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Assessment
How Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language is assessed
There are no tiers. Everyone takes all three components and can get grades A*–G. In 0511 speaking counts for 25% of the grade. In 0510 it is graded separately, from 1 (high) to 5 (low).
Syllabuses 0510 (Speaking Endorsement) and 0511 (Count-in Speaking), for exams in 2027–2029. The papers are the same; only the speaking grade differs.
All students
Component 1: Reading and Writing
Four reading exercises, then an informal email and a formal or semi-formal piece, each 120–160 words
- Time
- 2 h
- Marks
- 60
- Weight
- 70% in 0510, 50% in 0511
Component 2: Listening
Five exercises, 40 multiple-choice questions, each recording heard twice
- Time
- About 50 min
- Marks
- 40
- Weight
- 30% in 0510, 25% in 0511
Component 3: Speaking
An interview, a short talk and a discussion, recorded and marked by your school
- Time
- About 10–15 min
- Marks
- 40
- Weight
- Graded separately in 0510, 25% in 0511
There is no coursework. Dictionaries aren’t allowed in the exams.
From the official Cambridge International syllabus, checked October 2026. Read the syllabus
Syllabus content
What’s on the Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language syllabus
- Reading
- Writing
- Listening
- Speaking
Where marks are lost
Common Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language mistakes
Getting the register wrong.
The email in Exercise 5 is informal, so write as you would to a friend. Exercise 6 is formal or semi-formal: no slang, and no contractions in a report.
Copying long chunks of the text.
In the note-taking exercise, write brief notes, a few words each, that answer the heading. Whole copied sentences waste time.
Memorising a speech for the short talk.
You get one minute to prepare and can’t use written notes. Practise organising ideas quickly on any topic rather than learning a script.
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