Global English
English qualifications taken outside Sri Lanka, explained by an English teacher rather than by a marketing page. Choose your qualification, check the board and the code, and work through the papers one exercise at a time.
Global English is the part of RCF English written for learners and teachers outside Sri Lanka. It covers four things: GCSE English in the United Kingdom, International GCSE English taken in schools worldwide, the Cambridge English Qualifications from Pre A1 Starters to C2 Proficiency, and the four English skills that sit underneath all of them.
Which qualification are you actually taking?
This is the question that causes the most trouble, and it is worth two minutes now. GCSE and International GCSE are not the same qualification, they are set by different boards, and a revision guide written for one will mislead you if you are sitting the other. The same is true of the two Cambridge IGCSE English syllabuses: First Language English and English as a Second Language are separate qualifications with separate papers.
Find your qualification on your own paperwork
Your school entered you for a specific syllabus or specification. The code is printed on your statement of entry, on the front of every past paper you are given, and usually on your textbook. It looks like 0510, 8700, 4EA1 or J351. Once you have that code you can stop guessing, because every guide on this site is filed under it.
The main English qualifications at a glance
| Qualification | Board | Code | Where it is usually taken |
|---|---|---|---|
| GCSE English Language | AQA | 8700 | Schools in England |
| GCSE English Literature | AQA | 8702 | Schools in England |
| GCSE English Language | Pearson Edexcel | 1EN0 | Schools in England |
| GCSE English Literature | Pearson Edexcel | 1ET0 | Schools in England |
| GCSE English Language | OCR | J351 | Schools in England |
| GCSE English Literature | OCR | J352 | Schools in England |
| GCSE English Language | Eduqas (WJEC) | C700QS | England and Wales |
| GCSE English Literature | Eduqas (WJEC) | C720QS | England and Wales |
| IGCSE First Language English | Cambridge International | 0500 / 0990 | International schools worldwide |
| IGCSE English as a Second Language | Cambridge International | 0510 / 0511 / 0991 / 0993 | International schools worldwide |
| IGCSE Literature in English | Cambridge International | 0475 / 0992 | International schools worldwide |
| International GCSE English Language A | Pearson Edexcel | 4EA1 | International schools worldwide |
| International GCSE English Language B | Pearson Edexcel | 4EB1 | International schools worldwide |
| International GCSE English Literature | Pearson Edexcel | 4ET1 | International schools worldwide |
| International GCSE English Language | OxfordAQA | 9270 | International schools worldwide |
| International GCSE English Literature | OxfordAQA | 9275 | International schools worldwide |
| International GCSE English as a Second Language | OxfordAQA | 9280 | International schools worldwide |
The four areas
GCSE English
GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature, with the AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR and Eduqas routes kept separate because their papers differ.
International GCSE (IGCSE)
Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel and OxfordAQA International GCSE English. Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language is developed in full.
Cambridge English Qualifications
The graded ladder from Pre A1 Starters through A2 Key, B1 Preliminary, B2 First and C1 Advanced to C2 Proficiency.
English Skills
Reading, writing, grammar and vocabulary, speaking and listening, taught in a way that transfers between examinations.
How the factual claims on these pages are made
Every paper name, duration, mark total, weighting and assessment objective on these pages was read from the examination board's own current specification, and the page says which years that specification covers.
Specifications, question papers and mark schemes are the property of the boards. This site summarises them and links to the official document. It does not reproduce them, and it does not host copies of them.
Where a board changes a syllabus, the guide states the old and the new arrangement separately rather than blending them. If you find something out of date, tell us and it will be corrected.
What is finished, and what is not
Finished: Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language, developed in full - the qualification guide, the Reading and Writing paper exercise by exercise, the writing formats, model answers and the Speaking test.
Being developed: the GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature clusters, the remaining International GCSE syllabuses, and the Cambridge English Qualifications. The hub pages for those are real overviews with the correct codes and official links; the question-by-question guides beneath them are still being written.
One qualification is developed properly before the next is started. That is slower than publishing an outline of everything at once, and it is the reason these pages can be trusted.
Common questions about international English qualifications
What is the difference between GCSE and IGCSE English?
They are different qualifications. GCSE English is regulated in England and graded 9 to 1; International GCSE is designed for international schools and is offered by Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel and OxfordAQA. The papers, the set texts and the assessment objectives are not the same, so revision material written for one does not reliably fit the other. Universities and employers treat them as comparable, but you must revise for the one you are entered for.
Is IGCSE English as a Second Language easier than First Language English?
It is not a weaker version of the same paper; it is a different qualification with a different purpose. Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language assesses reading, writing, listening and speaking for learners who use English alongside another first language. Cambridge IGCSE First Language English (0500 or 0990) assesses reading and writing only and expects a first-language command of style. Which one suits a learner is a decision for the school, not a matter of difficulty alone.
How do I find my syllabus or specification code?
Look at your statement of entry, the front cover of any past paper your teacher gives you, or your textbook. The code is a short number such as 0510, 8700, 4EA1 or J351. Every guide on this site is filed under the code, so once you have it you can be certain you are reading about your own paper.
Can I download past papers and mark schemes from this site?
Not for the international qualifications. Examination boards own their past papers and mark schemes, and Cambridge International distributes many of them only to registered schools through the School Support Hub. These guides link to the official source instead, and provide original RCF practice tasks with answers that you may use freely.
Are the practice questions on these pages real examination questions?
No. Every practice task on this site is written by RCF English in the style and format of the examination. They are clearly labelled as original RCF practice. Real examination questions belong to the boards and are linked, not copied.
Also on RCF English
Practical English
Everyday, spoken and workplace English for adults and independent learners.
IELTS preparation
Listening, reading, writing, speaking and the graph task, explained step by step.
Interactive practice
Quizzes, gap-fill, matching and error correction with instant feedback.