Teacher Tim

This is something I wish I’d known when I was younger.

It's no secret that many of us struggle with being consistent readers.

We find ourselves getting started on a book, only to discover a lack of interest a few chapters in. 😅

But then that dreadful thought appears.

“You must finish what you started.” 😖

This thought can cause many to lose interest in reading.

Imagine watching a TV show that isn’t very interesting. Would you continue to watch the next episode, just because you got started on the first? Probably not. 😅 Yet, why do we apply this rule to reading? 🤔

I believe the right book will be able to captivate. Reading should be entertaining, not a chore. 🥰

So, it’s not a problem with you, or your willpower, or your focus.

But it might just be that the book you’re reading … just isn’t for you.

Perhaps too many words are hard to understand. Perhaps the book started well but lost you halfway. Perhaps you just want to choose something yourself. 🙋🏻‍♂️

I believe reading is easy – when you find the right book.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be uploading book suggestions, based on what our students (and teachers) are currently reading. I hope it’ll help you find that right book. 😊

(From The Rights of the Reader by Daniel Pennac, illustrated by Quentin Blake.)

This May, 21 of my students took the Cambridge IGCSE English (0500 and 0510) exam, and I couldn’t be prouder of their achievements:

🏆 12 A*s
📚 7 As
👏 2 Bs

That’s the highest A/A* rate to date — 90.5%! 🎉

🌟 Special congratulations to Lynette Yeoh, who achieved a score of 97% after showing perfect attendance and consistent practice for eight months leading up to her exam.

🙏 A heartfelt thanks to our senior teachers, Evan and Jon, for guiding their students to achieve 2 A*s, 2 As and 3 Bs in English as a Second Language (0510), and 1 A in First Language English (0500), respectively.

But beyond the grades, what truly matters is this:

✨ Consistency builds confidence.

✨ Effort leads to improvement.

✨ And deliberate practice always pays off.

These results are a reminder that it’s never just about the grade on paper — it’s about the growth, discipline, and confidence that every student carries with them into the future. 💪🏻

In this description, Shum (Year 11) writes of an unexpected encounter while out at sea. 🧜‍♀️

As one of our latest A* achievers, Shum produced this essay as practice for the Composition task in Paper 2—a question worth 25% of his total grade for IGCSE English.

His consistent use of literary devices, along with descriptive vocabulary (coloured pink), demonstrate his strong grasp over the language, which he’d honed over time through deliberate efforts to include advanced vocabulary in his writing.

If you’re a student reading this and want to increase your scoring potential, particularly in Paper 2, it may be worthwhile compiling a list of higher-level vocabulary (such as the words and phrases seen in Shum’s essay), and making an effort to utilise them in your next piece of writing. ✍🏻

With enough time and dedication, who knows? You might be the next one to score that elusive A*. 😊

In this descriptive essay, Xiu Yuen (Year 11) creates a vivid depiction of a scene bathed in moonlight. 🌕

As one of my most enduring students, Xiu Yuen and I have worked together since her Primary days. 🥹 As she sits for her final Secondary examinations this May, I feel grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of her journey to mastering IGCSE English. 🙏🏻

This is one of my favourite pieces by her; I hope you’ll enjoy reading it, too.

🌟 Update on 1 Sep 2024 – Xiu Yuen has achieved A* for both First Language English and Literature, in the 2024 May sitting.

This October, I had the pleasure of attending a Cambridge Marking Workshop for IGCSE First Language English (2024–26 Syllabus), and passing on the skills and knowledge gained to our team of teachers. ⭐️

Our students have also benefited greatly from knowing the latest trends and standards around marking, and learning what might be acceptable within their responses. Some were surprised—or rather, horrified—to discover that the readability of one’s handwriting can sometimes have an impact on scoring. So, if there’s one benefit to be gained, it’s that—improved handwriting. 😬

But jokes aside, the workshop was immensely useful in verifying a lot of what I knew of the marking scheme while giving me deeper knowledge on some ‘marking grey areas’. I’d strongly recommend it to any teacher looking to improve their guidance in IGCSE First Language English. 😊

An excerpt of a longer narrative, this piece was written by Year 6 Haley, one of my youngest, most driven and gifted writers. Her works have been a significant source of inspiration for many of our learners, encouraging them to elevate their own writing skills.

(This piece was written during this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, where learners produced stories and descriptions on moon-related titles found in past exam papers.)

The announcement of results last Wednesday was a blend of anticipation and anxiety. 🫣😮‍💨🤩

Here's a glimpse at a few of those moments!

I’m delighted to announce that the 21 candidates I worked with have achieved great success in the latest round of IGCSE English examinations. Their impressive accomplishments include 12 A*s, 7 As and 5 Bs. 👏🏻

This time, I’ve had a rather geographically-diverse cohort, with students hailing from Johor, Kedah, and even outside of Malaysia – Singapore and Vietnam. 🇲🇾🇸🇬🇻🇳

I feel truly fortunate to have been able to work with this group of students, some of whom I began teaching during their early secondary years. Witnessing their growth and development, not only in academics but also as unique individuals, has been an immensely fulfilling experience.

Although most educators recognise that grades aren’t everything, it’s hard to ignore their role as a stepping stone to better prospects in life. I can only hope that my students will seize the opportunities they’ve created for themselves, and persist in their pursuit of even greater accomplishments. 🙏🏻

The bustling marketplace is perhaps the quintessential descriptive essay title. ✍🏻

The picture is one that resonates with everyone, and the initial experience of stepping into such a lively environment tends to stay etched in your memory: the boisterous vendors, the rows of stalls bursting with colour from fresh fruits and vegetables, and of course, the irresistible snacks that accompany your journey from one side of the market to the other.

Here we have another compelling piece by Christabel Lee (Year 11), who has skillfully crafted a vivid portrayal of a walk through Avonlea Market during its busiest hours.

Recently, students in Year 6 have been revisiting the topic of figurative language.

They have been actively incorporating them into their Primary Checkpoint-based creative writing exercises. The results are evident: their stories now burst with captivating images and vibrant descriptions that leave a lasting impression on readers.

This excerpt was written by Zech, a student from Johor, whom I've been working with since October 2022. Notice how he weaves into his writing literary devices like similes ("as if his legs were being pulled down by the weight of a wrecking ball"), alliteration ("rushing river" and "beaten—bruised"), and visual imagery ("fine granules of sand cascaded from his mouth"), for a more convincing image. ✨