Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2025
First exams 2027
Question 4 Model Answer: Speech (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE English Language): Revision Note
Exam code: 0500 & 0990
For this task, you will be asked to produce a piece of writing in a particular format, based on what you have read in Text C. You may be asked to write in one of six possible formats (genres):
A letter
A report
A journal entry
A speech
An interview
An article
The following guide will demonstrate how to answer Question 4 in the format of a speech. The task itself is taken from a past exam paper.
Text C
The following example of Text C is about a journalist who has been invited to spend time at a base station in Antarctica.
Question 4 speech model answer
Worked Example
You are Simon, the Base commander. You are giving a speech for a group of young people to explain to them the opportunities and challenges of living and working on the base station.
In your speech you should:
explain the different kinds of jobs available at Base station and what activities each job might involve
outline what they can expect day-to-day life to be like when they first arrive and once they have settled in
suggest the challenges and rewards of living and working at the Antarctic base station
Write the words of the speech.
Base your speech on what you have read in Text C, but be careful to use your own words. Address each of the three bullet points.
Write about 250-300 words.
Up to 10 marks are available for the content of your answer and up to 10 marks for the quality of your writing.
[20]
Answer
Good morning everyone! I’m Simon, Base Commander. I am here today to talk to you about the unique opportunities and challenges of living and working on our Antarctic base station.
We offer a variety of vital roles. You might join us as a scientist collecting climate samples in the field, or a marine biologist diving with orcas. Equally important are the mechanics and engineers who maintain our planes and generators; without them, and the pilots who transport us to the camps, we simply could not survive in these conditions.
If you decide this life is for you, what can you expect? Firstly, forget modern luxuries. There are no cafes or Wi-Fi here, and entertainment is limited to card games. However, you will be too busy to notice. You will undergo intense field training, learning to abseil into crevasses to rescue fallen colleagues. You must be self-reliant, pitching your own tents, cooking on camp-stoves, and collecting water supplies. It is physically demanding, but intellectually rewarding; summer lectures from experts provide incredible perspectives on our research.
Be warned, however: the challenges are real. The isolation, particularly during the dark winter months, is severe, and the local wildlife can be dangerous. You will work hard with little leisure time. Yet, the rewards are unmatched. The shared struggle builds a teamwork dynamic where colleagues become family. Furthermore, working in this inspirational landscape develops a profound respect for our planet. If you have the resilience for this life, I recommend you give it a go!
[20]
Commentary
The response demonstrates the skill of selecting important information by keeping within the word limit
The response maintains an enthusiastic, direct address suitable for a speech, engaging the audience directly
It develops facts from Text C rather than just repeating the information:
For example, the fact that there are mechanics and pilots is developed in the point that, without them, they could not survive
The response is logically structured for the benefit of the reader
Summary
Remember to read the question carefully and highlight the:
Instructions (what you have to do)
Focus of each bullet point
Re-read Text C and highlight the relevant information you can use in your answer
Address each bullet point in order:
Make sure you cover all of the bullet points as equally as possible
Base all of your answer on the ideas and details you find in Text C
Decide on the voice and style you want to create and maintain that in your answer
Do not just repeat details of what happened:
You need to develop your ideas to demonstrate understanding
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