IGCSE English 0510 · Papers
IGCSE English as a Second Language 0510: paper structure
Updated · by the Fahmazing team
Knowing exactly what is on each paper lets you plan your time and practise the right things. This is the structure for Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) 0510.
Component 1: Reading and Writing
2 hours, 60 marks, 70% of your grade. Six exercises: four reading and two writing. You answer every question on the question paper. No dictionaries.
- Exercise 1: short answers on a 400–450 word text (8 marks).
- Exercise 2: multiple matching on a 600–650 word text (9 marks).
- Exercise 3: note-making on a 400–500 word text (7 marks).
- Exercise 4: six three-option multiple-choice questions on a 550–600 word text (6 marks).
- Exercise 5: an informal email, 120–160 words (15 marks).
- Exercise 6: a formal or semi-formal article, report, essay or review, 120–160 words (15 marks).
Tip: A good plan: about 50 minutes for reading, then about 30 minutes for each writing task, including planning and checking.
Free lesson: Timing Component 1
Component 2: Listening
About 50 minutes, including 6 minutes at the end to copy your answers onto a separate answer sheet. 40 marks, 30% of your grade. Every question is multiple choice and you hear every recording twice.
- Exercise 1: eight short extracts, four picture options each (8 marks).
- Exercise 2: five short extracts, two questions each (10 marks).
- Exercise 3: a talk, eight sentence-completion questions (8 marks).
- Exercise 4: six speakers matched to eight statements (6 marks).
- Exercise 5: an interview, eight questions (8 marks).
Tip: Copy answers carefully in the transfer time. A correct answer in the wrong row scores nothing.
Free lessons: Exercise 1: short extracts with pictures · Exercise 5: the interview
Component 3: Speaking (separately endorsed)
A 10–15 minute test with your teacher, recorded and marked out of 40. It is graded 1 (high) to 5 (low) and does not change your A*–G grade.
- Warm-up (not assessed): a short chat to settle you.
- Part 1: Interview, about 2–3 minutes of questions on a topic.
- Part 2: Short talk, 3–4 minutes including up to 1 minute to prepare. You cannot make written notes.
- Part 3: Discussion, about 3–4 minutes on ideas linked to your talk.
Free lessons: Interview: answering and expanding · Short talk: structure in one minute · Discussion: opinions, agreeing and speculating
Questions students ask
How long is the 0510 Reading and Writing paper?
2 hours, for 60 marks.
How long is the 0510 Listening paper?
About 50 minutes, including 6 minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet.
What is the difference between 0510 and 0511?
The papers are the same. In 0510 speaking is a separate endorsement; in 0511 speaking counts towards the overall grade.