Document Reference: Cambridge IGCSE English (as an Additional Language) 0472
Examinations: For the years 2026, 2027, and 2028
Availability: Exams only offered in the June series. Refer to the syllabus page at www.cambridgeinternational.org/0472 for administrative zone availability.
Why Choose Cambridge International?
Cambridge International aims to develop students' curiosity and passion for learning.
Part of: University of Cambridge.
Cambridge Pathway: Provides a clear educational path from age 5 to 19.
Curriculum Customization: Schools can shape the curriculum to best serve their students with various subjects and flexible offerings.
Learner Development: Encourages discovery of new abilities and cultural awareness.
Global Standard: Programs are developed by subject experts and reflect current educational research, aiming to prepare students for future success in various life stages.
Awarded Recognition: Internationally recognized, with feedback from esteemed academic institutions like Duke University attesting to its quality.
Quality Standards: Certified under ISO 9001:2015, ensuring high educational quality.
Changes to the Syllabus
Revisions: For details on syllabus changes for 2026-2028, see page 53.
Textbook Compatibility: Textbooks endorsed from 2023 are suitable for current syllabus use.
Contents Overview
Main Sections:
Why Choose Cambridge International? (pg. 2)
Why Choose This Syllabus? (pg. 4)
Syllabus Overview (pg. 7)
Subject Content (pg. 12)
Details of Assessment (pg. 15)
Additional Information (pg. 48)
Why Choose This Syllabus?
Popularity: Cambridge IGCSE is the most popular international qualification for 14-16-year-olds, also suitable for other ages.
Flexibility: Offers choice among 70 subjects in various combinations.
Skill Development: Aims to enhance transferable skills in everyday English communication, including cultural understanding.
Engagement:
Keywords for Learners:
Confident: Use structures and vocabulary effectively.
Responsible: Apply language skills in context.
Reflective: Consider communication approaches.
Innovative: Apply language to different situations.
Engaged: Develop strategies to express ideas and understand other cultures.
International Recognition and Acceptance
Qualitative Benchmarking: Cambridge IGCSE English is benchmarked to comparable standards of UK GCSEs, ensuring global recognition.
Foundation for Further Study: Grades A*-C prepare students successfully to pursue various courses globally.
Statistics: Nearly a million students across 10,000 schools in 160 countries utilize the Cambridge Pathway annually.
Supporting Teachers
Resource Availability: Resources to facilitate Cambridge IGCSE include syllabuses, schemes, past papers, and candidate responses.
Professional Development: Various levels of professional development available, from introductory to enrichment workshops.
Syllabus Overview
Aims
Language Proficiency: Communicate effectively in English.
Cultural Insights: Appreciate the culture of English-speaking communities.
Language Learning: Foster a positive attitude towards different languages.
Enjoyment: Provide intellectual stimulation.
Transferable Skills: Develop skills that complement other curriculum areas.
Content Overview
Topics: The syllabus organizes content into five areas:
A: Everyday Activities
B: Personal and Social Life
C: The World Around Us
D: The World of Work
E: The International World
Assessment Overview
Components: Four assessments take place, with grades from A* to G:
Paper 1: Listening (25%, approx. 50 min)
Paper 2: Reading (25%, 1 hour)
Paper 3: Speaking (25%, approx. 10 min)
Paper 4: Writing (25%, 1 hour)
Assessment Objectives (AOs)
Listening (AO1): Understand main points and information from everyday material.
Reading (AO2): Comprehend texts and extract relevant information.
Speaking (AO3): Communicate effectively in predictable situations.
Writing (AO4): Convey information and write coherent texts.
Weightings for Assessment Objectives
Each objective (Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing): 25% of the overall qualification.
Total assessment weightings reflect the component weightings: 100% across all components.
Subject Content
Skills Overview: Encompasses essential skills in listening, reading, speaking, and writing:
Listening for factual comprehension and opinions.
Reading skills focus on understanding various text types.
Speaking emphasizes interaction and conversation skills.
Writing develops task specific writing for various contexts.
Topic Areas Detailed Framework
Includes further sub-topics under broad categories, for comprehensive vocabulary and grammar development.
Details of the Assessment
Assessment Protocols
Different papers assess distinct competencies, including formats for listening (Paper 1), reading (Paper 2), speaking (Paper 3), and writing (Paper 4).
Paper 1 – Listening
Format: Approx. 50 minutes with 40 marks; consists of multiple-choice and matching questions based on recorded dialogues and announcements.
Paper 2 – Reading
Duration: 1 hour, 45 marks; entails reading several texts with corresponding questions.
Paper 3 – Speaking
Duration: Approx. 10 minutes comprising conversations and role play.
Paper 4 – Writing
Duration: 1 hour, totaling 45 marks; involves form filing and writing tasks based on prompts.
Assessment Criteria and Marking
Speaking Assessment Criteria
Both role play and topic conversations are assessed based on communication effectiveness and language quality.
Writing Assessment Criteria
Tasks focus on everyday contexts that showcase clarity and language proficiency.
Additional Information
Accessibility and Equality
Ensures inclusivity for all candidates, accommodating varied backgrounds or disabilities through assessment design.
Exam Administration
Clear timelines for exam protocols and resource allocations drawn from administrative zones are emphasized.
Grading and Reporting
Grades range from A* to G, denoting performance levels, with 'Ungraded' indicating failure to meet minimum criteria. Specific notations (Q for pending, X for no result) may appear on statements of results but not on certificates.