First Language English 0500
Reading for meaning and language analysis, plus directed writing and composition for first-language speakers.
Weighting by paper. Some papers are alternatives (for example Core or Extended, or practical or alternative to practical), so the figures add up to more than 100%.
- Paper 1 Reading50%
- Paper 2 Directed Writing and Composition50%
- Component 3 Coursework Portfolio50%
- Component 4 Speaking and Listening Test1%
What is assessed
4 components. Question formats: reading, short answer, extended response, writing, coursework, speaking and listening.
Four compulsory 20-mark questions on three texts (about 1400 words in total): Q1 comprehension on Text A; Q2 120-word summary (10 reading + 5 writing) and a 5-mark attitude question on Text B; Q3 short answers and a 200–250-word language task on Text C; Q4 extended response in 250–300 words (10 reading + 10 writing).
What the paper looks like
Two hours, 80 marks, three texts in an insert (allow about 15 minutes to read). From 2027: four compulsory 20-mark questions. Q1 (Text A) is a series of short comprehension items worth 1–3 marks each: give/identify explicit details, explain phrases in your own words (two-strand, 2 marks), give two or three reasons from a paragraph, and explain the effect of a single word or an image. Q2 (Text B) is a 120-word selective summary in continuous prose (10 reading, 5 writing) followed by a 5-mark question assessing the writer’s attitude with three supporting details. Q3 (Text C) has short ‘identify a word or phrase’ items and ‘use your own words to explain the words in bold’ items, a 5-mark explanation of one example of language, and a 10-mark language task (200–250 words) analysing three powerful words or phrases. Q4 asks for a 250–300-word letter, report, journal, speech, interview or article in a given role, covering three bullet points (10 reading, 10 writing). In 2024–2026 the same skills appear as three questions worth 30, 25 and 25 marks.
Section A on one or two texts totalling 550–650 words: Q1(a) 5-mark evaluation of an extract and Q1(b) a speech, letter, article or report of 250–350 words (10 reading + 25 writing); Section B: one composition from two descriptive and two narrative titles, 350–450 words (16 content and structure + 24 style and accuracy).
What the paper looks like
Two hours, 80 marks; answer one question from each section. Section A (40 marks) is based on one or two texts in an insert: from 2027, Q1(a) asks you to evaluate a person’s or writer’s attitude in an extract (5 marks) and Q1(b) asks for a 250–350-word speech, letter, article or report that uses, develops and evaluates ideas from the texts, guided by two bullet points (10 reading + 25 writing). Section B (40 marks) offers four composition titles – two descriptive and two narrative – for 350–450 words, marked for content and structure (16) and style and accuracy (24).
Alternative to Paper 2: three assignments of about 500–800 words each – Assignment 1 discursive/argumentative/persuasive writing in response to a text or texts (30 marks: 15 reading + 15 writing), Assignment 2 descriptive writing (25) and Assignment 3 narrative writing (25); internally assessed and externally moderated, with one first draft included.
What the paper looks like
Coursework alternative to Paper 2: a portfolio of three 500–800-word assignments completed without time pressure – Assignment 1 argues, discusses and/or persuades in response to teacher-selected texts (reading and writing, 30 marks), Assignment 2 is descriptive (25) and Assignment 3 narrative (25). Dictionaries may be used; one first draft and the Assignment 1 text(s) must be included.
Optional test of approximately 10–12 minutes: Part 1 Individual Talk on a chosen topic (3–4 minutes, 20 marks) and Part 2 Conversation with the teacher/examiner (7–8 minutes, 10 marks speaking + 10 marks listening); internally assessed, externally moderated, and does not count towards the A*–G grade.
What the paper looks like
Optional, separately endorsed Speaking and Listening Test of about 10–12 minutes, recorded in school: a 3–4-minute individual talk on a topic chosen in advance (20 marks), then a 7–8-minute conversation with the teacher/examiner developing that topic (10 speaking + 10 listening). There is no question paper.
