British & IGCSE · Year 9 · Cambridge IGCSE 0510
Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language (0510)
The complete free course for Cambridge IGCSE ESL 0510: the exam explained, every reading exercise step by step, a full pack for each writing genre, and the listening paper, with full-mark model answers.
Start here: the exam
The papers, the marks and how to use this course.
- The Exam: OverviewEverything about Cambridge IGCSE ESL 0510: the three papers, marks and weightings, every Paper 1 exercise, how writing is marked, listening and speaking, a 2-hour time plan and a 10-week revision plan.
- Core Reading SkillsThe twelve reading skills behind every Paper 1 reading exercise - skimming, scanning, detail, paraphrase, synonyms, inference, attitude, fact and opinion, reference words, unknown words, short exact answers and spelling - each with examples and practice.
Paper 1 · Reading (Exercises 1-4)
How to tackle each reading exercise, with original practice and answers.
- Exercise 1: Short AnswersHow to get 8/8 in Exercise 1 of Paper 1: what the exercise is, a step-by-step method, answer-length rules, question words, the three-answer Question 6, common traps, timing and a full original practice test with explained answers.
- Exercise 2: Multiple MatchingHow to match nine statements to the right person or section: paraphrase, evidence, traps and a full original practice with answers.
- Exercise 3: Note CompletionHow to complete brief notes under two headings for 7 marks: what good notes look like, the rules examiners apply, and a full original practice with acceptable answers.
- Exercise 4: Multiple ChoiceHow to answer six three-option multiple-choice questions on gist, detail, attitude and implied meaning, with the six distractor types and a full original practice.
Paper 1 · Writing (Exercises 5-6)
One pack per genre: marks, structure, types, how to start and end, and full-mark models.
- Paper 1 Writing: How Exercises 5 and 6 Are MarkedEverything about the two writing tasks: the marks, the bands in plain English, how to lift your Language mark to 7–9, register, planning, timing and checking.
- Exercise 5: The Informal EmailStep-by-step structure, 8 openings and 8 endings, phrases by function, common mistakes and two full-mark model emails with examiner-style notes.
- Exercise 6: The ArticleThe four types of article (opinion, describing, advice, advantages and disadvantages), structure, headlines, openings and endings, key phrases and three full-mark models.
- Writing a Report (Exercise 6)Everything you need to write a full-mark Exercise 6 report: the four report types, headings, impersonal language, passives, reporting verbs, recommendations, and two annotated model reports.
- Writing a Review (Exercise 6)How to write a full-mark Exercise 6 review of a film, book, place, event or product: structure, what to cover for each type, evaluative language, recommendations and two annotated model reviews.
- Writing an Essay (Exercise 6)How to write a full-mark Exercise 6 essay: for-and-against, opinion, advantages/disadvantages and problem–solution structures, thesis statements, topic sentences, discourse markers, formal register and two annotated model essays.
Paper 2 · Listening
All five listening exercises and how to beat the distractors.
- Paper 2 Listening: Overview and StrategyEverything about Paper 2 Listening: the five multiple-choice exercises, marks and timing, the transfer time, how distractors work and a weekly practice plan.
- Listening Exercises 1-5: Method and PracticeExercise-by-exercise method for Paper 2 Listening, with original recording scripts, exam-style questions, answers and an explanation of every distractor.
Speaking
The speaking test parts and how each one is marked.