Subject Overview:

Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language offers learners the opportunity to gain lifelong skills and knowledge including:

1) Better communicative ability in English

2) Improved ability to understand English in a range of everyday situations and in a variety of social registers and styles

3) Greater awareness of the nature of language and language-learning skills

4) A wider international perspective.

Prior learning

Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language is designed for learners whose first language is not English.

Progression

Cambridge IGCSEs are general qualifications that enable learners to progress directly to employment or to proceed to further study. Candidates who are awarded grades A* to C in Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language are well prepared to do English B in the IB Diploma, and English Language and Literature would be a possibility in the IB Diploma.

Assessment

Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language candidates take three components:

Reading and writing

Candidates who study the Core curriculum take a 1 ½-hour written paper. Candidates who study the Extended curriculum take a 2-hour written paper. Both exams are comprised of six tasks, testing a range of reading and writing skills. It is externally marked. Candidates who take the Core component are eligible for grades C–G. Candidates who take the Extended component are eligible for grades A*–E.

Listening

Candidates listen to several short extracts and longer texts, and complete a range of task types, including short-answer questions, gap filling, matching and multiple choice. The Core exam takes approximately 40 minutes. Candidates are eligible for grades C–G. The Extended exam includes note taking and takes approximately 50 minutes. Candidates are eligible for grades A*–E. Both exams are externally marked.

Speaking

The speaking test is held in the final semester of the course and takes approximately 10–15 minutes. Following a 2–3 minute warm-up conversation, candidates engage in a 6–9 minute discussion with the examiner on a given topic.

The test is internally marked and externally moderated.