Cambridge IGCSE First Language English 0500 syllabus for 2027, 2028 and 2029.
Syllabus overview
Assessment objectives
The assessment objectives (AOs) are:
AO1 Reading
Candidates will be assessed on their ability to:
R1 demonstrate 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
R4 demonstrate understanding of how writers achieve effects and influence readers
R5 select and use information for specific purposes.
AO2 Writing
Candidates will be assessed on their ability to:
W1 articulate experience and express what is thought, felt and imagined
W2 organise and structure facts, ideas and opinions for deliberate effect
W3 use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures appropriate to context
W4 use language appropriate to purpose and to engage the audience
W5 make accurate use of spelling, punctuation and grammar.
AO3 Speaking and Listening
Candidates will be assessed on their ability to:
SL1 articulate experience and express what is thought, felt and imagined
SL2 present facts, ideas and opinions for deliberate effect
SL3 communicate clearly, purposefully and fluently appropriate to context
SL4 use register appropriate to context
SL5 listen and respond appropriately in conversation.
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Cambridge IGCSE First Language English 0500 syllabus for 2027, 2028 and 2029. Syllabus overview
Weighting for assessment objectives
The approximate weightings allocated to each of the assessment objectives (AOs) are summarised below.
Assessment objectives as a percentage of the qualification
Assessment objective Weighting in IGCSE %
AO1 Reading 50
AO2 Writing 50
AO3 Speaking and Listening Separately endorsed
Total 100
Assessment objectives as a percentage of each component
Assessment objective Weighting in components %
Paper 1 Paper 2 and Component 4
Component 3
AO1 Reading 80 20 0
AO2 Writing 20 80 0
AO3 Speaking and Listening 0 0 100
Total 100 100 100
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Cambridge IGCSE First Language English 0500 syllabus for 2027, 2028 and 2029. Details of the assessment
Command words
Command words and their meanings help candidates know what is expected from them in the exams. The
table below includes command words used in the assessment for this syllabus. The use of the command word
will relate to the subject context.
Command word What it means
Analyse examine in detail to show meaning, identify elements and the relationship between
them
Assess make an informed judgement
Consider review and respond to given information
Describe state the points of a topic / give characteristics and main features
Evaluate judge or calculate the quality, importance, amount or value of something
Explain set out purposes or reasons / make the relationships between things clear / say why
and/or how and support with relevant evidence
Give produce an answer from a given source or recall/memory
Identify name/select/recognise
Justify support a case with evidence/argument
Outline set out the main points
Suggest apply knowledge and understanding to situations where there are a range of valid
responses in order to make proposals / put forward considerations
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Cambridge IGCSE First Language English 0500 syllabus for 2027, 2028 and 2029. What else you need to know
Changes to this syllabus for 2027, 2028 and 2029
The syllabus has been reviewed and revised for first examination in 2027.
You must read the whole syllabus before planning your teaching programme.
Changes to syllabus content • The syllabus content has been reworded.
• The list of command words has been updated.
Changes to assessment • The syllabus aims have been updated.
(including changes to • Learner attributes have been introduced.
specimen papers)
• The wording of the assessment objectives has been updated. The
knowledge and skills assessed have not changed.
Paper 1 Reading
• The number of total question paper marks has not changed.
• The duration of the paper has not changed.
• The question paper has been restructured to help candidates to
navigate the paper efficiently and use their exam time effectively.
• The questions are based on three reading texts which are printed in
an insert.
• Candidates answer four compulsory questions worth 20 marks
each.
• The marking criteria for Paper 1 have been updated.
• Question 1 Comprehension questions
– These questions now test all five reading assessment
objectives.
– There are now 20 marks for comprehension.
• Question 2 Summary task
– There is a new 5-mark question incorporated that tests R2 and
R3.
– There are now 15 marks for reading and 5 marks for writing.
• Question 3 Short answer questions
– There are now 2 marks for questions which require candidates
to show their understanding of words identified from a text.
– The style of questions with underlining has changed to use
bold.
Language task
– The wording of the question has been simplified.
– The amount candidates write has reduced to 200–250 words.
• Question 4 Extended response to reading
– There are now 10 marks for reading and 10 marks for writing.
– The amount candidates write has reduced to 250–300 words.
continued