How to Answer Assignment B (Edexcel IGCSE English Language)

How to Answer Assignment B

Assignment B is an imaginative writing task of around 700 words, and is worth 30 marks.

There are two assessment objectives for this task:

• AO4: Communicate effectively and imaginatively, adapting form, tone and register of writing for specific purposes and audiences (18 marks)
• AO5: Write clearly, using a range of vocabulary and sentence structures, with appropriate paragraphing and accurate spelling, grammar and punctuation (12 marks)

The following guide includes:

• Breaking down the question
• Assignment tips

Breaking down the question

This writing task is called “imaginative” writing, meaning that you are required to write creatively and with ambition and flair. You can choose what genre you wish to write in, but you should avoid cliches such as writing about abandoned houses or stories inspired by films.

Your imaginative piece could be in response to a title, or a prompt that asks you to write a story beginning or ending with a particular phrase or sentence.

To get the highest marks, you are expected to:

• Use appropriate techniques for creative writing
• Use a “voice” that attempts to make the piece interesting and/or believable for the audience
• Write in a register and style appropriate for the form
• Communicate with maturity and sophistication
• Use an extensive range of vocabulary
• Punctuate your writing deliberately for emphasis
• Use a range of sentence structures accurately in order to achieve particular effects
• Draft and edit your piece of writing in order to improve it

Assignment tips

• Your writing should have clear organisation and structure, with an introduction, a clear progression of ideas and an ending

• When you are writing, always think about your reader; how do you want them to react at different parts of your writing? Then choose the best words, phrases or techniques available to you to achieve those effects

• Demonstrate your ability to shape a narrative, including moments of tension or drama

• Use characterisation to create believable protagonists and characters

• Do not just “tell” a series of events

• Do not over-complicate your language unnecessarily:

  • Do not underestimate the power of simple words and sentences to create powerful effects

• Engage your reader with your introduction:

  • Start at your story’s main setting, not in the journey or build up
  • Ensure all of the words you choose contribute to the overall atmosphere and effect you want to create

• Do not confuse tenses in a paragraph:

  • If you use flashback, ensure you have written in the past tense
  • If you use present tense verbs for effect, then make sure you do this consistently

• Limit your use of dialogue, if any:

  • Only use dialogue if it drives forward the plot and you are able to punctuate it correctly

• Vary your sentence and paragraph lengths to keep the style and tone dynamic

• As you begin to write, know where you will end. This will help you construct a cohesive and coherent piece of writing

• Take care throughout with accuracy

• Try to be ambitious, creative and original