English

English — IGCSE

British Curriculum · Cambridge Assessment International Education · Years 10-11 · Ages 14-16

Cambridge IGCSE English is offered as First Language English (0500/0990) and English as a Second Language (0510/0993), and international schools place students on whichever fits their language background — a decision worth reviewing rather than accepting by default.

First Language English assesses reading of unseen non-fiction passages, directed writing that transforms a source into a new form, and composition in narrative or descriptive modes. Summary writing, where candidates compress a passage to a strict word count, is distinctive and heavily weighted.

Marks concentrate in reading for implicit meaning and in analysing a writer's language choices. Both are teachable skills rather than knowledge, which is why targeted feedback moves grades here faster than extra reading.

Key topics covered

• Reading Comprehension — Explicit and implicit meaning in unseen non-fiction passages.
• Summary Writing — Compressing a passage to its key points within a strict word count.
• Language Analysis — Analysing word choice, imagery and tone and their effect on the reader.
• Directed Writing — Transforming a source text into a letter, speech, article or report.
• Composition — Narrative and descriptive writing with controlled structure and voice.
• Speaking & Listening — The optional endorsed component: presentation and discussion.