The Cambridge IGCSE First Language English (0500) May/June 2026 papers, inserts and mark schemes are out, and they’re free. Paper 1 (0500/12) and Paper 2 (0500/22) can be downloaded and printed on the Tutopiya Learning Portal. Below is a breakdown of the reading texts, the question types and how the mark scheme split marks between reading and writing, taken from the papers themselves.

Key points from the 2026 0500 papers

• Paper 1 had one theme throughout. All three texts were about rhinos: a science article, a magazine opinion piece and a narrative set at a sanctuary.
• Most of the marks sit in four long tasks. On Paper 1, the short questions were worth 23 marks. The summary, the language question and the interview were worth 55.
• “Own words” was tested again and again. Several Paper 1 questions gave no credit, or a low writing mark, for answers lifted straight from the text.
• Paper 2 is mostly a writing paper. 65 of its 80 marks are for writing. Only 15 are for reading, all in the directed writing question.
• The directed writing texts disagreed with each other. One article questioned screen-based learning for young children; the other argued schools are stuck in the past. The top reading band asks you to evaluate both.

All May/June 2026 0500 papers

Paper	Code	Duration	Marks	What it tests
Paper 1 Reading	0500/12	2 hours	80	Three reading texts (insert), comprehension, summary, language analysis, extended response
Paper 2 Directed Writing and Composition	0500/22	2 hours	80	Directed writing from two texts (insert), plus one descriptive or narrative composition

Timings and marks are taken from the front cover of each 2026 paper. Each paper has its own insert with the reading texts and an official Cambridge mark scheme. For the full list of syllabus content, see the Cambridge IGCSE First Language English 0500 syllabus.

Which variant is this? Cambridge sets different versions of each paper (variants) for different time zones. The papers here are variant 2: 0500/12 and 0500/22. All variants cover the same skills at the same difficulty, so variant 2 is just as good for practice as the one your school sat.

Download the 0500 May/June 2026 papers →

What came up in 0500 Paper 1 (Reading), May/June 2026?

Paper 1 had three questions worth 80 marks, built on three texts in the insert.

• Text A was an article about rhinos and a study in Kruger Park suggesting they may be a keystone species, with the debate over whether that label is fair.
• Text B was a wildlife magazine piece by a judge in a competition to name a baby rhino, setting out which kinds of names would and wouldn’t win.
• Text C was a narrative about Mina, who spends her summers helping Izelle at a sanctuary for baby rhinos while a film crew shoots a documentary there.

Question	Text	Task	Marks
1(a)–(e)	A	Short answers: a fact, explaining two phrases in your own words, effects of losing a keystone species, why researchers had overlooked rhinos, what the scientists did, why some doubt the keystone label	13
1(f)	B	Summary of what the judges want in a winning name, continuous writing, no more than 120 words	15
2(a)–(c)	C	Find words in the text that match given meanings, explain three words in your own words, explain the writer’s attitude to a film director	10
2(d)	C	Language analysis of two paragraphs (Mina with the adult rhino; her memories of her first day), three choices from each, including imagery, about 200 to 300 words	15
3	C	Write the words of a TV chat show interview as Izelle, answering three questions about the sanctuary, about 250 to 350 words	25

What made it hard: Text C had to carry three separate tasks. You needed to know it well enough to analyse its language in 2(d) and then rework its details into an interview in Question 3, using your own words both times.

What came up in 0500 Paper 2 (Directed Writing and Composition)?

Paper 2 had two sections worth 80 marks. You answer Question 1 and one composition.

Section A: Directed writing (Question 1, 40 marks). You imagine your area is considering a proposal to remove technology from all school classrooms. You write a speech to parents, teachers and the local community giving your view. The two bullets asked you to evaluate the effect on students and their learning, and to give your view on the impact on teachers and the wider community. Write about 250 to 350 words.

• Text A was an article about some countries returning young children to printed books, quiet reading and handwriting, with experts and teachers worried about screen use and shallow reading.
• Text B was an article arguing that schools have not kept up with the internet, and that children should learn online from the best teachers, with teachers acting as guides.

Section B: Composition (one question, 40 marks). Write about 350 to 450 words.

Question	Type	Task
2	Descriptive	Describe a person in a place you wouldn’t expect to see them
3	Descriptive	Describe an area where waste or rubbish is dumped
4	Narrative	A story that includes the words ”… and they looked towards the stars …“
5	Narrative	A story where a decision is made to leave

Watch for: the two texts take opposite sides, so the speech works best when you weigh them up. Don’t just pick one article and repeat it.

How the 0500 May/June 2026 mark scheme gives marks

Only the shortest Paper 1 questions are point-marked. Everything else uses level grids, so you need to know what each level asks for.

1. Short questions are point-marked and need your own words. Paper 1 Question 1(b) gave 2 marks for explaining each phrase: one for each part of the phrase, so explaining only one word scores 1. On Question 1(e), answers entirely in the words of the text got no credit at all.

2. The summary has separate reading and writing marks. Paper 1 Question 1(f) listed 11 possible content points about what the judges wanted. The reading mark (out of 10) has five levels. The top level, 9–10, needs a wide range of ideas, consistently focused and “skilfully selected” to show an overview. The writing mark (out of 5) rewards clear, concise writing in your own words; a summary with lifted sections drops to 1.

