ENGLISH-LANGUAGE-A · Pearson Edexcel IGCSE
ENGLISH-LANGUAGE-A/21
Poetry and Prose Texts and Imaginative Writing
English Language A · 2023 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Pearson Edexcel
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.8 / 5
150
225 min
Comparative Reading and Transactional Writing
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
150
Duration
225 min
Session difficulty
3.8 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The January 2023 examination series required candidates to demonstrate advanced skills in both analytical synthesis and creative execution.
While the core questions followed Edexcel's reliable structures, the pairing of Helen Macdonald’s masterclass in falconry from H is for Hawk with Charlie Gilmour’s contemporary memoir Featherhood demanded a highly nuanced contrast.
Candidates had to distinguish between Gilmour’s urban, chaotic domesticity and Macdonald’s intense, high-stakes professional encounter.
In Paper 2, Guy de Maupassant's The Necklace tested students' ability to handle complex social critique and dramatic irony across a multi-part essay prompt.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
No data available in official reports
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Textual
Weight: 9100%Retrieval
Weight: 889%Linguistic &
Weight: 778%Comparative Synthesis Formulae,
Weight: 667%Tone &
Weight: 333%RegiSPAG &
Weight: 222%Vocabulary
Weight: 111%
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
No data available in official reports
Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
No data available in official reports
Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
No data available in official reports
Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
No data available in official reports
Grade & admission context
How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards
Report type
Examiner report — national grade boundaries and question-level commentary
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
No data available in official reports
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
Match the expected response style for “Select” questions.
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Match the expected response style for “does” questions.
Identify similarities and differences explicitly — paired sentences or a table helps.
Match the expected response style for “Write” questions.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.5
Min per mark: 1.5
Min per mark: 1
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Transactional Writing
45 marks this session
The Necklace
30 marks this session
Imaginative Writing
30 marks this session
From H is for Hawk
23 marks this session
MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
Mark intensity
Section B: Transactional Writing (Speech/Article)
Transactional Writing
The Bright Lights of Sarajevo, Tony Harrison
Section B: Imaginative Writing
An Unknown Girl, Moniza Alvi
The Necklace
Imaginative Writing
Explorers, or boys messing about? Either way, taxpayer gets rescue bill, Steven Morris
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 1: Non-fiction Texts and Transactional Writing:
Paper 2: Poetry and Prose Texts and Imaginative Writing:
Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
No data available in official reports
Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
Transactional Writing
45 marks this session
Practise in RevuiThe Necklace
30 marks this session
Practise in RevuiImaginative Writing
30 marks this session
Practise in RevuiFrom H is for Hawk
23 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The January 2023 examination series required candidates to demonstrate advanced skills in both analytical synthesis and creative execution.
- 2Message
While the core questions followed Edexcel's reliable structures, the pairing of Helen Macdonald’s masterclass in falconry from H is for Hawk with Charlie Gilmour’s contemporary memoir Featherhood demanded a highly nuanced contrast.
- 3Message
Candidates had to distinguish between Gilmour’s urban, chaotic domesticity and Macdonald’s intense, high-stakes professional encounter.
- 4Message
In Paper 2, Guy de Maupassant's The Necklace tested students' ability to handle complex social critique and dramatic irony across a multi-part essay prompt.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
2023 2023
English Language A
The January 2023 examination series required candidates to demonstrate advanced skills in both analytical synthesis and creative execution. While the core questions followed Edexcel's reliable structures, the pairing of Helen Macdonald’s masterclass in falconry from H is for Hawk
The January 2023 examination series required candidates to demonstrate advanced skills in both analytical synthesis and creative execution.
While the core questions followed Edexcel's reliable structures, the pairing of Helen Macdonald’s masterclass in falconry from H is for Hawk with Charlie Gilmour’s contemporary memoir Featherhood demanded a highly nuanced contrast.
Candidates had to distinguish between Gilmour’s urban, chaotic domesticity and Macdonald’s intense, high-stakes professional encounter.
- Total marks
- 150
- Duration
- 225 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.8 / 5
Session analysis
The January 2023 examination series required candidates to demonstrate advanced skills in both analytical synthesis and creative execution. While the core questions followed Edexcel's reliable structures, the pairing of Helen Macdonald’s masterclass in falconry from H is for Hawk with Charlie Gilmour’s contemporary memoir Featherhood demanded a highly nuanced contrast. Candidates had to distinguish between Gilmour’s urban, chaotic domesticity and Macdonald’s intense, high-stakes professional encounter. In Paper 2, Guy de Maupassant's The Necklace tested students' ability to handle complex social critique and dramatic irony across a multi-part essay prompt.
Updated Jun 13, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 1: Non-fiction Texts and Transactional Writing:
Paper 2: Poetry and Prose Texts and Imaginative Writing:
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
60% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Extended Writing / Composition
75·2·50%
Analytical Essay
(Single Text)
42·2·28%
Comparative Essay
22·1·15%
Short Descriptive / Explanation
9·2·6%
Short Answer / Retrieval
2·1·1%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Paper 1 Section B (
1.00 m/minPaper 2 Section A (
0.67 m/minPaper 2 Section B (
0.67 m/minTotal marks
105
Total time
135 min
Avg pace
0.78
Cumulative marks ladder
The line is your running mark total question by question; dashed lines are the estimated grade cut-offs. See which question the line crosses your target grade at, so you know how far you must answer cleanly and which questions decide a band.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Identity and Cultural Heritage (Non-fiction)
5%5%
War Poetry & Dramatic Monologue
4%4%
Article Writing & Discursive Argumentation
4%4%
Difficulty Verdict: Moderate-Hard (3.8/5)
The January 2023 examination series required candidates to demonstrate advanced skills in both analytical synthesis and creative execution. While the core questions followed Edexcel's reliable structures, the pairing of Helen Macdonald’s masterclass in falconry from H is for Hawk with Charlie Gilmour’s contemporary memoir Featherhood demanded a highly nuanced contrast. Candidates had to distinguish between Gilmour’s urban, chaotic domesticity and Macdonald’s intense, high-stakes professional encounter. In Paper 2, Guy de Maupassant's The Necklace tested students' ability to handle complex social critique and dramatic irony across a multi-part essay prompt.
Examiner notes & key calculations
- Direct Copying in Short-Answer Tasks: In Question 2, many students copied large blocks of text rather than explaining the writer's thoughts and actions in their own words, resulting in capped scores.
- Imbalanced Comparisons: A frequent error in Question 5 was dedicating 70% of the essay to the familiar anthology piece, leaving the unseen text under-analysed.
- Form Misalignment in Writing: For Paper 1 Section B, some candidates writing the letter (Question 6) failed to establish clear formal letter conventions, such as appropriate salutations and cohesive paragraph transitions.
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 1h 30min
- Total marks
- 60
- Weighting
- 40%
- Question types
- Poetry/Prose Analysis Essay (AO1/AO2), Imaginative Writing (AO4/AO5)
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.