Cambridge IGCSE English allows students to:

• develop the ability to communicate clearly, accurately and effectively when speaking and writing
• learn how to use a wide-range of vocabulary, and the correct grammar, spelling and punctuation
• develop a personal style and an awareness of the audience being addressed.

Students are also encouraged to read widely, both for their own enjoyment and to further their awareness of the ways in which English can be used. Cambridge IGCSE English also develops more general analysis and communication skills such as synthesis, inference, and the ability to order facts and present opinions effectively. The aims are to:

• enable students to communicate accurately, appropriately and effectively in speech and writing
• enable students to understand and respond appropriately to what they hear, read and experience
• encourage students to enjoy and appreciate variety of language
• complement students’ other areas of study by developing skills of a more general application (e.g. analysis, synthesis, drawing of inferences)
• promote students’ personal development and an understanding of themselves and others.

Students can follow either the core or the extended curriculum. Students who are aiming for a grade A-C must follow the extended curriculum. Students who are aiming for a Grade C-G can choose the core curriculum. A student taking the core curriculum cannot get a Grade A or B – the maximum they can get is a C.

At the end of their course students will be able to demonstrate the following:

Reading

Core: All candidates should:

• Demonstrate understanding of words within extended texts
• Scan for and extract specific information
• Identify main and subordinate topics, summarise, paraphrase, re-express
• Show some sense of how writers achieve their effects
• Recognise and respond to simple linguistic devices including figurative language

Extended: In addition to what is required in the Core, candidates following the Extended curriculum should:

• Show a more precise understanding of extended texts
• Recognise the relationship of ideas
• Draw inferences, evaluate effectiveness, compare, analyse, synthesise
• Show understanding of how writers achieve their effects
• Recognise and respond to more sophisticated linguistic devices

Writing

Core: All candidates should:

• Express thoughts, feelings and opinions in order to interest, inform or convince the reader
• Show some sense of audience
• Demonstrate adequate control of vocabulary, syntax and grammar
• Exercise care over punctuation and spelling
• Write accurate simple sentences
• Attempt a variety of sentence structures
• Recognise the need for paragraphing
• Use appropriate vocabulary

Extended: In addition to what is required in the Core, candidates following the Extended curriculum should:

• Show a wider and more varied sense of different styles to interest, inform or convince the reader
• Show a clear sense of audience
• Demonstrate a sophisticated use of vocabulary and structures
• Demonstrate accuracy in punctuation and spelling
• Write accurate complex sentences
• Employ varied sentence structures
• Write in well-constructed paragraphs
• Use imaginative and varied vocabulary

Speaking and Listening

Core: All candidates should:

• Understand and convey both simple and detailed information
• Present facts, ideas and opinions in an orderly sequence
• Make relevant comments on what is heard, seen or read
• Describe experience in simple terms and express intelligibly what is thought and imagined
• Recognise and give statements of opinion and attitude
• Speak audibly and intelligibly with appropriate tone, intonation and pace

Extended: In addition to what is required in the Core, candidates following the Extended curriculum should:

• Understand and convey more complex information in an interesting and authoritative way
• Consciously order and present facts, ideas and opinions for a particular audience
• Evaluate and reflect on what is heard, seen or read
• Describe and reflect on experience, and express effectively what is thought and imagined
• Discuss statements of opinion and attitude, discerning underlying assumptions and points of view

Past Papers & Related Information

2005 Sample papers 1, 2 & 3

2005 Sample papers 1, 2 & 3 marking scheme & answers

2005 Additional sample papers 1, 2 & 3

2006 Sample paper 1

2006 Sample paper 2

2006 Sample paper 3

2012 syllabus

The syllabus for students sitting the IGCSE exams in 2012 can be found here:

2012 IGCSE English Syllabus

Other Documents

Revision checklist

Examiners Tips

List of helpful websites