Edexcel International GCSE Literature: every topic, by paper

What is explicit information?

Information stated directly in the text.

What is implicit information?

Information suggested or implied, which the reader must infer.

What is inference?

Working out meaning from clues in the text that are not stated directly.

What is the purpose of persuasive writing?

To convince the reader to agree with a viewpoint or take action.

What does the mnemonic AFOREST stand for?

Anecdote, Facts, Opinion, Rhetorical questions, Emotive language, Statistics, Triples (rule of three).

What is a rhetorical question?

A question asked for effect, without expecting an answer.

What are the key features of a formal letter?

Addresses, date, formal greeting (Dear Sir/Madam or Dear Mr X), clear paragraphs, formal tone, and a formal sign-off.

When do you use "Yours sincerely" and "Yours faithfully"?

"Yours sincerely" when you know the person's name; "Yours faithfully" when you begin "Dear Sir/Madam".

What are the key features of a newspaper or magazine article?

A headline, often a subheading or strapline, an engaging opening, paragraphs, and quotations or evidence.

What is a simile?

A comparison using "like" or "as", e.g. "as cold as ice".

What is a metaphor?

A comparison that says one thing is another, e.g. "the classroom was a zoo".

What is personification?

Giving human qualities to something non-human, e.g. "the wind howled".

What does "structure" mean in a text?

How a text is organised and ordered: its opening, development, shifts and ending.

What is foreshadowing?

Hints early in a text about what will happen later.

What is a flashback?

A scene that goes back to an earlier time.

What is the difference between descriptive and narrative writing?

Descriptive writing creates a vivid picture of a place, person or moment; narrative writing tells a story with events and characters.

What does "show, don't tell" mean?

Reveal emotions and details through actions and description rather than stating them, e.g. "her hands trembled" instead of "she was scared".

Why use the five senses in descriptive writing?

They make the scene vivid and immersive for the reader.

What is a noun, a verb and an adjective?

Noun: a person, place or thing. Verb: an action or state. Adjective: describes a noun.

What is an adverb?

A word that describes a verb, adjective or another adverb, often ending in -ly.

What is a pronoun?

A word used instead of a noun, e.g. he, she, it, they.

When do you use a capital letter?

At the start of a sentence, for proper nouns, and for "I".

What are the two main uses of an apostrophe?

To show possession (the girl's bag) and omission (don't = do not).

Where does the apostrophe go for a plural possessive, e.g. the bags of the girls?

After the s: the girls' bags.

When do you use there, their and they're?

There: a place or "there is". Their: belonging to them. They're: they are.

When do you use to, too and two?

To: direction or with a verb. Too: also or excessive. Two: the number 2.

What is the difference between affect and effect?

Affect is usually a verb (to influence); effect is usually a noun (the result).

What are the Edexcel International GCSE English Language A papers about?

Paper 1: non-fiction texts (from the anthology and unseen) and transactional writing. Paper 2 (or coursework): poetry and prose texts from the anthology, and imaginative writing.

What is transactional writing?

Writing for a real-world purpose and audience, such as a letter, article, speech, review or report.

Why must Edexcel International GCSE students study the anthology?

Some reading questions are set on texts from the Pearson anthology, so students need to know those texts well.