205208 syllabus changes 2016 uk schools version 1.0

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016

This annual update provides advance notification of changes to syllabuses.
Please share the relevant pages with subject staff.

Contents
Teacher support ..........................................................................

3

Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Secondary 1 .........................

4

Cambridge English language and literature .................................

9

Cambridge mathematics ............................................................... 31
Cambridge science ....................................................................... 48

Cambridge languages .................................................................. 76
Cambridge humanities and social sciences .................................. 112
Cambridge business, technical and vocational ............................. 145

Including:
Cambridge Primary
Cambridge Secondary 1
Cambridge IGCSE

®

Cambridge O Level
Cambridge International AS and A Level
Cambridge Pre-U

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Changes to the Cambridge Handbook for 2017
Following feedback from Cambridge schools, we are making some

changes to our exams officer documents from 2017:
1. We are combining the Cambridge Administrative Guide and the
Cambridge Handbook. This means that all our administrative
processes and regulations will be detailed in one document, the
Cambridge Handbook, and it will be easier for exams officers to find
the information they need quickly.
2. The monthly diaries that are currently in the Cambridge Administrative
Guide will be available online only as interactive PDFs. This will allow
exams officers to navigate between different months and to access
online forms and documents directly from the diaries.
The Cambridge Handbook for 2017 will be available at www.cie.org.uk/examsofficersguide and
sent to schools in hard-copy in October 2016.

Keep up to date with the latest new and revised qualifications
To help teachers plan ahead, we update the What’s new? section of our public website twice a year,
in February and September. The update includes information about new and revised qualifications
and teacher support services.
It’s easy to keep up to date with the latest
changes:


Visit the What’s new? section on our
website – go to www.cie.org.uk/new

You can also keep up to date with changes to
syllabuses you teach:


Go to www.cie.org/new to sign-up for
email notifications of syllabus changes,
including new and revised product updates.

New syllabus

Change to availability

Regulated by Ofqual (UK only)

Revisions to syllabus

Advance notice of withdrawal

Publishers’ endorsed resources
2

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Teacher support
We provide a wide range of support so that you can give your learners the best possible preparation
for Cambridge programmes and qualifications.

Teaching and learning resources

Examination preparation resources

• Schemes of work provide teachers with
a medium-term plan with ideas on how to
deliver the course.

• Past question papers and mark schemes
so teachers can give learners the opportunity
to practise answering different questions.

• Endorsed textbooks produced by
leading publishers. We have quality
checked these materials to make sure
that they match the syllabus well.

• Example candidate responses to help
teachers see the level of performance needed
to achieve key grades and understand exactly
what examiners are looking for.

• Resource lists to help support teaching,
including textbooks and websites.

• Principal examiner reports describing
learners’ overall performance on each part of
the papers. The reports give insight into

common misconceptions shown by
learners, which teachers can address
in lessons.

Support for
teachers
Professional development
Face-to-face training
We hold workshops around the world to
support teachers in delivering Cambridge
syllabuses and developing their skills.
Online training
We offer self-study and tutor-led online training
courses via our virtual learning environment.
A wide range of syllabus-specific courses and
skills courses is available. We also offer
training via video conference and webinars.
Qualifications
We offer a wide range of practice-based
qualifications at Certificate and Diploma level,

providing a framework for continuing
professional development.

Learn more
Learn more about support available for
each syllabus at
www.cie.org.uk/qualifications
Visit our online resource bank and
community forum at teachers.cie.org.uk
Useful links
Customer Services www.cie.org.uk/help
www.cie.org.uk/linkedin
@CIE_Education
www.facebook.com/cie.org.uk

Supporting you every step
of the way
Learn more about Cambridge resources for
teaching and learning in your school by
downloading our new teacher support brochure

at www.cie.org.uk/cambridge-for/teachers

Learn more! For more information please visit www.cie.org.uk or contact
Customer Services on +44 1223 553554 or email info@cie.org.uk

3

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Contents for Cambridge Primary and
Cambridge Secondary 1
Please share the relevant pages with subject staff.

