Compulsory Subjects – English
English as a First Language (0500) • Enable students to understand and
What is this course about?
First Language English is designed for learners
whose first language is English. Cambridge
IGCSE First Language English learners develop
the ability to communicate clearly, accurately
and effectively in both speech and writing.
They learn how to employ a wide-ranging
vocabulary, use correct grammar, spelling
and punctuation, and develop a personal
style and an awareness of the audience being
addressed. Learners are also encouraged to
read widely, both for their own enjoyment and
to further their awareness of the ways in which
English can be used. Cambridge IGCSE First
Language English also develops more general
analysis and communication skills such as
synthesis, inference, and the ability to order
facts and present opinions effectively.
Link to the IGCSE Syllabus:
http://www.cie.org.uk
Who should do this subject?
All Language A English Students.
Aims
The aims of the syllabus are the same for all
students. The aims are set out below and
describe the educational purposes of a course
in First Language English for the Cambridge
IGCSE examination. They are not listed in
order of priority.
• Enable students to communicate
accurately, appropriately and
effectively in speech and writing.
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respond appropriately to what they
hear, read and experience.
• Encourage students to enjoy and
appreciate a variety of language.
• Complement students’ other areas of
study by developing skills of a more
general application (e.g. analysis,
synthesis, drawing of inferences).
• Promote students’ personal
development and an understanding of
themselves and others.
Assessment Objective
Cambridge IGCSE First Language English has
three Assessment Objectives (AOs).
AO1: Reading
Candidates will be assessed on their ability to:
R1: Understand and collate explicit meanings
R2: Understand, explain and collate implicit
meanings and attitudes
R3: Select, analyse and evaluate what is
relevant to specific purposes
R4: Understand how writers achieve effects.
AO2: Writing
Candidates will be assessed on their ability to:
W1: Articulate experience and express what is
thought, felt and imagined
W2: Order and present facts, ideas and
opinions
W3: Understand and use a range of
appropriate vocabulary
W4: Use language and register appropriate to
audience and context
W5: Make accurate and effective use
of paragraphs, grammatical structures,
sentences, punctuation and spelling.
AO3: Speaking and listening
Candidates will be assessed on their ability to:
S1: Understand, order and present facts, ideas
and opinions
Assessment at a glance
Cambridge IGCSE English First Language candidates study:
Paper 1 Reading Passages (Core)
1 hour 45 minutes
Candidates answer three questions on two
passages. Passage A will be 500–600 words
long and Passage B will be 300–350 words
long.
This component is set and marked by
Cambridge.
This component is eligible for grades C–G
and is worth 50% of the total marks.
Paper 3 Directed Writing and Composition
(Core and Extended) 2 hours
Candidates answer one question on a
passage or passages totalling 650–750
words, and complete a composition task
from a choice of four titles.
This component is set and marked by
Cambridge.
This component is eligible for grades A–G
and is worth 50% of the total marks.*
For further discussion: Head of Department - English
S2: Articulate experience and express what is
thought, felt and imagined
S3: Communicate clearly and fluently
S4: Use language and register appropriate to
audience and context
S5: Listen to and respond appropriately to the
contributions of others.
Paper 2 Reading Passages (Extended)
2 hours
Candidates answer three questions on two
passages. Passage A will be 650–750 words
long and Passage B will be 550–650 words
or long.
50 50
marks marks
This component is set and marked by
Cambridge.
This component is eligible for grades A–E and
is worth 50% of the total marks.*
and
Component 4 Coursework Portfolio
(Core and Extended)
Candidates submit three assignments, each
or of 500–800 words.
50
50
This component is assessed by the teacher marks
marks
and moderated by Cambridge.
This component is eligible for grades A–G and
is worth 50% of the total marks.*
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 World Literature (0408) • Appreciate different ways in which
writers achieve their effects.
What is this course about? • Experience literature’s contribution to
Cambridge World Literature (0408) candidates aesthetic, imaginative and intellectual
gain lifelong skills, including the ability to growth.
read, interpret and evaluate literary texts from
• Explore the contribution of literature to
different countries and cultures; to develop an
an understanding of areas of human
understanding of literal and implicit meaning,
concern.
relevant contexts and of the deeper themes or
attitudes that may be expressed, to present an
There are four assessment objectives (AOs).
informed, personal response to literary texts
Candidates are assessed on their ability to
they have studied and to explore wider and
demonstrate:
universal issues and gain skills of empathy,
promoting students’ better understanding of
AO1: detailed knowledge of the content and
themselves and of the world around them.
form of literary texts drawn from different
countries and cultures
Link to the IGCSE Syllabus:
http://www.cie.org.uk
AO2: engagement with writers’ ideas and
treatment of themes, and appreciation of how
Who should do this subject?
texts relate to wider contexts
All language A English Students

AO3: recognition and appreciation of how

The aims of World Literature are to ensure
writers create and shape meanings and effects
students:
• Enjoy the experience of reading world AO4: empathy, through re-creation of a
literature. character’s voice and thoughts.
• Understand and respond to literary
texts in different forms and from
different countries and cultures.
• Communicate an informed personal
response appropriately and effectively.

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Assessment at a glance: Cambridge IGCSE World Literature Candidates Study:

Component Assessment Type Duration Weighting

Internally-assessed, and internally
Portfolio moderated by Centre. Externally - 50%
moderated by Cambridge.

AND

Component Assessment Type Duration Weighting

Paper 2 Unseen Written examination 1 hour 15 minutes 25%

AND

Component Assessment Type Duration Weighting

Paper 3 Set Text Written examination 1 hour 30 minutes 25%

PORTFOLIO
Assignment Total Marks Requirements

• 800–1200 words (including quotations but not references/

bibliography).
• Based on one text.*
1. Critical essay 25 • The text must not be on the examination (Paper 3) or the same
text as for the empathic response (written assignment 2).
(*In cases where a text is a selection of poems/short stories, the
essay must cover at least two poems/stories.)
• 600–1000 words.
• Assumes the voice of one character in one prose or drama
2. Empathic text.
response 25 • The task prescribes a particular moment in the text (which may
be the end of the text).
• The text must not be on the examination (Paper 3) or the same
text as for the critical essay (written assignment 1).
• 4–7 minutes.
• A conversation with the teacher on an aspect of the
3. Oral candidate’s chosen text:
response: EITHER the way a novelist or playwright presents a particular
recorded character
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conversation OR the way their chosen writer (from prose, drama or poetry)
presents a particular theme.
• Text may be an examination (Paper 3) set text or a text studied
for one of the other coursework assignments.
• The conversation must be recorded.
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Paper 2 Unseen
One question is based on a passage of literary prose (such as an extract from a novel or a short
story); the other question is based on a poem, or extract of a poem. The material will be taken from
writing either originally in English or in English translation.

External Assessment-Set texts paper.

This component carries 25% of the assessment of the syllabus as a whole.

Questions will be set on a range of prose and drama texts in English translation, or originally written
in English.

Paper 3 Set Text

On each set text there will be two questions: one extract-based question and one general essay
question.
Each question carries the same number of marks.

The paper is divided into:

• Section A: extract-based questions
• Section B: essay questions.

Candidates answer two questions: one question from each section. They may answer both of their
questions on the same set text, or on two different texts.

For further discussion: Head of Department - English

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