Looking for a resource that helps students sharpen their English mastery and thrive in high-stakes examinations?
Many upper secondary school students struggle with argumentative or hybrid essays, or feel unsure about where to start their narrative or expository pieces. Regular writing practices are often unable to provide the strategies to ace these writing components.
The iThink Magazine was created with this exact dilemma in mind.
Developed by experienced educators and used in over 50 secondary schools, iThink is a results-focused English enrichment magazine for upper secondary students to demystify essay writing. Each issue builds exam-ready skills for students facing critical writing exams like GCE O-Level, IGCSE, HKDSE, and other global curricula, with structured practice to help build their confidence and clarity to write those A1 essays.
What’s Inside Each Issue
6 Essay Writing Frameworks
Argumentative
Learn how to:
✓ Write an effective Argumentative Essay introduction with a solid thesis statement
✓ Use PEEL structure to form coherent and sound arguments
✓ Make logical arguments with critical thinking skills
✓ Provide depth to your essay with a valid counterargument and rebuttal
Descriptive
Learn how to:
✓ Give your chosen subject more character and personality
✓ Use figurative language to paint vivid images
✓ Develop Descriptive Essay ideas using strategies such as ‘compare and contrast’
✓ Engage the reader’s senses and feelings with lush description
Expository
Learn how to:
✓ Craft three different types of Expository Essays: discursive, personal, and reflective
✓ Write clear and accurate topic sentences
✓ Use PERMS framework to generate good points
✓ Weave suitable evidence into your essay with patterns of organisation
Hybrid
Learn how to:
✓ Analyse keywords to identify the correct essay types for the question
✓ Discover unique and memorable angles to write from
✓ Integrate features of different text types into the essay through organisation of structure
Narrative
Learn how to:
✓ Brainstorm interesting story ideas
✓ Use personal thoughts to create realistic characters
✓ Add an exciting twist to your Narrative Essay
Personal Recount
Learn how to:
✓ Build up to an earth-shattering epiphany
✓ Develop multi-faceted characters
✓ Use personal thoughts and dialogue effectively
Whether your teen is preparing for their English national exams or simply trying to master the art of writing, iThink Magazine gives them the tools to write with purpose, structure, and confidence.
iThink is a finalist for the Best Educational Title in the Singapore Book Awards in 2016, 2018, 2021 and 2024.
Help your students master all 6 essay formats and gain confidence to tackle their national exams in your school’s Reading Programme by featuring iThink.
Model essays. Exam strategies. Confident writers.
Why Teachers & Parents Trust iThink:
✅ Written by MOE-trained English educators
✅ Used in classrooms and exam prep programmes across Singapore and internationally
✅ Perfect for both independent study and school-based enrichment
✅ Aligned with upper secondary English exam requirements around Asia
The iThink Experience
- Lim Yu En Shayne, Student
- Darshan, Student
- Kara Tan, Student
- Aden, Student
- Fong Jing Rui, Student
The stress to do well for O-Level English is significant, much less the essay writing section which takes up a whopping 35% of the total grade!
Writing a good essay is not easy, but the good news is there are steps to making it possible. It takes a good understanding of techniques required for different essay formats, as well as a sound application of language fundamentals like vocabulary and grammar.
If you or your child are getting anxious about how to improve in essay writing in time for the O-Levels, don’t panic! There’s something you can do about it. There are step-by-step methods available in our iThink Magazines to guide your child on how to write better essays, and I hope your child gets a chance
to learn from our content.
We are cheering you and your child on!
Shoba Nair,
Editor-In-Chief of iThink Magazine
Former English Head of Department
Mother of 3 boys