IGCSE English Papers & Components

IGCSE and International GCSE English is assessed through a small set of papers and components that differ by board and strand. Below, each qualification links to a page per component, with the structure, timing and marks taken from the board's own current syllabus and cited to it, and, on each, how we build the skills and exam technique that component rewards.

Cambridge International 0500: First Language English

Paper 1: Reading, 50%, 2 hours
Paper 2: Directed Writing and Composition, 50%, 2 hours
Component 3: Coursework Portfolio, 50%
Component 4: Speaking and Listening, Endorsement (separately endorsed), Approx. 10–12 minutes

Cambridge International 0990: First Language English

Paper 1: Reading, 50%, 2 hours
Paper 2: Directed Writing and Composition, 50%, 2 hours
Component 3: Coursework Portfolio, 50%
Component 4: Speaking and Listening, Endorsement (separately endorsed), Approx. 10–12 minutes

Cambridge International 0510: English as a Second Language

0510/01: Paper 1: Reading and Writing, 70%, 2 hours
0510/02: Paper 2: Listening, 30%, Approximately 50 minutes (including 6 minutes' transfer time)
0510/03: Paper 3: Speaking, Endorsement (separately endorsed), 10-15 minutes

Cambridge International 0511: English as a Second Language

0511/01: Paper 1: Reading and Writing, 50%, 2 hours
0511/02: Paper 2: Listening, 25%, Approx. 50 minutes
0511/03: Paper 3: Speaking, 25%, 10-15 minutes

Cambridge International 0991: English as a Second Language

0511/01: Paper 1: Reading and Writing, 50%, 2 hours
0511/02: Paper 2: Listening, 25%, Approx. 50 minutes
0511/03: Paper 3: Speaking, 25%, 10-15 minutes

Cambridge International 0993: English as a Second Language

0510/01: Paper 1: Reading and Writing, 70%, 2 hours
0510/02: Paper 2: Listening, 30%, Approximately 50 minutes (including 6 minutes' transfer time)
0510/03: Paper 3: Speaking, Endorsement (separately endorsed), 10-15 minutes

Cambridge International 0475: Literature in English

Paper 1: Poetry and Prose, 50%, 1 hour 30 minutes
Paper 2: Drama, 50%, 1 hour 30 minutes
Paper 3: Drama (Open Text), 25%, 45 minutes
Paper 4: Unseen, 25%, 1 hour 15 minutes
Component 5: Coursework, 25%

Cambridge International 0992: Literature in English

Paper 1: Poetry and Prose, 50%, 1 hour 30 minutes
Paper 2: Drama, 50%, 1 hour 30 minutes
Paper 3: Drama (Open Text), 25%, 45 minutes
Paper 4: Unseen, 25%, 1 hour 15 minutes
Component 5: Coursework, 25%

The trial lesson can work on IGCSE English papers & components directly, with timings, mark scheme and your child's own answers.

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Pearson Edexcel 4EA1: First Language English

4EA1/01: Component 1: Non-fiction Texts and Transactional Writing, 60%, 2 hours 15 minutes
4EA1/02: Component 2: Poetry and Prose Texts and Imaginative Writing, 40%, 1 hour 30 minutes
4EA1/03: Component 3: Poetry and Prose Texts and Imaginative Writing (Coursework), 40%
4EA1 Spoken Language Endorsement: Spoken Language Endorsement, Endorsement, Maximum 10 minutes

Pearson Edexcel 4XEA1: First Language English

4EA1/01: Component 1: Non-fiction Texts and Transactional Writing, 60%, 2 hours 15 minutes
4EA1/02: Component 2: Poetry and Prose Texts and Imaginative Writing, 40%, 1 hour 30 minutes
4EA1/03: Component 3: Poetry and Prose Texts and Imaginative Writing (Coursework), 40%
4EA1 Spoken Language Endorsement: Spoken Language Endorsement, Endorsement, Maximum 10 minutes

Pearson Edexcel 4ES1: English as a Second Language

4ES1/01: Paper 1: Reading and Writing, 66.67% (two-thirds), 2 hours
4ES1/02: Paper 2: Listening, 33.33% (one-third), 50 minutes
4ES1/03: Paper 3: Speaking, Endorsement, 9–12 minutes

Pearson Edexcel 4XES2: English as a Second Language

4ES1/01: Paper 1: Reading and Writing, 66.67% (two-thirds), 2 hours
4ES1/02: Paper 2: Listening, 33.33% (one-third), 50 minutes
4ES1/03: Paper 3: Speaking, Endorsement, 9–12 minutes

Pearson Edexcel 4ET1: Literature in English

4ET1/01 (Component 1): Poetry and Modern Prose, 60%, 2 hours
4ET1/02 (Component 2): Modern Drama and Literary Heritage Texts, 40%, 1 hour 30 minutes
4ET1/03 (Component 3): Coursework (Modern Drama and Literary Heritage Texts), 40%

OxfordAQA 9270: First Language English

9270/1: Paper 1: Literary non-fiction and composition, 60%, 2 hours
9270/2: Paper 2: Source-based reading and directed writing, 40%, 2 hours
9270/P: Coursework Project (non-exam assessment), 40%
9270/S: Speaking and Listening endorsement, Endorsement

OxfordAQA 9280: English as a Second Language

9280/W (Paper 2): Writing, 30%, 1 hour 15 minutes
9280/R (Paper 1): Reading, 30%, 1 hour 15 minutes
9280/L (Paper 3): Listening, 20%, 45 minutes
9280/S (Paper 4): Speaking, 20%, 10 minutes plus 10 minutes of supervised preparation

OxfordAQA 9275: Literature in English

9275/1: Paper 1: Prose and drama, 40%, 1h 30min
9275/2A: Paper 2a: Poetry and unseen texts, 60%, 2h 15min
9275/2B: Paper 2b: Poetry, 40%, 1h 30min
NEA: Non-exam assessment (NEA / coursework), 20%

Exact requirements can change between syllabus versions, so always confirm the current arrangement for your child's exam year with the school.

Next, visit our original practice tasks to rehearse the paper with timings. Our IGCSE English tuition page explains how lessons run. When you are ready, the paid one-hour trial is the first step.