IGCSE English Language

Cambridge IGCSE First Language English offers candidates the opportunity to respond with understanding to a rich
array of reading texts during the course as a whole. Candidates will use these texts to inform and inspire their own writing, and write in a range of text types for different purposes and audiences.
Candidates will develop both their speaking and their listening skills, delivering a presentation, and responding toquestions and engaging in conversations.

Syllabus overview:The skills covered in the syllabus are outlined below.
1: Reading
• Demonstrate understanding of written texts, and of the words and phrases within them
• Summarise and use material for a specific context
• Develop, analyse and evaluate facts, ideas and opinions
• Demonstrate understanding of how writers achieve their effects and influence readers
• Select appropriate information for specific purposes
• Recognise and respond to linguistic devices, figurative language and imagery.
In developing reading skills, candidates should engage with a range of genres and text types from the twentieth and/or twenty-first centuries, including literature, fiction and non-fiction, and other forms of writing, such as discursive essays, reviews and articles. This study should include focus on writers’ use of language and style and the ways in which writers achieve effects and influence readers. Candidates should study how influence may include fact, ideas, perspectives, opinions and bias.

2.Writing
• Express what is thought, felt and imagined
• Organise and convey facts, ideas and opinions effectively
• Demonstrate a varied vocabulary appropriate to the context
• Demonstrate an effective use of sentence structures
• Demonstrate an understanding of audience, purpose and form
• Demonstrate accuracy in spelling, punctuation and grammar.
As developing writers themselves, candidates should be introduced to a range of writing skills, including theability to create and compose texts with a variety of forms and purposes, e.g. descriptive, narrative, discursive, argumentative and persuasive. This study should include focus on the following text types: letter, report, article,
journal, speech, interview and summary.

3.Speaking and listening
• Describe and reflect on experience, and express what is thought, felt and imagined
• Organise and convey facts, ideas and opinions effectively
• Understand and convey complex ideas
• Communicate with clarity, focus and purpose
• Communicate appropriately for the context
• Engage appropriately in conversation.

Details of the assessment

Paper 1 – Reading
Written paper, 2 hours, 80 marks
Candidates answer three compulsory questions on three texts which may be on a similar topic. Candidates write all
their answers in the space provided on the question paper.
Text A and Text B will be 700–750 words in length and Text C will be 500–650 words in length. Candidates should
spend approximately 15 minutes reading the texts.
The texts will be printed on the question paper insert.
Dictionaries may not be used.
Question 1 Comprehension and summary task (30 marks)
Comprehension task: this question requires candidates to respond to Text A.
Candidates respond to a series of sub-questions. These include short answers testing understanding of both explicit
and implicit meanings.
This question tests the following reading assessment objectives (15 marks):
R1 demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings
R2 demonstrate understanding of implicit meanings and attitudes
R5 select and use information for specific purposes.
Summary task: this question requires candidates to respond to Text B.
Candidates answer a selective summary task in their own words. Candidates write their summary as continuous writing of no more than 120 words.
This question tests the following reading assessment objectives (10 marks):
R1 demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings
R2 demonstrate understanding of implicit meanings and attitudes
R5 select and use information for specific purposes.
This question also tests the following writing assessment objectives (5 marks):
W2 organise and structure ideas and opinions for deliberate effect
W3 use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures appropriate to context
W5 make accurate use of spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Cambridge IGCSE First Language English 0500 syllabus for 2020, 2021 and 2022. Details of the assessment

Question 2 Short-answer questions and language task (25 marks)
Short-answer questions: this question requires candidates to respond to Text C.
Candidates respond to a series of sub-questions which require answers of different lengths.
This question tests the following reading assessment objectives (10 marks):
R1 demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings
R2 demonstrate understanding of implicit meanings and attitudes
R4 demonstrate understanding of how writers achieve effects and influence readers.
Language task: this question requires candidates to respond to Text C.
Candidates write about 200–300 words.
This question tests the following reading assessment objectives (15 marks):
R1 demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings
R2 demonstrate understanding of implicit meanings and attitudes
R4 demonstrate understanding of how writers achieve effects and influence readers.

Question 3 Extended response to reading (25 marks)
This question requires candidates to respond to Text C.
Candidates write about 250–350 words, responding in one of the following text types: letter, report, journal, speech, interview and article.
This question tests the following reading assessment objectives (15 marks):
R1 demonstrates understanding of explicit meanings
R2 demonstrate understanding of implicit meanings and attitudes
R3 analyse, evaluate and develop facts, ideas and opinions, using appropriate support from the text.
This question also tests the following writing assessment objectives (10 marks):
W1 articulate experience and express what is thought, felt and imagined
W2 organise and structure ideas and opinions for deliberate effect
W3 use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures appropriate to context
W4 use register appropriate to context
W5 make accurate use of spelling, punctuation and grammar.