9280 English as a Second Language, explained

OxfordAQA 9280 belongs to the English as a Second Language strand of IGCSE / International GCSE English. It is graded on the 9–1 scale. Malaysian international schools choose their board and strand to suit their students. Private candidates and homeschoolers can sit it through an authorised centre. If you are unsure which code your child is entered for, the school's examinations office can confirm.

Your child works one-to-one with an experienced English teacher who teaches to this board's papers. Lessons combine reading and writing, timed practice and close work on the mark scheme. Read about English as a Second Language tuition to see how lessons run. The English as a Second Language syllabus pages explain the skills involved.

All candidates sit the same four assessments in the same series: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. There are no tiers and no optional routes. Reading, Writing and Listening are written exams. Speaking is a non-exam assessment (NEA): the teacher conducts and audio-records it and an OxfordAQA examiner marks it. Its result can be carried forward for the lifetime of the specification.

• 9280/W (Paper 2): All candidates
• 9280/R (Paper 1): All candidates
• 9280/L (Paper 3): All candidates
• 9280/S (Paper 4): All candidates

Graded on the 9–1 scale (Specification, Version 7.2 (exams May/June 2018 onwards)).

Candidates are assessed on the skills below. We paraphrase them from the board's official syllabus.

Reading

• R1: Identify and select relevant detail, key points and ideas
• R2: Show understanding of vocabulary, ideas and purpose
• R3: Collate, organise and present relevant detail
• R4: Draw inferences, make deductions, and recognise implicit meaning

Writing

• W1: Write short texts to convey meaning and exchange information
• W2: Produce clear and coherent text of extended length to present key points, details and ideas
• W3: Make accurate use of vocabulary and grammatical structures; spell and punctuate accurately
• W4: Manipulate the language with increasing fluency and creativity for a variety of purposes

Listening

• L1: Identify key details from a range of short and longer texts
• L2: Identify the overall message and key points in a variety of short and longer spoken texts, involving some more complex language
• L3: Understand and collate information from a variety of short and longer spoken texts, involving some complex language and more abstract material
• L4: Recognise purpose, implied meaning, attitudes and feelings in extended texts

Speaking

• S1: Communicate clearly using speech appropriate to situation and audience
• S2: Make appropriate and accurate use of a variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures
• S3: Produce extended sequences of speech, answering and, as appropriate, asking questions, and expressing opinions with spontaneity and fluency
• S4: Demonstrate appropriate pronunciation and intonation

Requirements can change between syllabus versions. Confirm the structure for your child's exam year with the school or the board's syllabus, linked below.

You may also find syllabus guides and skills guides useful. Next, visit our paper-by-paper guides for the timings and marks of each paper. Our English as a Second Language tuition page explains how lessons run. When you are ready, the paid one-hour trial is the first step.