IGCSE 2026 Exam Trends: Cambridge Literature in English 0475

Cambridge IGCSE Literature in English (0475) tests unseen (poetry/prose) and set texts (drama, prose, poetry). Here are recent trends for 2026.

Paper format and structure

• Paper 1 – Poetry and prose (unseen and set text). Paper 2 – Drama (set text). Paper 3 – Coursework. Paper 4 – Unseen only (alternative). Structure is unchanged for 2025–2026.
• Unseen questions require close analysis of language, form, and structure; evidence from the passage/poem is essential.
• Set text questions require knowledge of the text (plot, character, theme) and analysis of how the writer achieves effects; quotation and reference to specific moments are expected.

Question types and topics that keep coming up

• Unseen poetry: Language (imagery, word choice, tone); form (stanza, rhyme, rhythm); meaning and effect. Comparison of two poems (e.g. theme, method) is common. Evidence (quote or close reference) is required for every point.
• Unseen prose: Character, setting, atmosphere; how the writer creates effect (dialogue, description, narrative voice). Analysis of specific words or phrases is rewarded.
• Set text: Character (development, motivation); theme (e.g. conflict, identity); writer’s methods (structure, language, dramatic technique). Context (e.g. historical, social) may be relevant where the question invites it. Quotation should be brief and integrated into the argument.
• Essay: Argument (thesis); paragraphs with point–evidence–analysis; conclusion that answers the question.

Are papers getting easier or harder?

• Standards are maintained via grade boundaries. Reports highlight recurring issues: paraphrase or summary instead of analysis; general comments without specific reference to the text; listing techniques without saying how they create effect.
• No reported shift in difficulty; analysis of language/form/structure and use of evidence are the main differentiators.

Similarity to past papers and predictability

• Format and question types match past series. Past papers are a good guide to unseen style and set text essay types.
• Set texts change by syllabus cycle; skills (analysis, comparison, use of evidence) are consistent. Unseen passages/poems vary; approach (close reading, evidence, effect) is predictable.
• Exact questions are not predictable; marking focus (analysis not paraphrase, evidence, writer’s methods) is.

Examiner expectations and marking

• Analysis – move from what is said to how it is said and what effect it creates. “The writer uses a metaphor” alone scores little; what the metaphor is and why it is effective does.
• Evidence – quote or close reference for every point. Integrate quotations into sentences; explain how the quote supports the point.
• Set text – Knowledge of the text (events, characters) must be accurate. Relevance to the question is essential; don’t narrate the plot without linking to the focus.
• Marking follows the published criteria; no indication of marking becoming stricter. Band descriptors (knowledge, analysis, use of evidence) are applied consistently.

Assessment style and skills in demand

• Close reading – specific analysis of language, form, structure; effect on reader/audience.
• Comparison – similarities and differences; how each text achieves its effect; balanced coverage.
• Essay structure – introduction (argument); paragraphs (point–evidence–analysis); conclusion.

Focus areas for 2026 revision

1. Analysis not paraphrase – always say how and why; link technique to effect.
2. Evidence – quote or refer precisely; integrate into your sentence; explain the link to your point.
3. Set text – know key scenes and quotations; practise linking them to theme and character.
4. Unseen – practise timed unseen; focus on language, form, structure; write in paragraphs with evidence.
5. Question focus – answer the exact question (e.g. “how does the writer present…” → focus on methods and effect).

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Based on current syllabus and examiner reports. Always use the latest Cambridge 0475 syllabus and set texts for your series.