IITM BS English 1 and English 2: Easy Marks or a Trap?

English 1 and English 2 can be your easiest A grades in the IITM BS foundation level, but only if you study them every week like any other course. The trap is thinking you can skip them because you speak English well. Both courses test sounds, word stress, grammar rules and reading skills in a precise way. Knowing English by ear is not the same as knowing the rule behind it.

Why English counts as much as Maths

• Each English course carries 4 credits, the same as Maths 1 or Python. A weak English grade pulls your CGPA down just as hard.
• English 2 needs English 1, according to its course page.
• You must pass all 8 foundation courses before you can take any diploma course. See the foundation level.

What English 1 covers

English I (code BSHS1001) has 12 weeks. The course page lists these topics, grouped here by skill:

For a short overview, see our English 1 subject page.

What English 2 covers

English II (code BSHS1002) aims at more fluent, detailed English. Its weeks cover patterns in sentences (weeks 1 to 3), listening (4 and 5), speaking (6 and 7), reading (8), writing (9 and 10) and social skills (11 and 12). It is less about single words and more about how sentences, conversations and texts work.

Where the marks slip

Sounds and stress

If you learnt English mainly through reading and writing, these weeks may feel new. Say every example out loud.

• Count syllables by vowel sounds, not by letters. "Banana" has three.
• Stress can move inside a word family. It is PHO-to-graph, but pho-TO-gra-pher.
• Aspiration means a small puff of air. The p in "pin" has it. The p in "spin" does not. Hold a strip of paper near your mouth to feel the difference.

Grammar you know by ear

You may pick the right answer by feel and still miss a question that asks why.

• Agreement follows the real subject. "The list of items is on the table," because the subject is "list".
• "Each of the students has a laptop." Each is singular.
• Parts of speech depend on use. "Fast" is an adjective in "a fast train" and an adverb in "she runs fast".

Idioms and reading

Learn idioms inside a full sentence, not as a word list. For reading, skim for the main idea first, then scan for the fact the question asks. Answer from the passage, not from what you already believe.

A simple weekly routine

1. Watch the week's lectures within two days, and say the examples aloud.
2. Do the practice assignment before the graded one, then check the solutions.
3. Keep a notebook of sentences you got wrong, with the rule written beside each.
4. Spend 20 minutes a day on English instead of three hours on the last night. Short daily practice suits sounds and grammar.
5. Record yourself reading a paragraph once a week. Listen for stress and clear endings.

The course pages offer downloadable learning support notes for both courses. English 1 also lists grammar books such as English Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy and Oxford Modern English Grammar by Bas Aarts. Our post on free resources shows how to use official material first.

Do the graded assignments yourself. Sharing or copying answers breaks the honour code.

How to pair English with other courses

Because English is a different kind of work from maths or coding, it pairs well with a heavy course. A term with Maths 2 and English 1, or Stats 2 and English 2, gives your brain a change of task. Our 9+ CGPA plan uses this idea.

Common questions

My English is good. Can I skip the lectures?

It is risky. The weeks on sounds, stress and syllables use technical terms you may not know even if you speak well. Watch those weeks fully and skim the rest.

Is English 2 harder than English 1?

It is different. English 1 builds basics like sounds, parts of speech and tenses. English 2 moves to sentence patterns, conversation, reading and social skills. Weak English 1 basics make English 2 harder.

Are there speaking tests in the exams?

The course pages list the standard pattern: weekly online assignments, two in-person quizzes and an in-person end term. They do not mention a separate speaking test. Your grading document is the final word.

I did English 1 in the qualifier. What changes after it?

The qualifier covers only the first four weeks. Tenses, reading, listening, word stress, presentations and writing all come later. Our qualifier English tips cover the early weeks.