Speaking is reported separately.
For 2027–2029, Reading and Writing is 70% and Listening is 30% of the written grade. The Speaking component is separately endorsed and does not contribute to that overall written grade.
Cambridge IGCSE · English as a Second Language · 0510 / 0511
Write for the task.
A practical guide to the two extended writing tasks in the 2027–2029 syllabuses. Start with the prompt, shape the response for its reader, and use the right text-type features where they help.
The same writing tasks; a different speaking route
Know which syllabus your student is taking.
The two courses share the Paper 1 writing formats. Their speaking components have different roles in the final result.
Speaking counts towards the grade.
For 2027–2029, Reading and Writing is 50%, Listening is 25% and Speaking is 25% of the overall grade.
Paper 1 · Reading and Writing
Two writing exercises. 120–160 words each.
Both tasks respond to a short stimulus and prompts. The rubric identifies the purpose, audience and format. Each task is marked for content (up to 6 marks) and language (up to 9 marks).
Informal email
Write to the named person and respond to every prompt. Use a friendly, natural tone, with enough detail to make the message clear and complete.
Related guide: personal letter ↗ · email guide ↗Formal or semi-formal response
The task specifies one of these forms: article, report, essay or review. Use that form to organise your ideas, while following the exact purpose and audience in the prompt.
Article ↗ · Report ↗ · Essay and argument ↗ · Review ↗Choose the response you are practising
A short planning routine
Make every word do a job.
- Read the whole rubric. Mark the audience, purpose, format and every prompt.
- Plan the content. Jot a brief answer or example for each prompt before writing.
- Choose the voice. Decide how formal the response should sound and what the reader needs first.
- Organise and link. Put related ideas together. Use linking words to show cause, addition or contrast.
- Check the task. Confirm you have covered all prompts and written 120–160 words. Edit for development, accuracy and clear organisation.
What is assessed?
Content and language.
- Content: task fulfilment and development of ideas.
- Language: range, accuracy and organisation.
- Make the response relevant before trying to add complex vocabulary.
- Use paragraphs to help the reader follow the ideas.
- Check verb forms, sentence boundaries, spelling and punctuation.
- Use a varied but accurate range of vocabulary and grammar.
Equivalent evidence
Read the whole result and each skill carefully.
Cambridge states that a grade C overall is considered equivalent to B2 for 0511. For 0510, grade C overall with grade 2 in the speaking component is the stated B2 combination. Cambridge also provides an older grade-by-skill crosswalk; speaking values differ between the two routes.
| Qualification | Cambridge B2 guidance | What to keep in view |
|---|---|---|
| 0510 Speaking endorsement | Grade C overall + grade 2 in speaking | Speaking is a separate endorsement; read its result alongside the written grade. |
| 0511 Count-in Speaking | Grade C overall | Speaking contributes to the overall grade. |
A grade is not a universal substitute for another test. Recognition requirements vary by institution and purpose. Use the student’s current certificate, component results and the receiving institution’s rules.
Compare English exams and frameworks ↗ Open the interactive equivalency chart ↗
Writing across subjects
Use subject forms for the right job.
The exam’s report task is guided by its prompt. A science lab report has its own purpose and structure; it is useful cross-curricular writing practice, but it is not automatically the expected answer to every exam report prompt.
Official guidance
Check the syllabus year and component.
Teaching writing with EAL learners
Essay teaching · Summary teaching · Error-code feedback · Disciplinary literacy and school implementation