Assessment overview
From the 2027–2029 syllabus. Checked against the Cambridge syllabus
| Assessment objective | IGCSE weighting |
|---|---|
| AO1 Reading (R1–R5: explicit and implicit meaning, analysis and evaluation, writers’ effects, selection for purpose) | 50% |
| AO2 Writing (W1–W5: expression, organisation, vocabulary and sentences, language for audience and purpose, accuracy) | 50% |
| AO3 Speaking and Listening (SL1–SL5; Component 4 only) | Separately endorsed |
Changes in this syllabus version
- Paper 1 restructured into four compulsory 20-mark questions on three texts printed in an insert; total marks (80) and duration (2 hours) are unchanged.
- Paper 1 Question 1 comprehension is now worth 20 marks and tests all five reading objectives (R1–R5).
- Paper 1 Question 2: a new 5-mark question on the writer’s attitude (R2, R3) follows the summary; the question now carries 15 reading and 5 writing marks.
- Paper 1 Question 3: word-meaning questions now use bold rather than underlining, some carry 2 marks, and the language task is shortened to 200–250 words.
- Paper 1 Question 4 extended response: 10 reading + 10 writing marks, shortened to 250–300 words.
- Paper 2 Section A: source texts reduced to 550–650 words; the task is split into Q1(a), a 5-mark evaluation testing R3 and R4 (R4 is new to this paper), and Q1(b), the directed writing task (10 reading + 25 writing); a report is now a possible form.
- Paper 2 Section B composition tasks unchanged; marking criteria updated for Papers 1 and 2, Component 3 and Component 4.
- Component 3: forms of writing updated and clarified, mark allocations unchanged; Component 4 tasks and marks unchanged.
- Syllabus content reworded, command word list updated, assessment objectives reworded (skills assessed unchanged), aims updated and learner attributes introduced.
Command words used in First Language English papers (11)
- Analyse
- look closely at the parts of something (e.g. words and images) to show what they mean and how they work together
- Assess
- weigh up the evidence and reach an informed judgement
- Consider
- think about the information given and respond to it
- Describe
- set out the main points or features of something
- Evaluate
- judge the quality, importance or value of ideas or opinions
- Explain
- give reasons or purposes, make relationships clear, say why and/or how, supported by evidence
- Give
- provide an answer taken from the text or from memory
- Identify
- name, select or pick out
- Justify
- back up a case or view with evidence or argument
- Outline
- set out the main points briefly
- Suggest
- apply understanding to put forward possible ideas where several valid answers exist
Examiner guidance from recent reports (14)
Topic map
Practice types
Free sample questions
Read the sentence: After weeks of drought, the farmers watched the clouds with wary hope, unwilling to…
After weeks of drought, the farmers watched the clouds with wary hope, unwilling to celebrate until the first drops actually fell.Which is closest in meaning to wary as used here?
- excited
- exhausted
- angry
- cautious
Answer: D. cautious
‘Wary’ means cautious or on guard: the farmers hope for rain but will not trust it until it falls – supported by ‘unwilling to celebrate’.
Read the sentence: The minister’s apology was so perfunctory that it seemed to annoy the crowd more than the…
The minister’s apology was so perfunctory that it seemed to annoy the crowd more than the original mistake had.Which is closest in meaning to perfunctory?
- brief and done only for the sake of form
- heartfelt and lengthy
- loud and aggressive
- confused and rambling
Answer: A. brief and done only for the sake of form
‘Perfunctory’ means carried out with minimum effort, as a formality. The context (it annoyed the crowd even more) shows the apology lacked sincerity.
FAQs
Are these official 0500 past-paper questions?
No. They are original questions written to match the First Language English syllabus topics. Official past papers are available to schools through Cambridge.
Why choose an exam year?
Cambridge updates syllabuses periodically. Your exam year selects the matching configuration so topics and components follow the right version.
Is a calculator allowed?
No calculator is needed for this subject.