This document contains guidance and instructions for students taking an IGCSE Reading exam. It begins with a dictionary exercise for students to define vocabulary words. It then provides advice on how to answer Question 1 of the exam, which involves transforming a text into an interview. Students are instructed to address all points equally, make reasonable inferences, and use their own words as much as possible. Sample conventions and structures for writing an interview are also outlined. The document concludes by providing the interview prompt for students to attempt, with guidance on criteria for a successful response.

1. IGCSE Reading Paper
(Extended)
Examining your English awesomeness!

2. Starter: Dictionary Dash!
 desperate
 indigenous
 remote
 indigenous
 abundance
 destroyed
Each pair has 5 minutes to find
out, and write down the
definition of the words.
An extra point is available if
your pair is able to identify a
synonym for the word.
The winners will be the row
with the most points overall!
Do this well… it may help you
out later!

3. Recap:
What am I doing in Question One?
You are transforming one text into another using your own words.
 Address all three points equally – remember
that there will be the least help with point
three!
 Make reasonable inferences (build on what is
said in the text, but only if it makes sense!)
 Write in the FORMAT required by the board
 Use information from the text to bring the
voice and character to life.
 Try to combine information from all three
points in your answer, rather than addressing
each in turn.
 Use your own words as far as possible!
It should be about 1½ -2 sides
minimum.

4. The Question:
Julia, during her recovery, fully explained her experience to her parents.
A reporter for a newspaper interviews Julia’s parents and asks the following three questions:
 What made you choose to visit the rain forest in Ecuador with your daughter, Julia?
 How did Julia’s accident happen and what did she do to survive.
 What are your thoughts and feelings towards the Achur people and their way of life?
Write the words of the interview, starting with the first question and base the response on
what you have read in passage A and be careful to use your own words.
Up to fifteen marks will be available for the content of your answer and up to five marks for
the quality of your writing.
Step One… can you turn on the TAP?
Type
Audience
Purpose

5. What are the conventions of interview writing?
 At least two people!
 No speech marks – just a colon after the name
 Open questions… all the detail should be in the
response of the interviewee.
 One person talking a lot more than the other!
 Occasional stage directions for tone of voice or
emotion in brackets may be given, but try to limit
these!
What might this look like?
Reporter: So, what did you think about the Achur
people?
Julia’s dad: Well, firstly, we were impressed. In an
area where so much has vanished, and where they
are so isolated, they have managed to maintain their
way of life. In addition their kindness and knowledge
helped to save our daughter’s life. It is no
exaggeration to say that Julia would be dead
following her trip down the river if it wasn’t for the
Achur people

6. Moving to the text
Bullet Point One:
Why go there with Julia?
Bullet Point Two:
Accident & Survival
Bullet Point Three:
Thoughts and Feelings
Read the text to look for relevant details for each bullet point.
Remember: Bullet point three will be the trickiest!

7. Putting it all together….
There are two ways to do this:
1. Treat each of the bullet points separately and cover them one at a time
Or… especially if you are going for the higher grades
2. Try and combine a little of each bullet point into each paragraph, whilst adding
some extra detail as well.
Bullet
point one:
Why go
there?
Bullet point two:
Accident and suvival
Bullet point
three:
Thoughts and
feelings
Reporter: So, what did you think about the Achur people?
Julia’s dad: Well, firstly, we were impressed. In an area where so much
has vanished, and where they are so isolated, to meet such an ancient
and traditional culture was amazing. They have managed to maintain
their way of life. In addition their kindness and knowledge helped to
save our daughter’s life. It is no exaggeration to say that Julia would be
dead following her trip down the river if it wasn’t for the Achur people

8. Try it for yourself…
Write the interview with Julia’s Parents
Your response should be logical, detailed and using your own words to link to the previous information…
…you have 20 minutes!
Success Criteria:
 I have used relevant details
from the text in my writing
 I have developed some
ideas that are in the
passage
 I have taken the ideas from
the text and put them in
my OWN WORDS
 I have used a range of
vocabulary to express what
my character thinks and
feels
 I created a VOICE so my
character sounds real
 Everything I say can find its
roots in the passage

9. Now swap and mark it!
Highlight where each of the following are in the text in front of you…

10. Back to Question One: Which of these
bands do you
think best
describes the
work in front of
you?
All of you should
be able to identify
a band for
reading, which
you think fits it.
Most of you
should be able to
identify what it
does well, and
how it could be
improved.
Some of you
should be able to
use this to set
them a target in
your response.

11. Plenary:
On a post-it, decide which word best describes your understanding of how to
answer Question 1… and why!
Confident
Unsure
Clueless
Satisfactory
Delighted
Ok