Finding your way round
Select the relevant subject
to learn more about changes
highlighted by these icons:

Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Secondary 1

English 0844, 1111 .......................................................... 5
English as a Second Language 0837 ............................... 8

New syllabus

Revisions to syllabus

Change to availability

Advance notice
of withdrawal
Regulated by Ofqual
(UK only)
Publishers’ endorsed
resources

Publishers’ endorsed resources
This icon shows new and forthcoming endorsed publishers’ resources available to support the new or
revised syllabus. For a full list of endorsed titles, check the resource lists on our website.

New syllabus

Change to availability

Regulated by Ofqual (UK only)

Revisions to syllabus

Advance notice of withdrawal

Publishers’ endorsed resources
4

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Syllabus changes
Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Secondary 1
Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Secondary 1 English 0844, 1111
From 2018

Changes to the English
Curriculum Frameworks

The Cambridge Primary English Curriculum Framework and the
Cambridge Secondary 1 English Curriculum Framework have been
reorganised for 2018.
There is no substantive change to the teaching content of the curriculum
frameworks. Some of the learning objectives in both curriculum
frameworks have been reworded for clarity and detail added.
The learning objectives within each Stage are arranged under new
headings which have a direct link to new reporting strands and
sub-strands for 2018.
Curriculum framework heading

Reporting strand/sub-strand
from 2018

Reading

Reading

Develop broad reading skills

n/a

Demonstrate understanding of
explicit meaning in texts

Explicit meaning

Demonstrate understanding of
implicit meaning in texts

Implicit meaning

Explain, comment on and analyse
the way writers use stylistic and
other features of language and
structure in texts

Language and structure of a text

Recognise conventions and
evaluate viewpoint, purpose,
themes and ideas in texts

Purpose and viewpoint

Writing

Writing

Develop broad writing skills

n/a

Select and develop content and
use register and language
appropriate to genre, purpose and
audience

Content/purpose and audience

Structure and organise ideas
coherently using section or
paragraphs

Text structure and organisation

Use a range of sentence
structures and punctuation
accurately to convey meaning and
create particular effects

Sentence structure

Use accurate spelling

Spelling

Learn more! For more information please visit www.cie.org.uk or contact
Customer Services on +44 1223 553554 or email info@cie.org.uk

5

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Secondary 1 English 0844, 1111 (continued)
The learning objectives codes have been changed to reflect the
reorganisation. A mapping of the new codes for 2018 to the codes up to
2017 is available on the Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Secondary 1
websites.
Changes to the
Cambridge Primary
Checkpoint and
Secondary 1 Checkpoint
English tests








From 2018 there will be two reporting strands – Reading and Writing.
From 2018 skills which were previously reported as Usage will be
reported as either Reading or Writing.
The reporting strands and sub-strands used in the Primary Checkpoint
and Secondary 1 Checkpoint English statement of achievement and
diagnostic reports will enable teachers to link the feedback in the
reports to the learning objectives in the curriculum frameworks.
The assessment of Reading and Writing will be equally weighted on
all the papers, which is in line with our other English assessments.
There will be wider sampling of the learning objectives in the
curriculum frameworks in the tests from 2018.
The specimen materials have been revised to reflect the changes for
2018.

Primary Checkpoint Paper 1
In Section A, the questions will aid the development of reading skills by
following the sequence of the text. Questions at the end of Section A will
test overall understanding of the two texts on the paper.
The rewriting task (Section A: Question 4) will no longer be included in the
paper. Feedback from schools suggests this skill is best assessed by the
teacher in the classroom in the context of other work.
To better align Paper 1 with the reporting strands of Reading and Writing,
the skills currently assessed in Section C (Usage) will be assessed in
Section A and Section B, in the context of Reading or Writing. Section C
will be removed from the paper.
Some questions relating to writing will no longer be included in the paper.
These are:







rewriting a sentence to include a clause (Section C: Question 13b)
changing the tense of a sentence (Section C: Question 14a)
inserting the passive form of a verb (Section C: Question 14b)
correcting a sentence (Section C: Question 15)
adding apostrophes to two words (Section C: Question 17)
adding missing punctuation (Section C: Question 18).

Grammar and punctuation will be assessed in the writing task in
Section B. The marks for the Section B writing task will be increased from
20 marks to 25 marks.

