British & IGCSE · Year 10 · OxfordAQA 9280
Oxford International GCSE English as a Second Language
The complete free course for OxfordAQA International GCSE ESL (9280): what is in the exam, then Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking one by one, with model answers that show exactly how to get full marks.
Start here: the exam
What the exam looks like, how it is marked and the three themes every paper is built on.
- The Exam: OverviewEverything about the OxfordAQA International GCSE ESL (9280) exam: the four components, marks, timings, what each paper tests, the three themes and a 10-week study plan.
- The Three Themes and All TopicsThe three themes and every topic behind all four 9280 papers, with a word bank and ready-to-use ideas for each topic.
Reading (9280/R)
The paper, every question type, vocabulary questions and a full practice text.
- The Reading Paper (9280/R)How the Reading paper works: four texts, 60 marks in 75 minutes, how marks are given, a minute-by-minute timing plan and a step-by-step method.
- Reading: Every Question TypeEvery question type in the 9280 Reading paper with an original mini text, a model answer, the reason it is right, a step-by-step method and the traps.
- Reading: Vocabulary in ContextHow to answer every vocabulary question without a dictionary: explain-in-your-own-words, context clues, prefixes and suffixes, synonyms, idioms and figurative language, with worked examples and 20 practice items.
- Reading: Full Practice PaperA complete original practice paper in the 9280 Reading style: four texts, 35 questions, 60 marks, with answers, explanations and a mark-yourself table.
Writing (9280/W)
One pack per task, in exam order: marks, structure, how to start and end, and a full-mark model.
- The Writing Paper: Complete GuideEverything about the OxfordAQA 9280 Writing paper: the four questions, how level-of-response marking works, a 75-minute timing plan, the Lead Examiner's advice and the language toolkit for top marks.
- Question 1: Picture DescriptionHow to describe a photograph in 30-50 words for 9/9: what to describe, the grammar that makes it easy, why simple and accurate English wins, and three full-mark models.
- Question 2: Letters and Emails (How to Get 12/12)The complete letter and email pack: formal and informal register, greetings and sign-offs, a paragraph plan, the tick strategy for compulsory points, and four full-mark models (Q2 letters and a Q3 email).
- Question 3: Blog and Diary EntryHow to score 16/16 in Question 3: blog vs diary, the right tenses for recounts and opinions, a paragraph plan, openings and endings, and two full-mark models with notes for Content 8 + Language 8.
- The Article (Question 3 and Question 4)How to write a full-mark article for the OxfordAQA 9280 Writing paper: purposes, headlines, openings, rhetorical questions, structure, the 15-mark Language bands and two model answers.
- The Report (Question 3)How to write a full-mark 70-90 word report for Question 3 of the OxfordAQA 9280 Writing paper: purpose, reader, register, optional headings, passive voice, recommending language and three model reports.
- Extended Writing (Question 4)How to plan and write a full-mark 100-150 word Question 4 for the OxfordAQA 9280 Writing paper: every purpose, a 3-minute plan, how to reach Language 13-15, an upgrade table and two model answers.
Listening (9280/L)
The five tasks and how to tackle each one.
- The Listening Paper (9280/L)Everything about the 45-minute Listening paper: the five tasks, how answers are marked, how to use the reading time and the two listenings, the traps examiners set, and a weekly practice plan.
- Listening: Task by TaskA clear method for each of the five Listening tasks, with original practice transcripts, exam-style questions and answers that show where every answer is and why the distractors are wrong.
Speaking (9280/S)
The photocard and the general conversation: topics, expected questions and model answers.
- The Speaking Test (9280/S)How the 10-minute Speaking test works, how your photocard decides the conversation themes, what every marking criterion rewards, and the A-R-E method for developing top-band answers.
- Speaking Part 1: The PhotocardA minute-by-minute preparation routine, a formula for describing any photo, the typical card and unseen question patterns, and three full model photocards — one per theme — with top-band answers.
- Speaking Part 2: General ConversationEvery topic in all three themes with the questions you are most likely to be asked, developed model answers, phrases for opinions, examples and the future, and a two-week practice plan.