IGCSE ESL Past Papers and Model Papers
Cambridge publishes a set of past papers, mark schemes and specimen materials openly. Those are linked here, exactly as they are. Alongside them are original RCF model papers, which are clearly marked as practice material and are not examination papers.
How papers are handled on this site
Official papers are linked, never copied. Cambridge International owns its question papers, mark schemes and examiner reports. Every official item below opens on cambridgeinternational.org. This site does not host a copy of any of them, and does not link to paper-sharing sites that republish them without permission.
Original RCF papers are labelled on every page that carries them. They are written by RCF English in the format of the examination. They are not past papers, not specimen papers, and not endorsed by any examination board.
Registered Cambridge schools can reach a much larger archive through the School Support Hub. Ask your teacher or your school's examinations officer.
Official Cambridge materials
| Type | Syllabus | Component | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Past papers, mark schemes and examiner reports | 0510 (Speaking Endorsement) | All components | Cambridge 0510 past papers |
| Past papers, mark schemes and examiner reports | 0511 (Count-in Speaking) | All components | Cambridge 0511 past papers |
| Specimen question paper | 0510, for exams from 2024 | Paper 1, Reading and Writing | Specimen Paper 1 |
| Specimen mark scheme | 0510, for exams from 2024 | Paper 1, Reading and Writing | Specimen Paper 1 mark scheme |
| Syllabus | 0510, exams in 2027, 2028 and 2029 | All components | Syllabus 2027-2029 |
| Syllabus | 0511, exams in 2024, 2025 and 2026 | All components | Syllabus 2024-2026 |
| Qualification page | 0510 | Overview, updates and resources | Cambridge 0510 |
| Qualification page | 0511 | Overview, updates and resources | Cambridge 0511 |
What Cambridge publishes openly, and what it does not
On the past papers pages linked above, Cambridge publishes a selection of recent question papers with their mark schemes, the listening audio and transcript, speaking test materials with teacher's notes, and the examiner report for the series. Specimen papers for a new syllabus are published openly as well.
Older series and the full archive sit behind the School Support Hub, which is for registered Cambridge schools. If a paper you want is not on the open page, that is where it will be - not on this site.
Original RCF model papers
| Paper | Type | Board and code it is modelled on | Intended for | Open |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RCF Model Paper 1 | ||||
| RCF original model paper | ||||
| Cambridge International, IGCSE English as a Second Language, 0510 / 0511 / 0991 / 0993 | ||||
| Examinations from 2027 | ||||
| Question paper and marking guide |
RCF Model Paper 1
Question paper
Six exercises, 60 marks, two hours, in the structure of the 2027-2029 syllabus. Every passage and question is original.
- Four reading exercises: 8, 9, 7 and 6 marks
- Two writing exercises: 15 marks each
- Prints cleanly on paper
Marking guide
Answers for all thirty reading marks, marking criteria for the two writing tasks, and a full model answer for each.
- Accepted alternatives given where they exist
- Content and language bands explained
- Written by RCF English, not by any board
More model papers, and other qualifications
RCF Model Paper 1 is the first of these, and it is deliberately the only one so far. Its format and quality are being checked before it becomes the template for the rest.
Once it is settled, the same structure will be used for the other paper libraries: GCSE English Language, GCSE English Literature, Cambridge IGCSE First Language English, Cambridge IGCSE Literature in English, the Pearson Edexcel International GCSE English routes and the Cambridge English Qualifications.
A listening model paper needs recorded audio as well as a question paper, so it will follow rather than lead.
Questions about IGCSE ESL papers
Where can I download Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language past papers?
From Cambridge International's own past papers page for your syllabus code, which publishes a selection of recent question papers, mark schemes, listening audio and examiner reports free of charge. The full archive is on the School Support Hub, available to registered Cambridge schools through your teacher. Both are linked at the top of this page.
Why does this site not host the past papers?
Because Cambridge International owns them. Copying an examination paper or a mark scheme onto another website without permission is a breach of copyright, whatever the intention. Linking to the official source is lawful, keeps you on the version the board currently publishes, and means you are never revising from an out-of-date scan.
Is the RCF model paper a real past paper?
No, and it is labelled on every page so that nobody could think it is. It is original practice material written by RCF English in the format of the current syllabus - same components, same exercise types, same mark distribution - using passages and questions that have never appeared in an examination. Use it for practice, and use the official specimen paper to see the genuine standard.
Which syllabus is the RCF model paper written for?
It follows the structure set out in the Cambridge 0510 syllabus for examinations in 2027, 2028 and 2029, which applies equally to 0511, 0991 and 0993. If you are sitting in 2026 you are on the earlier syllabus and the reading and writing exercises still transfer well, but check the component structure for your own year.
Can I print the RCF model paper?
Yes. The paper and the marking guide are laid out to print cleanly from any browser: use your browser's print command and choose Save as PDF if you want a file. The site navigation, buttons and related links are removed automatically from the printed version.
Related pages
Qualification guide
Components, durations, marks and assessment objectives.
Reading and Writing paper
All six exercises explained.
Model answers
Original answers with the examiner's reasoning.