New syllabus

Change to availability

Regulated by Ofqual (UK only)

Revisions to syllabus

Advance notice of withdrawal

Publishers’ endorsed resources
6

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Secondary 1 English 0844, 1111 (continued)
Primary Checkpoint Paper 2
In Section A, the questions will aid the development of reading skills by
following the sequence of the text. Questions at the end of Section A may
test overall understanding of the text.
In Section B, the writing task will be 25 marks.
Secondary 1 Checkpoint Paper 1
In Section A, the questions will aid the development of reading skills by
following the sequence of the text.
To align the paper more closely with the reporting strands of Reading and
Writing, four questions relating to writing skills in Section A, reported on
under the ‘Usage’ strand, will not be included in the paper after 2017.
These are:





adding missing punctuation to a sentence (Section A: Question 3)
rewriting a sentence to include a relative clause (Section A:
Question 4)
combining three sentences into one complex sentence (Section A:
Question 5)
completing a sentence using two different forms of the same verb
(Section A: Question 6).

Grammar and punctuation will be assessed in the writing task in
Section B. The writing task will be 25 marks.
The word count of the summary task in Section A has been reduced to 30
words.
Secondary 1 Checkpoint Paper 2
In Section A, the questions will aid the development of reading skills by
following the sequence of the text. Questions at the end of Section A may
test overall understanding of the text.
In Section B, the writing task will be 25 marks.
Changes to the
Cambridge Primary and
Secondary 1
Progression Tests

The Progression Tests are being revised to support the changes in
reporting. Centres will be notified when revised versions are available.

Learn more! For more information please visit www.cie.org.uk or contact
Customer Services on +44 1223 553554 or email info@cie.org.uk

7

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Cambridge Primary English as a Second Language 0837
From 2017
This new syllabus is available for first assessment in April 2017.
There will be three papers:
Paper 1 Reading and Usage, 40 minutes
Paper 2 Writing, 40 minutes
Paper 3 Listening, approximately 25 minutes

New syllabus

Change to availability

Regulated by Ofqual (UK only)

Revisions to syllabus

Advance notice of withdrawal

Publishers’ endorsed resources
8

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Contents for Cambridge English
language and literature
Please share the relevant pages with subject staff.

Finding your way round
Select the relevant subject
to learn more about changes
highlighted by these icons:

Cambridge IGCSE
English as a Second Language 0510 ............................. 10
English as a Second Language 0511 ............................. 13
(9–1) English as a Second Language 0991 ..................... 16
(9–1) English Literature 0477 ......................................... 18
First Language English 0500 .......................................... 19
First Language English 0522 .......................................... 20
(9–1) First Language English 0627 ................................. 20
(9–1) First Language English 0990 .................................. 23
Literature (English) 0486 ................................................ 24
World Literature 0408 ..................................................... 25

New syllabus

Cambridge O Level

Regulated by Ofqual
(UK only)

English Language 1123.................................................. 26
Literature in English 2010............................................... 28
Cambridge International AS and A Level

Revisions to syllabus

Change to availability

Advance notice
of withdrawal

Publishers’ endorsed
resources

English Language 9093.................................................. 29
Language and Literature in English 8695........................ 29
Literature in English 9695............................................... 29
Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subject
Literature in English 9765............................................... 30

Publishers’ endorsed resources
This icon shows new and forthcoming endorsed publishers’ resources available to support the new or
revised syllabus. For a full list of endorsed titles, check the resource lists on our website.

Learn more! For more information please visit www.cie.org.uk or contact
Customer Services on +44 1223 553554 or email info@cie.org.uk

9

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Syllabus changes
Cambridge IGCSE

Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language 0510 (speaking endorsement)
From March 2017
The latest syllabus is version 3, published September 2016.
In addition to the June and the November examination series, this
syllabus is also available for examination in March for India only.
Listening test duration
The approximate timings of the Listening test have been updated to reflect
more accurately for Centres the complete time for the test, which may
assist in room timetabling.
The duration of Paper 3 has been updated to ‘Approximately 40 minutes’.
The duration of Paper 4 has been updated to ‘Approximately 50 minutes’.
The amount and demand of the Spoken text in the test is unchanged.
Listening test transcripts
From 2017 onwards Listening transcripts for Components 3 and 4 will be
published separately from the mark scheme.

From March 2019
The syllabus has been revised. The latest syllabus is version 1, published
September 2016.
Teachers are strongly advised to read the whole syllabus before planning
their teaching programme.

