Blog category
Reading & writing better
Reading habits, vocabulary, sentence craft, description and narrative technique.
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How do you write persuasively without shouting or exaggerating?
Persuasive writing for IGCSE English works through calm confidence, evidence and well-placed feeling, not capital letters and wild claims. Here is how.
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How do you build a reading habit that survives a busy school term?
A simple way for IGCSE English students to read every day: start small, link reading to a daily routine and choose enjoyable books. It lifts writing too.
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How do you make your sentences flow so one leads naturally to the next?
Cohesion in IGCSE English means linking sentences with key words, pronouns, clear order and well-placed connectives. Learn each method with examples.
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How do you build the stamina to keep writing well to the end of a paper?
Writing stamina for IGCSE English: train endurance step by step, spread your effort across the paper and protect your checking time so quality holds.
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How do precise verbs and nouns make writing stronger than extra adjectives?
Strong verbs and exact nouns beat piles of adjectives in IGCSE English writing. See simple before-and-after examples and an easy editing check to use.
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How do you control sentence length so your writing has rhythm and impact?
Sentence rhythm in IGCSE English: mix long and short sentences on purpose to build tension, slow down and land a point. Includes a worked before-and-after.
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How do you cut the clutter out of your writing and make every word count?
Concise writing for IGCSE English: spot and cut empty openers, doubled words and long phrases so your sentences say more with fewer words. With examples.
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How do you edit your own writing when you can no longer see what is wrong?
Self-editing for IGCSE English: simple tricks to see your writing with fresh eyes, plus focused checks that catch the mistakes one quick reread misses.
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How do you find an angle that makes a dull writing topic interesting?
Turn a broad or boring IGCSE English writing prompt into a specific, original piece by narrowing it to one angle. With examples and a quick two-step test.
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How do you widen your vocabulary by register rather than by memorising long words?
Build IGCSE English vocabulary by register: learn which words suit formal, neutral and casual writing, so you choose the word that fits, not the longest.
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How do you keep a writer's journal that makes you a better writer?
A writer's journal for IGCSE English: how short, unmarked daily writing builds fluency, voice and ideas, and how to keep the habit going for months.
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How do you write imagery that feels fresh instead of clichéd?
Fresh imagery for IGCSE English: how to replace tired similes and metaphors with original comparisons that come from looking closely at your subject.
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How do you learn new words from your reading and keep them?
Grow your IGCSE English vocabulary from context: learn words from what you read, then lock them in by using them in your own sentences, not word lists.
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How do you make notes on what you read so they actually improve your writing?
Note-making for IGCSE English: capture ideas, words and techniques from your reading in your own words, so you can reuse them every time you write.
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How do you plan a discursive essay so it weighs both sides fairly and still arrives somewhere?
Plan an IGCSE discursive essay by listing both sides, pairing each point with its counter, building in order and deciding your final view before writing.
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How do you plan a story so its ending actually lands instead of running out of time?
Plan an IGCSE English story from its ending backwards: keep the story small, plant early details that pay off, and avoid a rushed or random last paragraph.
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How do you use punctuation for effect, not just to be correct?
How colons, dashes, semicolons and full stops change pace and emphasis in IGCSE English writing, with simple examples you can copy and practise.
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How do you read a text actively instead of just passing your eyes over it?
How to read actively for IGCSE English: a simple annotation habit that helps you find meaning, implied ideas and writer's effects faster in the exam.
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How do you read like a writer so that reading makes your own writing better?
How to read like a writer for IGCSE English: notice the techniques good authors use, name them, and try them in your own stories and descriptions.
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How do you read non-fiction critically instead of taking it at face value?
How to read non-fiction critically for IGCSE English: spot a writer's purpose, tone and bias in articles and opinion pieces to sharpen reading answers.
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How do you show what a character is like through action rather than just telling the reader?
How to show a character's personality through choices, small actions and dialogue in IGCSE English stories, instead of just listing their traits.
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How do you shape a paragraph so the reader can follow your thinking?
How to write IGCSE English paragraphs that open clearly, develop one idea and land the point, so the reader can follow your thinking without effort.
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How do you use evidence so it actually proves your point instead of just sitting there?
How to choose, embed and explain quotations and examples in IGCSE English so your evidence proves your argument instead of just decorating the page.
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How do you bring the senses into your writing without it reading like a checklist?
How to use sound, smell and touch in IGCSE English descriptive writing to build atmosphere, without the mechanical 'I could see, I could hear' checklist.
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How do you vary your sentence openings so your writing stops sounding flat?
A quick fix for flat IGCSE English writing: start sentences in different ways so your writing has rhythm and control. Simple patterns and examples to copy.
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What should you change between a first draft and a second draft?
Redrafting for IGCSE English: change focus, structure, cuts and development first, then polish. Here is what to change between drafts, and in what order.
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What should you read to grow into a strong IGCSE English writer?
A reading plan for IGCSE English writers: why fiction, journalism, non-fiction and poetry each build the vocabulary and sentence variety exams reward.
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How do you end a piece of writing so it resonates instead of just stopping?
How to end an IGCSE English story, description or argument so it lands and lingers, without a tacked-on moral or a rushed finish. Examples included.
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How do you write an opening that makes a reader want to keep reading?
How to write IGCSE English opening lines that hook a reader in stories, descriptions and arguments, using questions, images and voice instead of gimmicks.
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How do you write description that puts a reader in a place rather than listing its contents?
Descriptive writing for IGCSE English: how to stop listing features and choose a few telling details that build mood and put the reader in the scene.