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
Announcement: Cambridge IGCSE, O Level and AS & A Level June 2025 past papers are now available.
Announcement:
Cambridge International Education no longer be an Ofqual-recognised awarding organisation from December 20, 2024.
O-Level is the abbreviation of Ordinary Level. It is one of the two-part GCE (General Certificate of Education). The second part of GCE is Advanced Level (A-Level), which students enter after completing O-Level.
O-Level is the final certification for secondary school, to be taken at fifth form or year 11 at approximately age 17 (or age group 14-16). Students that have completed O-Level are considered to have completed formal education. They can further their studies to A-Level (at their schools’ sixth form or private colleges), Foundation Courses or diploma courses, or simply leaving school.
There are a few exam bodies offer O-Level, for example CAIE board, American Council for Higher Education and Edexcel International. Though schools in the UK had replaced O-Level with GCSE in 1988, it is still used in many Commonwealth countries, such as Bangladesh, Brunei, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and also in Trinidad and Tobago. (Some schools in the UK have reverted back to exams based on O-Level at the later stage.)
O-levels are predominantly exam-based. Therefore, this is advantages for students in part-time or evening education. Some commentators criticised this mainly exam-based approach as offering only partial proof of the student’s overall ability in comparison with other methods (e.g., coursework-based assessment). There was no summative “school certificate”: each subject was a separate O-level in its own right.
(Below are the information for O Level from the CAIE exam board only.)
Cambridge O Level is an internationally recognised qualification equivalent to Cambridge IGCSE and the UK GCSE. It provides learners with excellent preparation for academic progression to Cambridge Advanced as well as other progression routes.
Cambridge O Levels has been designed especially for an international audience. They are sensitive to the needs of different countries and for learners whose first language may not be English. The curriculum also enables teaching to be placed in a localised context, making it relevant wherever you teach it.
In some parts of the world, schools use Cambridge O Level as an international alternative to the local national examination.
You can choose from more than 40 subjects in any combination to provide the building blocks to create your own curriculum. Students normally take 7-9 subjects in the O-Level exam, with maximum allowable 14 subjects.
Many schools allocate a total of about 130 hours for each Cambridge O Level subject, but how much time a school devotes to each subject will depend on a variety of factors. Though Cambridge sets the syllabus, but the school decides on the method of teaching. Candidates must enter for Cambridge O Levels through a registered school or exam centre. Your school or exam centre will be able to give you more details about how candidates work towards these assessments.
At school, more able candidates may study six or seven subjects at Cambridge O Level, but less able candidates may have a much more modest programme. In order to follow a broad and balanced curriculum, most candidates take courses from each of the five Cambridge O Level groups (Languages; Humanities and Social Sciences; Sciences; Mathematics; and Business, Creative, Technical and Vocational). However, it is also possible to study individual Cambridge O Level subjects if this better suits the candidate’s needs.
Cambridge O Level courses usually take two years to complete and exams are taken at the end of that period.
Assessment takes place at the end of the course and includes written, practical and oral assessment. This broadens opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning, particularly when their first language is not English.
Grades are benchmarked using six internationally recognised grades, from A* to E. Therefore, it has clear guidelines to explain the standard of achievement.
Grade A* is awarded for the highest level of achievement, and grade E indicates minimum satisfactory performance. Grade U (Ungraded) is commonly regarded as fail.
Cambridge O Level examination series occur twice a year, in June and November. Results release is in August and January.
Many universities worldwide require a combination of Cambridge International A Levels and Cambridge O Levels to meet their entry requirements. Leading US and Canadian universities require Cambridge International AS & A Levels, but some US and Canadian colleges and universities will accept learners with five Cambridge O Levels at grade C
or above.
In the UK, Cambridge O Level is accepted as equivalent to the GCSE. Many UK universities look at Cambridge O Level grades, as well as predicted grades for Cambridge International A Level, when making admissions decisions.
Universities in many countries, including Canada and the USA, will admit students on the basis of their Cambridge O-Level performances alone. Grade C in Cambridge O-Level English Language satisfies the English proficiency requirements of many universities in the UK and other English-speaking countries.
Although IGCSE and O Level are equivalent qualifications grade for grade, they are two different qualifications. IGCSE sets international standards, on the other hand, O Level syllabus meets specific local needs in each country. Other notable differences are the grading scale, assessment techniques, and coursework options.
| IGCSE | O Level | |
| Grading | Grades are awarded from A* (highest grade) to G (lowest) | Grades are awarded from A* to E |
| Assessment techniques | Tests oral and practical skills | Focuses on writing and reading skills in language subjects Restricted practical test options in sciences |
| Coursework options | Available in many syllabuses | Fewer coursework options |
Our valuable A* resources had produced thousands of A* scorers around the world. Check them out below.
