Edexcel IGCSE English Language coursework (Pearson 4EA1, Component 4EA1/03) is the non-examined route that replaces Paper 2 for 40% of the qualification. You still sit Paper 1 (non-fiction reading and transactional writing). Schools choose exam (02) or coursework (03) — confirm with your exams officer.

This guide gives task examples, structures and short original illustrations aligned to the current specification (Issue 7, first assessment May/June 2024 onwards). It does not publish full model essays (that encourages plagiarism). Use Pearson’s official sample materials and your teacher’s drafts.

Related guides: Cambridge 0500 coursework examples · Edexcel Literature coursework · IGCSE English language notes · 4EA1 exam trends.

4EA1 structure: where coursework fits

Component	Code	Weight	Assessment
Paper 1	4EA1/01	60%	Exam — non-fiction + transactional writing
Paper 2	4EA1/02	40%	Exam — anthology + imaginative writing
Coursework	4EA1/03	40%	NEA — two assignments (alternative to Paper 2)

You complete Paper 1 + either Paper 2 or Component 3, not both.

English Language B (4EB1) does not use this coursework component — it follows a different specification. Optional Spoken Language Endorsement is separate on both A and B.

Component 3: two assignments

Assignment	Focus	Approx. length	Marks	AOs
A	Poetry & prose from Part 2 of the Pearson anthology	~1200 words	30	AO1, AO2
B	Imaginative writing	~700 words	30	AO4, AO5

Word counts are advisory (Pearson specification). Titles, bibliographies and footnotes that are references only are not counted; quotations are.

Important: format changed in 2024

Before June 2024, some centres used an older coursework pattern (e.g. two texts plus a separate commentary). Current Issue 7 requires Assignment A as one essay discussing three anthology texts, including at least one poem and one prose text. Do not use pre-2024 “commentary” models you find on old forums.

Official source: Pearson 4EA1 specification and coursework submission guidance on the Pearson site.

Assignment A: example task titles (from the specification pattern)

Your teacher (or you, with approval) sets a task that tests AO1 (ideas, selection, interpretation) and AO2 (language and structure). Pearson suggests this shape:

Discuss how the writers use language and structure to present [chosen focus] in [Anthology text 1], [text 2] and [text 3].

In your response you should:

• discuss the ideas and perspectives of the writers about the chosen focus
• discuss how the writers use language and structure to achieve their effects
• include textual references to illustrate the points you make

Example focuses you could adapt (with your teacher)

Focus	Why it works
Conflict or tension	Compares effects across poem + prose
Isolation or belonging	Strong in many anthology extracts
Power or injustice	Links ideas (AO1) with technique (AO2)
Childhood or memory	Good for structural comparison

Example task (illustrative only):
Discuss how the writers use language and structure to present fear in three texts from Part 2 of the anthology.

Assignment A: paragraph plan (not a full essay)

Section	What to write
Introduction	Focus + brief overview of all three texts
Body 1	Text 1 — idea + 2–3 techniques with quotations
Body 2	Text 2 — same focus, compare/contrast
Body 3	Text 3 — develop comparison; avoid repeating Text 1 phrases
Conclusion	Synthesise how writers’ methods differ for the same focus

Short original excerpt (imaginative illustration of analytical style — not tied to anthology texts):

In the opening of the prose extract, the writer’s short clauses mirror the character’s panic, whereas the poem’s enjambment lets fear spill across line breaks. Both present fear, but the novel dramatises it through syntax, while the poem uses lineation to control pace.

Your real essay must quote your three set anthology texts.

Assignment B: example imaginative prompts

Assignment B must allow AO4 (imaginative, adapted form/tone) and AO5 (accuracy, range). Purpose: narrate, describe or entertain.

Pearson example prompt styles include:

• “The moment had passed” — write an imaginative piece ending with these words.
• “During the night the wind rose.” Write a piece that begins with these words.
• After reading a named anthology extract — continue or reimagine a character’s story.
• Image-based titles: The visitor, A frightening experience, My most embarrassing moment.

For technique support see IGCSE narrative writing — apply the same craft; coursework is longer and drafted with teacher feedback rules.

Assignment B: brief original opening (example tone only)

During the night the wind rose, clawing at the shutters until the house seemed to breathe with it. I had told myself I would not go down to the harbour again — yet the rope in my pocket said otherwise.

Develop with sensory detail, controlled pace, and a clear ending if the task specifies one.

What strong coursework looks like (mark scheme thinking)

Level signal	Assignment A	Assignment B
Weak	Plot summary of texts; few quotations	Generic story; weak ending
Mid	Clear focus; some AO2 on language/structure	Consistent tone; some variety
Strong	Perceptive comparison across three texts	Engaging, shaped narrative/description
Top	Sustained, detailed analysis; embedded quotations	Ambitious control of form and sentences

Teachers mark using Pearson grids in the specification (pages cited in the Issue 7 document). Ask for criteria before your first draft.

Rules: authenticity, AI and drafts

• Work must be your own — sign the NEA authentication sheet.
• Teachers may comment on drafts; you make edits. Work must not be rewritten by the teacher after marking.
• Plagiarism and undisclosed AI-generated text are prohibited — centres follow Pearson guidance (see submission guidance for 4EA1/03).
• Private candidates: most centres enter the exam route (02) — see coursework and private candidates.

Submission from June 2026: centre marks on Edexcel Online; sample work via Learner Work Transfer — check deadlines with your school.

Revision links

Need	Resource
Paper 1 skills	Edexcel English common mistakes
Past papers (exam route)	4EA1 past papers
Modular route	Edexcel modular English Language
Tutoring	Book a trial

Frequently asked questions

Are there official Edexcel coursework examples?

Pearson publishes sample assessments and mark schemes in the 4EA1 specification — use those, not random essays online.

Coursework or Paper 2 — which is easier?

Neither is universally “easier”; coursework suits students who draft well over time; exams suit strong timed writers. Your school decides which route it offers.

Can I use Cambridge 0500 coursework as a model?

No — task shape and anthology differ. Use Cambridge coursework guide only if you sit 0500.

How many anthology texts for Assignment A?

Three from Part 2, including at least one poem and one prose text (current specification).

Is English Literature coursework the same?

No — different texts and tasks. See Edexcel Literature coursework examples.

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Always confirm components and deadlines with your school and the latest Pearson 4EA1 specification for your exam series.

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