International GCSE English Language

Pearson Edexcel IGCSE Language A

The Pearson Edexcel International GCSE in English Language (Specification A) is taken as Paper 1 plus either Paper 2 or a non-examined coursework component. Paper 1 covers non-fiction reading, transactional writing and a of ten non-fiction texts studied for Paper 1 Section A.

prescribed anthology

2 papers3h 45m total (Papers 1 and 2)10 anthology texts

Studying Literature too?

See your Pearson Edexcel IGCSE Literature set texts - full study guides for Macbeth, An Inspector Calls, Of Mice and Men and more.

Anthology version: This site teaches Issue 8 (February 2026) of the Pearson Edexcel International GCSE English Anthology (ISBN 978-1-446-93108-0). Material differences from freely-available online versions include:

Half-Caste uses Agard’s spelling ‘yu’ (not ‘you’);
The Bright Lights of Sarajevo has additional stanza breaks not in Harrison’s original Guardian publication;
the adapted non-fiction text ‘Explorers or boys messing about?’ differs from the Guardian article it was adapted from - always use the anthology version when answering Edexcel questions.

Anthology © Pearson Education Limited 2026. Quotations on individual set-text pages are short fair-dealing extracts under CDPA s.30. Pearson publishes the full anthology free as a PDF on its qualifications website.

Paper 1: Non-Fiction Texts and Transactional Writing

2 hours 15 minutes · 90 marks · 60% of total

Paper 1 Section A

Section A - Reading: Non-Fiction Texts

Two texts: an unseen extract (Text One) and one of the 10 prescribed non-fiction texts from the Pearson Edexcel anthology (Text Two). Questions 1 to 3 (2, 4 and 5 marks) are on the unseen extract, Question 4 (12 marks) asks how the anthology writer uses language and structure, and Question 5 (22 marks) compares the two texts. 45 marks; about 1 hour 30 minutes, including reading time.

The Danger of a Single Story A Passage to Africa The Explorer's Daughter

Paper 2: Poetry and Prose Texts and Imaginative Writing

1 hour 30 minutes · 60 marks · 40% of total

Paper 2 Section A

Section A - Poetry and Prose Texts

One 30-mark essay on a poem or prose text from Part 2 of the anthology, which is provided in the exam. There is no choice of text. About 45 minutes.

Paper 2 Section B

Section B - Imaginative Writing

One 30-mark imaginative writing task, chosen from three prompts. About 45 minutes.

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All 10 non-fiction texts with full analysis

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Explorers or Boys Messing About

127 Hours

Paper 1 Section A

Section A - Anthology (continued)

The remaining five prescribed non-fiction texts for the anthology study.

Young and Dyslexic A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat Beyond the Sky and the Earth H is for Hawk Chinese Cinderella

Paper 1 Section B

Section B - Transactional Writing

One 45-mark writing task, chosen from two prompts that set an audience, form or purpose. The text types are an article for a magazine or newspaper, a speech, a letter, a guide, a review and the text of a leaflet. About 45 minutes.

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