Our internationally loved exam model answers had helped thousands of students in scoring A/A*. Schools and teachers worldwide have used these resources to aid in their teachings. Learn what an A* answer like, copy the style and score A* in your exam.
Our word-renowned IGCSE and AS/A Level courses had produced more than 1100 A/A* scorers worldwide. They are suitable for schooled or home-schooled candidates, and as full course or revision course.
We have the most complete past exam papers library on earth (no kidding!). Choose your exam board and download everything with one click.
Get the latest exam syllabus and plan your study accordingly.
Find out the exam registration and results released key dates for IGCSE and AS/A Level.
Check your administrative zone, the exam dates and time. For both IGCSE and AS/A Level.
Find and locate the nearest exam centre for your location.
Please kindly read the O Level FAQs here.
Note: CIE (Cambridge International Examination board) has its name changed to CAIE (Cambridge Assessment International Education) since October 2017.
In October 2023, CAIE updated its name, logo, look, and messaging. Cambridge International Education is the new name of the awarding body of Cambridge University Press & Assessment. This name will be used on materials related to administering exams and awarding qualifications.
Note: All relevant info taken from CIE.
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Amal Elsayed
Kuwait
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572 responses
Hello
Could I please know that is is it nessesery to take atleast one language as first language in IGCSE
Hello,
It depends on what you plan to study in the future. You must choose subjects based on what you want to study in the future. You can check the college?s/university?s website to get an idea of the required subjects.
If you are taking IGCSE through school and wish to apply for the ICE, you will need two different languages from Group 1 and one subject from each of the remaining subject groups. The seventh subject can come from any of the five groups. You can check about ICE here: https://www.skolatis.com/what-is-cambridge-ice/
Hi ! Can I know what is the least number of subjects one should do in order to get a world prize in Cambridge O levels? Also do the examination board allow world prizes for subjects like Sinhala language?(I want to know this point because pretty confident in that language as for it being my mother tongue)
Hi Poorna!
There are 5 awards category issued by Cambridge Assessment International Education. First is the ?Top in the World? which refers to the learner who has gained the highest standard mark in the world for a single subject. ?Top in Country? refers to the learner who has gained the highest standard mark in your country for a single subject. ?High Achievement? is awarded to learners who have achieved outstanding results in subjects which are not so widely taken and which, under the current criteria, would not qualify for ?Top in Country? Awards. Learners who achieve the highest standard marks in Country in a particular subject will receive the award. ‘Top in Region’ awards are only recognised in Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. ‘Top in Region’ refers to the learner who has gained the highest standard mark in the region for a single subject. Lastly, the ?Best Across? award is issued to learners who have attained the first highest cumulative total standard marks in eight subjects.
However, Cambridge have set minimum entry thresholds for ?Top in the World? and ?Top in Country? awards. These thresholds are set to maintain the value and integrity of each award by ensuring that award-winning learners are selected from a sufficiently representative sample. If there are not enough entries worldwide, Cambridge will not award ?Top in the World? for that subject. If there are not enough entries for a subject from Country, Cambridge will not award a ?Top in Country? prize.
I have completed my high school . I need to give 0/A level exam so what exams i need to give in order to qualify from O to A and what subject i need to select in O and As well as A level for completing my mehanical engneering in future
Hi Harry,
If you have finished high school, you do not need to take O level anymore. Just proceed to A level.
For mechanical engineering, we suggest these subjects: English, Maths, Additional Maths, Physics, Chemistry. You may also check on the university?s entry requirement. In this way, you have 100% confirmation on the needed subjects.
Can I give IGCSE exam without being attached to a school? If yes , then how to do it?
Hi Fariha,
Yes, you can take IGCSE without being attached to a school. You can apply as a private candidate. You will need to register for your examination either with your local British Council or any registered Cambridge schools that accept private candidate. You can find the list of registered Cambridge schools here: https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/i-want-to/find-a-cambridge-school/
Hello,i just wanted to know that can i give some o level subjects and some IGCSEs subject to complete my o level?
Hello Shayan,
IGCSE and O Level are 2 different exam boards.
Please first make sure which exam board you want to take.
You can visit the website on the link below to know more of the list of subjects for IGCSE.
https://www.skolatis.com/what-is-igcse/
The below link is about O Level and the list of subjects.
https://www.skolatis.com/what-is-o-level/
We strongly suggest to take subjects according to the requirement of the school you desired to attend.