3. The language question is marked on quality, not quantity. Paper 1 Question 2(d) is marked holistically out of 15. The 13–15 band needs high-quality comments on both paragraphs and imagery tackled “with some precision and imagination”. At 10–12, images are recognised and partly explained. At 7–9, answers mostly give meanings, and one paragraph may be better covered than the other. Wrong comments are ignored, not penalised, and comments on grammar or punctuation only count on top of comments on vocabulary.

4. The attitude question has a three-step scale. Paper 1 Question 2(c) gave 3 marks for a suitable example with a full explanation of the writer’s attitude to the director, 2 for some understanding, and 1 for showing awareness of his behaviour. The explanation had to be mostly in your own words.

5. Question 3 rewards developed ideas across all three bullets. The mark scheme grouped ideas by bullet: Izelle’s work, how the Saving Baby Rhinos project succeeded, and how the sanctuary has changed. To reach the top reading band (13–15) you need developed ideas, detail throughout, all three bullets well covered and a convincing voice. Uneven coverage of the bullets puts you in the 7–9 band.

6. Directed writing is 25 for writing, 15 for reading. On Paper 2 Question 1, the writing mark has six levels (22–25 at the top) covering style, structure, vocabulary, register and accuracy. One detail is worth knowing: the 10–13 band describes answers that rely on the order of the original text. Reorganise the ideas into your own argument.

7. The reading mark for directed writing is about evaluation. The mark scheme listed explicit ideas from both texts and implicit ideas for and against classroom technology, such as whether it reduces trust between teachers and children or helps students learn to spot misinformation. The top band (13–15) needs successful evaluation of both explicit and implicit ideas. Just identifying ideas from the texts keeps you in the lower bands.

8. Compositions get 16 for content and structure, 24 for style and accuracy. Each grid has six levels. For descriptive writing, the top content level needs many developed images that build a convincing picture “with varieties of focus”. The mark scheme notes that descriptions which drift into a narrative style sit lower (8–10 or below). For stories, the top level needs a well-defined plot with characterisation, description and an effective climax.

Which papers should you sit?

Every candidate sits Paper 1. Most candidates also sit Paper 2. Some schools enter a coursework portfolio instead of Paper 2, so check which route your school uses. Either way, Paper 2 is good practice for directed writing and composition skills.

How to use the 2026 papers as a mock

1. Keep them for last. Use older 0500 papers for skills practice and save May/June 2026 for a full mock a few weeks before your exam.
2. Time each paper at 2 hours. On Paper 1, plan roughly in proportion to the marks: the short questions are worth 23 of the 80.
3. Check the word limits. Count your Question 1(f) summary (120 words maximum) and aim for the guidance on 2(d), Question 3, the speech and the composition.
4. Mark against the level grids, not just the content list. Decide the level first for reading, then for writing, as the mark scheme does.
5. Highlight every lifted phrase. Rewrite those parts in your own words. It is the quickest way to move up a writing band.

More IGCSE First Language English resources

• IGCSE English Language past papers (Cambridge 0500 and Edexcel 4EA1, all years)
• IGCSE past papers 2026: all subjects

🔍 Looking for a specific past paper? Use our free Past Paper Finder to search by subject, year and exam board.

Need help with a 0500 topic? Book a free trial lesson with an IGCSE First Language English tutor →

Frequently asked questions

Are the 0500 May/June 2026 past papers free? +

Yes. Both question papers (0500/12 and 0500/22), their reading inserts and the official mark schemes are free to download and print on the Tutopiya Learning Portal.

What came up in 0500 Paper 1 May/June 2026? +

All three reading texts were about rhinos: an article on whether rhinos are a keystone species, a magazine piece by a judge in a competition to name a baby rhino, and a narrative about volunteering at a baby rhino sanctuary. The tasks were short comprehension questions, a 120-word summary, a language analysis question and an interview written as the sanctuary owner.

What was the 0500 Paper 2 directed writing task in 2026? +

A speech to parents, teachers and the local community about a proposal to remove technology from all school classrooms, based on two articles with opposing views. It was worth 40 marks: 15 for reading and 25 for writing.

How is 0500 Paper 2 marked? +

With level grids, not points. Question 1 gets a writing mark out of 25 and a reading mark out of 15. The composition gets a content and structure mark out of 16 and a style and accuracy mark out of 24.

Why can't I find 0500/11 or 0500/13 for 2026? +

Only variant 2 of the May/June 2026 papers is on the portal at the moment. Cambridge sets different variants for different time zones; variants 1 and 3 test the same skills in the same format, so variant 2 prepares you just as well.

When will the October/November 2026 0500 papers be available? +

Cambridge usually releases the October/November papers in the new year. We add them to the Learning Portal once they are published.

Ready to Excel in Your Studies?

Get personalised help from Tutopiya's expert tutors. Whether it's IGCSE, IB, A-Levels, or any other curriculum — we match you with the perfect tutor and your first session is free.

Book Your Free Trial