Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language
Three components, six written exercises, five listening exercises and a recorded speaking test. This guide takes each of them apart, states where every figure comes from, and gives you original practice with answers.
Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language is assessed by three components: a two-hour Reading and Writing paper worth 70%, a listening paper of about fifty minutes worth 30%, and a speaking test of ten to fifteen minutes. Whether the speaking mark counts towards your grade depends on which of the four syllabus codes your school entered you for.
Which syllabus this page describes
The component structure, durations, marks, weightings and exercise descriptions below are taken from the Cambridge International syllabus for 0510, English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement), for examinations in 2027, 2028 and 2029.
If you are sitting in 2026, you are on the earlier 2024-2026 syllabus, and the Listening and Speaking components are not the same. Cambridge changed the Listening paper to entirely multiple-choice questions and raised the Speaking component to 40 marks for 2027. Check the syllabus for your own examination year on the Cambridge 0510 page before relying on any figure.
Cambridge states that examinations are available in the June and November series, and also in the March series in India.
The four syllabus codes, and which one is yours
Cambridge offers this subject under four codes. They teach the same content and use the same written papers. Two things separate them: what happens to the speaking mark, and which grade scale is used.
0510, 0511, 0991 and 0993 compared
| Code | Full title | Speaking mark | Grade scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0510 | IGCSE English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) | Reported separately, graded 1 (high) to 5 (low). Does not count towards the written grade. | A* to G |
| 0511 | IGCSE English as a Second Language (Count-in Speaking) | Counts towards the overall grade. | A* to G |
| 0991 | IGCSE (9-1) English as a Second Language (Count-in Speaking) | Counts towards the overall grade. | 9 to 1 |
| 0993 | IGCSE (9-1) English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) | Reported separately. | 9 to 1 |
There are no longer Core and Extended tiers
Cambridge removed tiering from this subject with the 2024 syllabus. Every candidate now sits the same papers and is eligible for the full grade range. If you are using a revision book or a website that talks about choosing between a Core paper and an Extended paper for English as a Second Language, it is describing an arrangement that no longer exists.
Assessment overview: the three components
| Component | Name | Duration | Marks | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Component 1 | Reading and Writing | 2 hours | 60 | 70% |
| Component 2 | Listening | Approximately 50 minutes, including 6 minutes to transfer answers | 40 | 30% |
| Component 3 | Speaking | Approximately 10 to 15 minutes | 40 | Separately endorsed for 0510 and 0993; counts towards the grade for 0511 and 0991 |
What each component actually contains
Component 1: Reading and Writing, 2 hours, 60 marks
Six exercises: four reading and two writing. You answer every question. The reading exercises use text types such as articles, blogs and reports, and mix multiple-choice, matching and short written answers. Both writing exercises ask for 120 to 160 words of continuous prose, and both carry 15 marks split as 6 for content and 9 for language.
The first writing exercise is informal - an email to a friend or relative. The second is formal or semi-formal, and may be an article, a report, an essay or a review. Answers are written on the question paper. Dictionaries may not be used.
Open the exercise-by-exercise guide to this paper.
Component 2: Listening, about 50 minutes, 40 marks
For 2027 onwards this paper is five exercises and 40 questions, and every question is multiple choice. You hear each recording twice. At the end you have six minutes to transfer your answers to a separate answer sheet, and that transfer time is included in the fifty minutes.
The five exercises move from short extracts with picture options, through paired questions on short extracts and sentence completion from a monologue, to a matching task across six short monologues and finally eight questions on an interview.
Component 3: Speaking, 10 to 15 minutes, 40 marks
Conducted and marked by your own teacher, recorded in full, and moderated by Cambridge. There are five stages: an introduction and a warm-up, neither of which is assessed, then an interview, a short talk prepared from a card in one minute, and a discussion of the same topic. Only the last three are assessed.
Assessment objectives and their weightings
| Objective | What it assesses | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| AO1 Reading | Understanding stated facts; following ideas, opinions and attitudes across a text; selecting detail for a purpose; understanding what is implied | 35% |
| AO2 Writing | Communicating information, ideas and opinions; organising with linking devices; range and accuracy of grammar and vocabulary; register and style for the purpose and audience | 35% |
| AO3 Listening | Understanding specific information, speakers' ideas and attitudes, connections between them, and what is implied | 30% |
| AO4 Speaking | Communicating ideas, facts and opinions; range and control of vocabulary and structures; developing responses and maintaining communication; pronunciation and intonation | Separately endorsed for 0510 and 0993 |
How the objectives sit inside each component
Component 1 is half reading and half writing. Component 2 is entirely listening. Component 3 is entirely speaking. There is no overlap, which is useful for revision: a weak reading mark can only be repaired in Component 1, and no amount of listening practice will move it.
Work through the qualification
Reading and Writing paper
All six exercises, the marks for each, and how to spend the two hours.
Writing formats
Informal email, article, report, review and essay, with openings that work.
Model answers
Original RCF answers at top marks and at middle marks, with the reasoning.
Speaking test
Interview, short talk and discussion, with topic areas and practice cards.
Past papers and model papers
Official Cambridge papers and specimen materials, plus the original RCF model paper.
IGCSE English overview
How this syllabus compares with First Language English and Literature in English.
Questions about Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language
How long is the Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language exam?
For the 2027-2029 syllabus, the Reading and Writing paper is 2 hours, the Listening paper is approximately 50 minutes including six minutes to transfer answers, and the Speaking test is approximately 10 to 15 minutes. That is about three hours of assessment in total, taken on separate occasions.
How many marks is IGCSE ESL out of?
The Reading and Writing paper carries 60 marks and is worth 70% of the qualification. The Listening paper carries 40 marks and is worth 30%. The Speaking test carries 40 marks; for 0510 and 0993 these are reported separately on the certificate, and for 0511 and 0991 they count towards the grade.
How many words should I write for IGCSE ESL writing?
Both writing exercises ask for 120 to 160 words. Writing far under that range makes it difficult to develop the prompts and costs content marks; writing far over it usually costs accuracy rather than earning credit. Plan for about 140 words and cover every prompt.
Is IGCSE English as a Second Language still Core and Extended?
No. Cambridge removed tiering from this subject with the 2024 syllabus. All candidates now take the same papers and are eligible for the full range of grades.
Can I use a dictionary in the exam?
No. The Cambridge syllabus states that dictionaries may not be used in the Reading and Writing paper or in the Speaking test.
Do I hear the listening recordings more than once?
Yes. Candidates hear each recorded text twice. Use the first listening to understand the situation and the second to confirm the specific answers rather than trying to settle every question on the first pass.
Related pages
IGCSE English overview
Cambridge, Edexcel and OxfordAQA International GCSE English.
Global English
All the international qualifications covered on this site.
English skills
Reading, writing, grammar, speaking and listening.