Assessment overview

All candidates take three components. Candidates will be eligible for grades A* to G.

All candidates take: and:

Paper 1 2 hours Paper 2 Approximately 50 minutes

Reading and Writing Listening 30%
70% 60 marks 40 marks
Candidates respond to six exercises: four Candidates listen to five exercises of short and
reading and two writing longer texts
Structured and essay style Multiple-choice style questions
questions Externally assessed Externally assessed

Marks for the Speaking component do not contribute to the overall grade candidates receive for the
written components. Instead, where candidates perform to an appropriate standard, certificates record
separately the achievements of candidates, with grades 1 (high) to 5 (low) for speaking.

Candidates must also take:

Paper 3 Approximately 10–15 minutes

Speaking Separately
endorsed 40 marks
Candidates take part in an interview, short talk
and discussion
Internally assessed and externally moderated

Information on availability is in the Before you start section.

Check the timetable at www.cambridgeinternational.org/timetables for the test date window for Paper 3.
Check the samples database at www.cambridgeinternational.org/samples for submission information, forms
and deadlines for Paper 3.

Assessment objectives as a percentage of the qualification

Assessment objective Weighting in IGCSE %

AO1 Reading 35

AO2 Writing 35

AO3 Listening 30

AO4 Speaking separately endorsed

Total 100
Assessment objectives as a percentage of each component
Assessment objective Weighting in components %

Paper 1 Paper 2 Paper 3

AO1 Reading 50 0 0

AO2 Writing 50 0 0

AO3 Listening 0 100 0

AO4 Speaking 0 0 100

Total 100 100 100

1 Details of the assessment

Paper 1 – Reading and Writing

Written paper, 2 hours, 60 marks

This paper contains six exercises – four reading exercises and two writing exercises.

Candidates must answer all questions in each exercise.

The reading exercises will include a range of text types (e.g., articles, blogs, reports) and comprise of
multiple- choice and matching questions, as well as some questions requiring short answers in English.

The two writing exercises both require candidates to write 120–160 words of continuous prose. Candidates
respond to a short stimulus (which may include a picture) and to short prompts printed in the question
paper. The short stimulus includes information on the purpose, format and audience and these will be
different for each exercise. The writing exercises require candidates to respond in different styles. The first
writing exercise requires an informal style of writing, for example to a friend or relative. The second writing
exercise requires a more formal writing style, for example writing for a teacher, or an organiser of an event,
etc.

For each writing exercise, candidates will be awarded marks for content (task fulfilment and the development
of ideas) and language (range, accuracy and organisation).

Candidates write their answers on the question paper.

Dictionaries may not be used.

Description of exercises
Exercise 1

Assessment objective R1, R2, R3

Task Candidates read a text and answer a series of questions. The text is
approximately 400–450 words long and is likely to include facts, opinions, ideas
and attitudes.
The first five questions require one answer, and the final question requires three
answers. Candidates write short (single word/phrase) answers.
Text type(s) The text may be taken from, for example, an article, blog or website.

Total marks 8

Exercise 2

Assessment objective R1, R2, R3, R4

Task Candidates read one continuous text divided into up to five sections, or they
read up to five shorter related texts. The text is approximately 600–650 words
long.
This is a multiple matching task. Candidates read nine questions and select the
text which contains the relevant information or idea to answer each question.
Each question is worth one mark.
Text type(s) The text may be taken from, for example, an article, blog or website.

Total marks 9
Exercise 3

Assessment objective R1, R2, R3

Task Candidates read a text and complete a set of brief notes. The text is
approximately 400–500 words long. Each response is worth one mark.

Text type(s) The text may be taken from, for example, an article, blog or website.

Total marks 7

Exercise 4

Assessment objective R1, R2, R3, R4

Task Candidates read a text that is approximately 550–600 words long and answer
six multiple choice questions. Each question may focus on the main ideas or
details in the text and on the attitudes or opinions expressed. There are three
options to choose between, and candidates write the appropriate letter (A, B or
C) for each answer. Each question is worth one mark.

Text type(s) The text may be taken from, for example, an article, blog or website.

Total marks 6

Exercise 5

Assessment objective W1, W2, W3, W4

Task Candidates write 120–160 words of continuous prose, in response to the

rubric. The rubric includes information on the purpose and audience.
Candidates must address the prompts provided in the task and are awarded up
to 6 marks for content (task fulfilment and the development of ideas) and up to
9 marks for language (range, accuracy and organisation).

Type of response An informal email.

