The coursework makes up the remaining 25% of your IGCSE.

The coursework is set and assessed internally by your centre and moderated externally by the exam board. The component as a whole is worth 25 marks and is made up of a portfolio of two assignments. Each assignment should be 600–1200 words in length, including quotations but excluding references and a bibliography. Each assignment must be on a different text and based on the study of a complete text. One of the assignments may be on a set text for Papers 1, 2 or 3. If poetry or short stories are used, then you must cover a minimum of two poems or short stories. You can write your assignments electronically or by hand, and you can discuss them in general terms with your teacher, but your teacher is not allowed to proofread, correct or mark your draft assignments.

The title of each assignment must be phrased to allow for the assessment of all four assessment objectives. These are the key skills you are expected to demonstrate in your response to the assignments. To be successful you must explain and analyse how writers have conveyed their meanings through a wide range of different language and structure devices, and you must do this in conjunction with relevant evidence selected from the texts. One of your assignments may be an empathic response to a prose or drama text. This means you can imagine that you are one of the characters in the text and write your response as though you were that character. We will explore this in more detail in the following revision notes.

As a reminder, the assessment objectives are:

Assessment objective

Definition

What this means

AO1

Show detailed knowledge of the content of literary texts in the three main forms (drama, poetry and prose) supported by reference to the text

You need to demonstrate your knowledge of the text through reference to details in the text and via the use of accurate, relevant quotations from the text


Your use of quotations and indirect references to the text should support your views or arguments


The quotations you choose should help you develop explanations of meanings, significance and context in your response


If you are doing an empathic task, then you should seamlessly incorporate well-selected textual detail

AO2

Understand the meanings of literary texts and their contents and explore texts beyond surface meanings to show deeper awareness of ideas and attitudes

You need to show that you understand the main ideas, settings, events and characters in the text


You need to demonstrate that you understand implied or hidden meanings in the text


You should also demonstrate that you understand the significance of a part of a text in relation to the text as a whole

AO3

Recognise and appreciate ways in which writers use language, structure and form to create and shape meanings and effects

You need to be able to analyse, in detail, the choices the writer has made and how they use language, structure and form to convey impressions and ideas, or to present settings, characters or events, or sustain an entirely convincing voice for the character in an empathic task


You therefore need to be familiar with the techniques a writer might use to achieve specific effects for readers or audiences

AO4

Communicate a sensitive and informed personal response to literary texts

This refers to how you shape your writing to communicate your engagement with the text


Your personal, evaluative response has to be supported with references to the text


A personal response begins by demonstrating understanding of the question and the text in the introduction


You should be sensitive to imagery and sound, and you should be informed by the words of the texts


This Assessment Objective can also be explicitly addressed and reinforced in a well-developed conclusion

Please note that you may disadvantage yourself if your assignments are significantly over or under the word-count guidance. 

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Deb Orrock

Author: Deb Orrock

Expertise: English Content Creator

Deb is a graduate of Lancaster University and The University of Wolverhampton. After some time travelling and a successful career in the travel industry, she re-trained in education, specialising in literacy. She has over 16 years’ experience of working in education, teaching English Literature, English Language, Functional Skills English, ESOL and on Access to HE courses. She has also held curriculum and quality manager roles, and worked with organisations on embedding literacy and numeracy into vocational curriculums. She most recently managed a post-16 English curriculum as well as writing educational content and resources.

Nick Redgrove

Author: Nick Redgrove

Expertise: English Senior Content Creator

Nick is a graduate of the University of Cambridge and King’s College London. He started his career in journalism and publishing, working as an editor on a political magazine and a number of books, before training as an English teacher. After nearly 10 years working in London schools, where he held leadership positions in English departments and within a Sixth Form, he moved on to become an examiner and education consultant. With more than a decade of experience as a tutor, Nick specialises in English, but has also taught Politics, Classical Civilisation and Religious Studies.