2027 Exam Countdown
About the course
Get ready for the first exams on the new syllabus. The 2027 Exam Countdown is an 8-week sharpening course for Year 11 students, running from the week of 1 March to the end of April. It is for students sitting Cambridge IGCSE First Language English (0500/0990) in May/June 2027.
It is not a course from scratch. By March, students have already met every question type at school, so each lesson focuses on one question: what it asks for, where marks are usually lost, and how to sharpen your answer under exam conditions.
Each week there is one live 75-minute lesson on Google Meet, followed by one exam answer that I mark with written feedback, so you know exactly what to improve before the next lesson.
Groups are small, with no more than 6 students, so everyone gets time to ask questions and share their work.
What’s included
- 8 live lessons of 75 minutes, once a week
- 8 marked exam answers, one each week, with written feedback
- The lesson slides and practice tasks after every lesson
- My Directed Writing unit included free (usually £28)
- Everything written for the 2027–2029 syllabus, with nothing recycled from old papers
Week by week
| Week | What we cover | Marked answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Short-answer and vocabulary questions Paper 1 | Short answers |
| 2 | Summary: finding ideas and writing them in your own words Paper 1 | Summary |
| 3 | Writer’s effect: explaining how words create meaning Paper 1 | Writer’s effect |
| 4 | Extended Reading: reading the text and choosing your ideas Paper 1 | Planning task |
| 5 | Extended Reading: writing in role for the right audience Paper 1 | Extended Reading |
| 6 | Directed Writing: evaluating ideas and building an argument Paper 2 | Directed Writing |
| 7 | Composition: descriptive and narrative writing Paper 2 | Composition |
| 8 | Exam technique, timing and final practice | Timed practice |
Who it’s for
Students in Year 11 (or equivalent) sitting the exam in May/June 2027, at UK and international schools or as private candidates. It is for students who have studied the course at school and want to sharpen their exam answers, whether they are aiming to move up a grade or reach the top grades.
Questions
When are the lessons?
Lesson times will be confirmed in January 2027. When you register, tell me your time zone and the times that suit you, and I will plan the timetable around the families on the list.
What if not enough students sign up?
A group runs with at least 3 students. If it doesn’t fill, you’ll be offered another option or a full refund.
Is this a full course?
No. It is a sharpening course for students who have already studied the course at school. Each lesson targets one question on Paper 1 or Paper 2, and the marked answer every week shows exactly what to improve.
Do lessons run over Easter?
Yes. Lessons continue through the Easter holidays so the course finishes before the exams. If you’re away, you’ll receive the slides and tasks and can still send in that week’s answer for marking.
What if my child misses a lesson?
You’ll receive the slides and tasks for that lesson, and the weekly exam answer can still be sent in for marking.
What if the group is full?
If a group fills up, I’ll open another group at a different time where there is enough interest, or offer you the first place that becomes available.
How do I pay?
Payment is made in full when bookings open in January. There is nothing to pay to register your interest.
Want a place?
Register your interest now. You’ll hear first when bookings open in January, before places are offered to anyone else.