Excel in iGCSE English Literature with Targeted Practice
Revise iGCSE English Literature with practice on prose, poetry, drama, and unseen text analysis.
Content reviewed February 2026 · Aligned to current specifications
About iGCSE English Literature
iGCSE English Literature encourages students to engage with a range of literary texts from different periods and cultures. The Cambridge International syllabus includes poetry, prose and drama, with set texts selected to represent a breadth of literary traditions beyond the British canon alone.
Assessment is entirely examination-based, with no coursework component in most variants. Students respond to passage-based and essay questions on their set texts, demonstrating skills in close reading, textual analysis and personal response. The exam rewards students who can explore how writers use language, form and structure to create meaning and effect.
The iGCSE in English Literature is valued by universities globally as preparation for further literary study. It develops critical thinking, analytical writing and the ability to construct sustained, well-evidenced arguments - skills that are transferable far beyond the study of English.
Topics Covered
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iGCSE English Literature is available from these exam boards
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Spaced Repetition
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Study Tips for English Literature
- ✓ Annotate your set texts thoroughly as you study them - iGCSE exams are closed-book, so you need to memorise key quotations and understand their significance.
- ✓ Practice writing analytical paragraphs using the point-evidence-explanation structure. For iGCSE, examiners want to see close language analysis rather than plot summary.
- ✓ Study the context of each text (historical period, cultural background, the writer's intentions) as iGCSE questions often ask how context shapes meaning.
- ✓ Read literary criticism and different interpretations of your set texts to develop alternative readings that you can reference in essays.
Exam Tips for iGCSE English Literature
- ✓ Plan each essay briefly before writing. A clear argument with three or four well-developed paragraphs will score higher than a longer, unfocused response.
- ✓ In passage-based questions, work closely with the extract provided. Quote short, precise phrases and analyse specific word choices rather than making general observations about the passage.
- ✓ Leave time to check your spelling and grammar - the quality of your written English contributes to the overall mark in iGCSE English Literature.
Frequently Asked Questions
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English Literature at other levels: GCSE English Literature · A-Level English Literature · International A-Level English Literature
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