Where Tutix is today
A ready-made IGCSE English First Language program is planned and not available yet. You can start a IGCSE English First Language class now: the tutor teaches live from your syllabus or notes. Ready-made programs exist for other courses.
The qualification
Cambridge IGCSE English First Language is syllabus 0500. The 2027-2029 syllabus covers the 2027, 2028 and 2029 exams. Paper 1 was restructured to help candidates pace themselves, and Paper 2 has less reading and a new 5-mark reading question that checks understanding before the writing task. There are no Core and Extended tiers, so every candidate is entered for grades A* to G. Exams are in the June and November series, and in March for centres in India.
The papers
| Paper | Title | Time | Marks | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reading | 2 h | 80 | 50% |
| 2 | Directed Writing and Composition | 2 h | 80 | 50% |
| 3 | Coursework portfolio (component 3, instead of Paper 2) | Centre-assessed | 80 | 50% |
Candidates take Paper 1 and either Paper 2 or the coursework portfolio. Speaking and Listening is optional and endorsed separately: it does not count towards the grade.
What the marks test
Cambridge weights the marks of IGCSE English First Language between three assessment objectives: reading (50%), writing (50%) and speaking and listening (separately endorsed, so it does not count towards the grade). Cambridge calls these weightings approximate.
| Assessment objective | IGCSE |
|---|---|
| AO1 Reading | 50% |
| AO2 Writing | 50% |
| AO3 Speaking and Listening | Separately endorsed |
| Assessment objective | Paper 1 | Paper 2 and Component 3 | Component 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AO1 Reading | 80% | 20% | 0% |
| AO2 Writing | 20% | 80% | 0% |
| AO3 Speaking and Listening | 0% | 0% | 100% |
What it covers
- Reading: comprehension and analysis of three texts
- Directed writing: writing for an audience from source material
- Composition: descriptive and narrative writing
- A coursework portfolio of extended writing
- Speaking and listening, endorsed separately
How to prepare with Tutix today
Type IGCSE English First Language in the class wizard, attach your own notes or syllabus if you have them, choose a tutor and join: the tutor teaches on a shared whiteboard and reads what you write while you are still in class.
SparkAI tutor
Example
IGCSE English First Language · Reading · Meaning in context
In your own words, what does the writer mean by “the city never slept”?
You have noticed that the phrase is about sleeping. Is the writer describing the buildings, or the people and activity in them at night?
A sample written to show how a class sounds. The scores show how the exam would credit each answer. Not a real learner.
What a ready-made program adds, and what it costs
Ready-made programs, such as IGCSE Physics, come with lessons and questions reviewed in advance, at five levels. The Free plan includes 45 live class minutes a month with no card; see the plans.
The twelve ready-made programs are drawn to scale, with a real lesson to read, on the Programs page.
Questions people ask
Does Tutix have an IGCSE English First Language program?
Not ready-made yet; it is planned. Today you can start an IGCSE English First Language class: type the subject, attach your own notes, and the tutor builds the classes around them.
What papers are in IGCSE English First Language?
Paper 1, Reading, 2 h, 80 marks; Paper 2, Directed Writing and Composition, 2 h, 80 marks; Component 3, Coursework portfolio, Centre-assessed, 80 marks.
Are there Core and Extended tiers in IGCSE English First Language?
No. There are no tiers, so every candidate is eligible for grades A* to G.
Which IGCSE English First Language syllabus should I follow?
The 2027-2029 syllabus covers the 2027, 2028 and 2029 exams. Paper 1 was restructured to help candidates pace themselves, and Paper 2 has less reading and a new 5-mark reading question that checks understanding before the writing task. Check the syllabus your school or exam centre is entering you for.
Sources
- Syllabus 0500, IGCSE First Language English, 2027-2029, Cambridge University Press & Assessment (version 1)
- Cambridge IGCSE English First Language (0500), Cambridge University Press & Assessment (accessed October 21, 2026)
- Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge University Press & Assessment (accessed October 21, 2026)
Keep reading
Cambridge IGCSE® and Cambridge International AS & A Level are trademarks of Cambridge University Press & Assessment, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this site.
