Specification, sample assessment and mark scheme updates: International GCSE English Language A (4XEA1) modular, for first teaching September 2025

Transactional writing text types

In April 2024, we provided summary guidance on the transactional writing text types which had been set for 4EA1 01 since first assessment in June 2018 and on 4WEA1 01 since June 2024. 

From November 2025 and in all subsequent exam series, the writing text types listed in the issue 2 specification will be the only text types set on 4WEA1 01 for questions 6 and 7. We have formalised the list of text types to make it clearer to teachers and students which text types students should be familiar with and ready to write. We will update the guidance below to reflect this approach. 

SLE sample make up and assessment record sheets for the optional SLE 

We updated the information on the makeup of your spoken language endorsement (SLE) sample to reflect current practice.   

We updated assessment record sheets for the SLE which include student and teacher AI declarations. 

The full list of changes can be found on the ‘Issue 2 changes’ page in the specification.  

These demonstrate the minor change to the Paper 2, question 1 AO1 mark scheme which is outlined below.

Amendment to the Paper 2 mark scheme

We updated the International GCSE English Language A Paper 2 (4EA1 02) AO1 mark scheme, which will apply from the November 2025 and all subsequent exam series.  In addition, the SAMs are now based on a different past paper, as the content of the previously used past paper was no longer appropriate. 

The updates are as follows: 

-Changes to the wording in the bullet points of the levels-based mark scheme for Question 1 (AO1 only) for Levels 1 – 4.

-A change to the Level 4 descriptor summary from ‘detailed, sustained’ to ‘detailed, perceptive’.  

The changes affect the question 1, reading mark scheme for the 4WEA1 02 component. The updates are shown below with changes highlighted.

Please contact your subject advisor, Clare Haviland, if you require further guidance teachingenglish@pearson.com.

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