Total marks 15

Exercise 6

Assessment objective W1, W2, W3, W4

Task Candidates write 120–160 words of continuous prose, in response to the

rubric. The rubric includes information on the format of the response, its
purpose and audience. A more formal response is required. Candidates are
awarded up to
6 marks for content (task fulfilment and the development of ideas) and up
to 9 marks for language (range, accuracy and organisation).
Type of response A formal/semi-formal article, report, essay, or review.

Total marks 15
Paper 2 – Listening
Approximately 50 minutes (including 6 minutes’ transfer time), 40 marks

This paper consists of five exercises, and a total of 40 questions. All questions are multiple choice, and
candidates answer each one by selecting the correct option.

Description of exercises
Exercise 1

Assessment objective L1, L2, L3

Task Candidates listen to eight short extracts, on familiar and accessible topics.
For each extract, there is one multiple-choice question with four visual
options, and candidates select the correct option (A, B, C or D). The
questions test
understanding of information or ideas expressed by the speaker(s). Each
question is worth one mark.
Text type(s) A range of text types, including monologues and dialogues, e.g., conversations,
recorded messages, announcements, news items, extracts from radio
programmes, etc.

Total marks 8

Exercise 2

Assessment objective L1, L2, L3, L4

Task Candidates listen to five short extracts. Candidates answer two multiple choice
questions per text. Each question has three written options, which may be
words or short phrases, and candidates select the correct option (A, B or C).
The questions test understanding of details, opinions, ideas and implied
information expressed by the speaker(s). Each question is worth one mark.

Text type(s) A range of text types, including monologues and dialogues, e.g., conversations,
recorded messages, announcements, news items, extracts from radio
programmes, etc.

Total marks 10

Exercise 3

Assessment objective L1, L2, L3

Task Candidates listen to a monologue. Candidates complete eight sentences by

selecting the correct answer from three written options (A, B or C). Each option
is either a word or a short phrase. The sentences test understanding of
information and main ideas expressed by the speaker. Each question is worth
one mark.
Text type(s) A monologue, e.g., a talk or presentation

Total marks 8
 Exercise 4

Assessment objective L1, L2, L3, L4

Task Candidates listen to six short monologues. This is a multiple-matching task,

and for each extract, candidates select from a choice of eight statements.
The
statements test details, opinions, ideas and implied information expressed by the
speakers. Each question is worth one mark.
Text type(s) Short monologues

Total marks 6

Exercise 5

Assessment objective L1, L2, L3, L4

Task Candidates listen to an interview between two speakers. Candidates answer

eight multiple-choice questions. Each question has three written options (A,
B or C), which may be words, phrases or short sentences. The questions
test
understanding of details, opinions, ideas and implied information expressed by
the main speaker. Each question is worth one mark.
Text type(s) Interview

Total marks 8

Paper 3 – Speaking
Speaking test, approximately 10–15 minutes, 40 marks

Internally assessed/externally moderated

The test will be conducted in English. The test must be recorded for all candidates.

Dictionaries may not be used.

Cambridge supplies a number of Speaking Assessment cards, with accompanying Teacher’s/Examiner’s

Notes. The teacher/examiner selects one Speaking Assessment card from the range provided for each
candidate. The Teacher’s/Examiner’s Notes contain instructions, assessment criteria and
teacher/examiner questions for the Speaking Assessment cards.

The tests are conducted and marked by the teacher/examiner. They are moderated by Cambridge International.

Check the timetable at www.cambridgeinternational.org/timetables for the test date window. Before the
test date window, centres will receive the materials for the test.

Description of the Speaking test

Task Duration Task focus
Introduction Approximately 1 minute Start the recording.
State the candidate’s number and
name. Welcome the candidate and
read out the examiner script.
This part is not assessed.

Warm-up Approximately 1–2 minutes Use the warm-up to put the candidate
at ease by conducting a short
conversation using the questions
provided.
This part is not assessed.
Part 1: Interview Approximately 2–3 minutes Tell the candidate the topic for this part by
reading out the examiner script. Conduct a
short interview with the candidate by asking
the questions provided on this topic.
This part is assessed.

Part 2: Short talk Approximately 3–4 minutes Preparation period for short talk. Read out
including 1-minute preparation time the examiner script and give the Speaking
Assessment card to the candidate. The
candidate has up to 1 minute to read the
card and prepare for the talk. Candidates
are not allowed to make any written notes.
Short talk. The candidate talks on their
own about the topic on the card. The
candidate can keep the card until the end
of the short talk.
This part is assessed.
Part 3: Approximately 3–4 minutes Read out the examiner script and conduct
Discussion a discussion using the questions related to
the topic in Part 2.
This part is assessed.