Skills can be built on separate practice.
A well-meant trap
Most coursework trouble starts with love, not dishonesty. A parent sees a stressed child, spots a clumsy sentence, and reaches for the keyboard to tidy it up. It feels harmless.
Under exam board rules, it may not be. Some IGCSE English routes include coursework, which is writing done over time rather than in an exam hall. Because it is done at home, boards are strict about whose work it is.
Why the rules are strict
Coursework lets students show their skills across drafted and edited pieces. The risk is heavy help at home. Boards require the work to be the student’s own, and teachers must confirm it.
The rules exist so a coursework grade means the same as an exam grade. They are not there to catch honest families out.
Which routes include coursework, and how it is weighted, differs by board and changes over time. See our qualification pages and our guide to coursework and exam routes.
Where the line falls
You may support the conditions and the effort. You must not touch the content or the corrections.
Safe help includes:
- a quiet place and time to work
- a realistic schedule, so a deadline does not become a crisis
- interest in what they are writing
- encouragement to take questions to their teacher
Unsafe help includes correcting spelling and grammar, rewriting sentences, suggesting words or ideas, and restructuring paragraphs. Even proofreading can cross the line, because once you flag an error you are shaping the writing. If in doubt, do less.
Why the risk is not worth it
A little polish may seem unnoticeable. But teachers read that student’s writing all year, and a piece that suddenly sounds like an adult stands out.
If a school suspects the work is not the student’s own, the boards have malpractice procedures. The outcome can be severe, up to losing a paper or a whole subject. An honest, rough piece is worth far more than a polished one that puts the qualification at risk.
If this is on your mind, a paid one-hour trial with an experienced teacher is the simplest way to see how we teach.
Helping a stuck child the right way
You do not have to stand back while your child struggles. Help them break the task into steps and protect time for each one.
If they are anxious, remind them that drafts are expected to be rough and that asking their teacher for guidance is allowed. If they lack a skill, such as structuring an argument, that skill can be built on separate practice work.
Building ability is fair. Doing the piece for them is not.
How a tutor can and cannot help
A responsible tutor works within the same rules. We teach the skills a coursework portfolio needs: planning, drafting, self-editing, building an argument and sharpening analysis. We use practice pieces to do this.
The student writes and submits every piece themselves. That boundary keeps the grade honest and the student safe.
We teach IGCSE English online, one-to-one, from RM70/hr. If coursework is part of your child’s route, we will explain how we build the underlying skills without touching the submitted work.
The simple rule
Support the conditions, the schedule and the confidence. Leave content, corrections and polish to your child and their teacher. If you are unsure whether some help is allowed, do less and ask the teacher.
If your child’s route includes coursework, see how our coursework skills support works within the rules. You can also compare a tutor with school alone or read how our lessons are planned. Then Book a Trial Class and ask us anything about coursework.