TIE HoyEnglish essay writing at international school: ideas, structure or language?
Your child speaks fluently — you assume writing is fine. But Explain, Analyse and Evaluate are three different answer actions, not synonyms. Essays are marked on argument structure and command word compliance, not just English ability.
My child speaks well — why can’t they write essays?
Essays are not marked on English ability — they are marked on argument structure and answer format.
The UK curriculum uses a command word system: Explain requires a cause-and-effect chain, Analyse requires breaking down components, Evaluate requires a judgment with evidence. Three words, three different answer templates.
Your child may speak fluently yet not know that Explain and Analyse require completely different structures. This is not a language problem — it is an academic writing convention problem.
How do I know which layer is the problem?
Look at a marked essay.
Red marks on grammar and vocabulary → Layer 1: language itself.
Comments like ‘more detail’ or ‘explain why’ → Layer 2: content depth.
Comments like ‘use PEEL structure’ or ‘this is description, not analysis’ → Layer 3: wrong answer format.
Most students entering IGCSE get stuck at Layer 3.
What to do
Take one marked essay and the command word from the question. Check if the answer structure matches.
Bring
- One marked essay
- The original question and command word
- School command word list or PEEL guide
Steps
- Find the command word in the question (Explain / Analyse / Evaluate / Discuss / Compare).
- Look up the required answer structure — your school usually has a command word poster or booklet.
- Check each paragraph with PEEL: Point? Evidence? Explain? Link?
- If unsure what the command word requires, ask the teacher: ‘What structure does this command word need?’
Basis
UK IGCSE/GCSE subjects use a command word hierarchy: Description → Explanation → Analysis → Evaluation. Mark schemes award bands based on answer depth matching the command word. Oral fluency addresses Layer 1 but not Layer 3.
More questions
Does strong writing in Chinese help with English essays?
Not necessarily.
Chinese argumentative essays and English essays follow different structural logic. Chinese often uses examples and parallel phrasing; English requires Point → Evidence → Explain → Link (PEEL). A strong Chinese writer may have clear arguments but the wrong format.
More to read
independent learning→classroom English→IGCSE revision plan→https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses.html