IGCSE 2026 Exam Trends: Edexcel Literature in English 4ET0

Edexcel IGCSE Literature in English (4ET0) is assessed with Paper 1 (poetry and modern prose/drama) and Paper 2 (unseen and set texts). Component codes may vary – check the current spec. Here are recent trends for 2026.

Paper format and structure

• 4ET0 – Paper 1 and Paper 2 (or equivalent); structure unchanged for 2025–2026. Set texts (poetry, prose, drama) and unseen (poetry or prose). Comparison and analysis of language, form, structure are central.
• Essay and passage-based questions; quotation + explanation of effect; context (where relevant) and writer’s methods (language, form, structure).
• Comparison (e.g. two poems, two extracts) – similarities and differences with evidence and analysis.

Question types and topics that keep coming up

• Poetry: Language (imagery, word choice, tone); form (stanza, rhyme, rhythm); structure (opening, development, conclusion). Quotation + effect; comparison of poems with evidence.
• Prose/Drama: Character, theme, setting; language and structure; key moments and quotation. Passage-based – analyse the given extract and link to the whole text.
• Unseen: Comprehension, inference, analysis of language and structure; quotation + explanation. No prior knowledge of the text; evidence from the passage only.
• Essay: Argument (thesis); evidence (quotes); analysis (how language/form/structure create effect); context where it adds to the argument.

Are papers getting easier or harder?

• Standards are maintained via grade boundaries. Reports cite quotation without explanation, generic analysis, comparison without evidence, and unseen answers that don’t use the passage.
• No reported shift in difficulty; evidence and analysis of writer’s methods are key.

Similarity to past papers and predictability

• Format and style match past Edexcel series. Past papers are a good guide to question types and set text focus.
• Set texts are predictable from the option; exact questions are not. Marking focus (quotation, analysis, comparison) is consistent.

Examiner expectations and marking

• Quotation + explanation of effect (how it creates meaning/effect); writer’s methods (language, form, structure). Generic comments score low.
• Comparison – similarities and differences with evidence from both texts; analysis of how.
• Unseen – use only the passage; evidence-based analysis. Marking consistent with past series.

Assessment style and skills in demand

• Close analysis – quotation, effect, methods; comparison with evidence; essay with argument and evidence.

Focus areas for 2026 revision

1. Quotation + explanation – how language/form/structure create effect.
2. Comparison – similarities and differences with evidence from both texts.
3. Set texts – know key scenes/poems; themes, characters, methods.
4. Unseen – read carefully; evidence from passage only; analyse language and structure.
5. Essay – plan (argument, points, conclusion); evidence in every paragraph.

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Based on current specification and examiner reports. Always use the latest Edexcel 4ET0 specification for your series.