IGCSE English as a Second Language: Listening, Writing, and Speaking
Preparing for your IGCSE English as a Second Language (ESL) exam can feel daunting. You are not just learning grammar
Learn how to write step-by-step answers, and score A* in your exam!
Announcement: Cambridge IGCSE, O Level and AS & A Level June 2025 past papers are now available.
The marking and grading process of exam papers by Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) is a meticulous and standardized procedure designed to ensure fairness, accuracy, and consistency in evaluating student performance.
This guide provides an overview of how exam papers are assessed, from initial marking by examiners to the final grading decisions that determine students’ results. By understanding the key principles and methods employed by CIE, educators, students, and stakeholders can gain insight into how marks are awarded and grades are determined, ensuring confidence in the reliability of the examination system.
*If the video isn’t playing for you, please read below.
Most of the exam scripts are scanned and marked by the examiners on their computers. Other exam scripts are marked manually on paper. For the multiple-choice component, the computer automatically marks the papers.
Cambridge examiners are composed of teachers and subject experts. Their task is to mark the exam scripts at the same standard. This means all the examiners mark according to the mark scheme and they all apply the mark scheme in the same way.
A team of experienced senior examiners mark a sample set of exam scripts based on the mark scheme. They then agree to the marks. These same exam scripts set the standard and will be used by the other examiners to practice marking. This is to make sure that all examiners understand how to mark the same way. For the final part of calibration, they mark another set of scripts as a test. They then begin to start marking all other papers.
The senior examiners review all the markings of every examiner. This is to ensure that they are all marked correctly. If an examiner fails to mark consistently, another examiner remarks the scripts.
CIE uses grade boundaries to convert marks into grades. The grade boundaries are the minimum mark needed to achieve a grade. It considers statistical evidence and expert judgment to agree to grade boundary. It also accounts the slight difference in the level of difficulty every year.
When the grade boundaries are set, it is applied to marks for grading. The senior examiners carry out final checks on the markings and the results are then sent to the schools.
The raw mark is the sum of all the total marks achieved in that component.
The mark found on the candidate’s completed examination script is the raw mark. For example in Syllabus 0620, the candidate’s raw mark in Component 41 is 20 out of the 80 total marks available.
Raw marks are adjusted to ensure fairness and equality. It can be adjusted due to scaling, granting of special consideration or both. Scaling is applied to ensure consistency across the marking process and the different examiners. Special consideration is granted if CIE agrees to an earlier formal request from a Centre. Usually, there is no need to adjust marks and the mark stays as a raw mark.
For example, the candidate’s component 41 raw mark of 20 is adjusted to 21 to reflect the fairness and consistency of marking between examiners.
Compare the component’s raw mark with the component’s grade thresholds. The component grade can be found on the subject syllabus? Grade Threshold.
For example, the candidate’s component 41 adjusted mark is 21, its component grade falls under the grade D threshold.
Calculate the final mark by multiplying each component’s mark by its weighting
factor. Weighting factor is the value assigned by CIE to indicate the level of importance of each component. The component weighting factors can be found here.
Calculate the syllabus total by adding all final marks together. Round up syllabus totals that end in 0.5 to the nearest whole number.
For example, the candidate’s component 41 adjusted mark (21) is multiplied by the component’s weighing factor which in this case is 1.25. This will lead to the candidate’s component 41 final mark of 21 x 1.25 = 26.25.
Consequently, when all the component’s final mark is computed, the candidate’s syllabus total can be calculated by adding it. For example, the candidate?s final marks for each component are 28.5, 26.25 and 20 for Components 21, 41 and 61 respectively. The sum of all of these component marks totals to 74.75. It is then rounded off to the nearest whole number that is 75.
Compare the syllabus total to the overall grade threshold. Make sure that the option code is correct. As the grade thresholds for different options may not be the same.
For example, if the candidate took the combination of Components 21, 41, and 61, the syllabus grade should be compared to Option CX grade threshold. As such if the candidate’s syllabus total is 75, it falls under the Grade D threshold because Grade D threshold are for 71 marks and above. The Grade C threshold is for marks that are 84 and above.
* All info taken from CIE. The above video is made by CIE.
Join 62,169 (and counting) IGCSE & AS/A Level subscribers who’ve taken our insanely valuable FREE email courses. Learn exam tips & score A* in your exam!
Amal Elsayed
Kuwait
Preparing for your IGCSE English as a Second Language (ESL) exam can feel daunting. You are not just learning grammar
Choosing the right educational pathway for your child is one of the most significant decisions a family can make. In
The IGCSE English First Language exam places a strong emphasis on creative writing, with writing descriptive and narrative essays being
In the IGCSE English First Language Directed Writing task, you’ll be required to either write a speech, letter, or article
130 responses
I have a question. What would happen if I fail one component but do well in the other
will I pass or fail?
Hello Shiven,
Kindly read this article to guide you in the marking and grading process: https://www.skolatis.com/guide-to-the-marking-and-grading-process-of-exam-papers/
Furthermore, each component has its weighting factor. Weighting factor is the value assigned by CIE to indicate the importance of each component. You may download the weighting factors here: https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/Images/206341-syllabus-component-weighting-factors.pdf
Are there any internal marking that is done while giving the paper at school?
Hello Shiven,
We are sorry that we don’t quite grasp your question. If we guessed your question correctly, below is our answer.
Most of the IGCSE exams are externally assessed. On the other hand, courseworks are internally assessed/externally moderated.
Hello CAIE tean,
I have few queries regarding grade threshold and weighting factor
Is the grade threshold for any syllabus is set before the examination or after it, do it range differ lot form subject to subject,
is the weighting factor set by CAIE for specific subject is fix or do it reviewed each year?
finally, the adjustment marks given by the examiner to a candidate is a fixed value or in a range, if so what the the maximum marks which can be awarded
Hi Muhammed,
First of all, we are not CAIE. But to answer your question, the thresholds are decided after each examination has been taken and marked. The aim in each year (or examination series) is to set each threshold in just the right place to ensure that it is no more difficult and no less difficult to obtain that grade than it was in the previous year.
Furthermore, CAIE releases syllabus component weighting factors every year. Lastly, raw mark may be adjusted as the result of scaling, the granting of special consideration or both. Usually there is no need to adjust marks, so the adjusted mark is often the same as the raw mark. Scaling is applied to ensure consistency across the marking process and the different examiners used. For example, if the candidate’s raw mark is 18, the mark is adjusted to 19 to bring the mark in line with all other marking of the same paper; no special consideration sought or granted.
If you wish to enquire about the weighting factors and adjustment marks in details, please kindly write to CAIE.
Hi,
If i get the answer correctly in Mathematics but the working is slightly different from the mark scheme, can I still get a full marks in that question?
Hello Cassie,
The mark scheme does not include all possible methods, so if you use a method not included in the mark scheme but it is accurate and relevant, then the examiner will still award marks for the appropriate parts of the working – unless the questions asks you to use a specific method.
Is 75 above considered an A*?
Hello,
All the subjects are graded according to the grade threshold. You may get the grade threshold here: https://www.skolatis.com/cambridge-igcse-past-exam-papers/