Same subject, two grade scales
Some parents worry that 0500 and 0990 are two different courses, or that one is tougher. They are not. Both are First Language English, and the only difference is how the final grade is reported.
The syllabus, the reading and writing skills, and the way we teach are the same for both. Whichever code is on your child’s timetable, the route to a strong result does not change.
What the two codes share
Both codes ask for the same skills. Students read closely, explain a writer’s effects, summarise accurately, write directed pieces and compose at length.
Past papers and practice tasks work for either code, because the tasks are the same. A strong grade comes from careful reading and controlled writing under time pressure.
What the grade scale changes
A grade scale is the form of the final result, the label printed on the certificate. It matters only when someone reads the result, such as a sixth form, college or university. It makes no difference to the two years of study.
Cambridge sets which scale each code uses. Your school can confirm which code your child is entered for. Our qualification pages give the sourced details for each code.
When the scale matters to you
For most students, the choice makes no difference to learning. It can matter if a sixth form, college or university states its entry requirement on one scale. A result on that same scale is easier for an admissions reader to understand.
If you need to compare the two scales, use the board’s official documents. Treat casual rules of thumb with care.
If this question is on your mind, a paid one-hour trial with an experienced teacher is the simplest way to see how we teach.
How the choice is usually made
The school makes this decision far more often than the family. If you do have a say, ask yourself:
- Which scale does the school use for your child’s other subjects?
- Which scale do the places your child may apply to use in their requirements?
- Would a mixed transcript read awkwardly for those readers?
If the answers are neutral, either code is fine. You do not need scale-specific books or a scale-specific teacher, because there is no such thing.
Our take
Neither code is the harder badge, and neither is the older one. Choose the scale that reads most clearly for the places your child will send the result. Then put the effort into the reading and writing that earn the marks.
We teach to whichever code your child is entered for, with paper structure and marks taken from Cambridge’s current syllabus. If your school has not confirmed the code, one message to them usually settles it.
Tuition starts from RM70/hr. The first lesson is a paid one-hour trial with the teacher who would continue, built around a real piece of your child’s writing.
Next step
To see how the lessons work, read about our First Language English tuition. You can also read what a good English tutor does or check our pricing.
When you are ready, message us the code your child is entered for and Book a Trial Class. We will help you plan the term from there.