How to Revise iGCSE English Language

Revising English Language is fundamentally about practising the skills of reading and writing rather than memorising content. Unlike most other subjects, there is no set body of knowledge to learn — instead, you need to train your ability to analyse unfamiliar texts and produce effective writing under timed conditions. The more texts you read and respond to, the more natural this becomes.

For the reading components, develop a systematic approach to annotation. When you encounter a new text, identify the tone, the writer's purpose, key language techniques, and structural choices. Practise writing analytical paragraphs that quote briefly, identify the technique, and explain the effect on the reader. Speed matters here — aim to annotate a full extract in under five minutes.

For writing, build a toolkit of reliable techniques that you can deploy in any task. Short sentences for impact, carefully chosen metaphors, varied paragraph lengths, and a strong opening line are all techniques that work across creative and transactional writing. Practise applying these in timed conditions so they become instinctive rather than forced.