Changes to syllabus
information

 Candidates who achieve grade C overall, with grade 2 in Speaking, in
Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language 0510 (speaking
endorsement) can be considered to be at a level equivalent to B2 on
the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
(CEFR).
 Grade descriptions have been updated.

 The syllabus assessment objectives (AOs) have been updated. The
wording of the AOs has been revised to make it clearer. The newly
worded AOs test the same knowledge and skills.

 The weighting of the components is unchanged.
Changes to assessment

 Component 6, Speaking coursework, will be discontinued from 2019.
From 2019, all candidates will take Component 5.
 Component 5, the Speaking test, is unchanged.

New syllabus

Change to availability

Regulated by Ofqual (UK only)

Revisions to syllabus

Advance notice of withdrawal

Publishers’ endorsed resources
10

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language 0510 (speaking endorsement)
(continued)
Changes to assessment
(continued)

 One exercise (3) has been removed from Components 1 and 2, and
the number of marks has changed for both papers:
Component 1 (Core): 6 exercises, 60 marks.
Component 2 (Extended): 6 exercises, 80 marks.

 Tasks in Components 1 and 2 (Reading and Writing) have been
updated:
- exercise 1 has been removed, exercise 2 will now be exercise 1 but
without the ‘chart’ question
- exercise 2 will be a multiple matching task
- exercise 3 has been removed. The note-making exercise (currently
exercise 4) will become exercise 3
- exercise 4 will be summary writing with a source text printed in the
paper
- exercise 5 has no changes
- for exercise 6 there will be a greater variety of text types candidates
are asked to write. The text may be a report, or review or article.

 Marks for Components 1 and 2 have been updated to match the
changes to the type of exercise.

 There are no changes to marks for Component 3 and Component 4
(Listening). The only change to Components 3 and 4 will be the
introduction of mild Australian/US accents.

 The mark schemes for all components have an updated format. For
Components 1 and 2, the levels for the writing exercises have been
updated to make the progression clearer.

Changes to syllabus
content

 The syllabus content has been slightly updated and refreshed to reflect
the updated AOs, and to provide more variety to some exercises and
source material.
The specimen materials have been revised to reflect the changes to the
assessment and the syllabus content.

Learn more! For more information please visit www.cie.org.uk or contact
Customer Services on +44 1223 553554 or email info@cie.org.uk

11

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language 0510 (speaking endorsement)
(continued)
Publishers’ endorsed
resources

Collins Cambridge IGCSE English
as a Second Language Student's
Book (Second Edition)

9780008197261 Collins

Collins Cambridge IGCSE English
as a Second Language Teacher
Guide (Second Edition)

9780008197292 Collins

Collins Cambridge IGCSE English
as a Second Language Student
Workbook (Second Edition)

9780008197278 Collins

Collins Cambridge IGCSE English
as a Second Language Revision
Guide (Second Edition)

9780008210380 Collins

Success International Extended
English Skills for Cambridge
IGCSE Student's Book (Fourth
Edition)

9781316637050 Cambridge
University Press

Success International Extended
English Skills for Cambridge
IGCSE Workbook (Fourth Edition)

9781316637081 Cambridge
University Press

Success International Extended
English Skills for Cambridge
IGCSE Teacher's Guide and CD
(Fourth Edition)

9781316636589 Cambridge
University Press

Skills Check Online Solution for
Cambridge IGCSE English as a
Second Language

9781316636541 Cambridge
University Press

Cambridge IGCSE English as a
Second Language Coursebook
(Fifth Edition)

9781316636558 Cambridge
University Press

Cambridge IGCSE English as a
9781316636596 Cambridge
Second Language Workbook (Fifth
University Press
Edition)
Cambridge IGCSE English as a
Second Language Teacher's
Guide and DVD (Fifth Edition)

9781316636589 Cambridge
University Press

New syllabus

Change to availability

Regulated by Ofqual (UK only)

Revisions to syllabus

Advance notice of withdrawal

Publishers’ endorsed resources
12

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language 0511 (count-in speaking)
From June 2017
The latest syllabus is version 3, published September 2016.
Listening test duration
The approximate timings of the Listening test have been updated to reflect
more accurately for Centres the complete time for the test, which may
assist in room timetabling.
The duration of Paper 3 has been updated to ‘Approximately 40 minutes’.
The duration of Paper 4 has been updated to ‘Approximately 50 minutes’.
The amount and demand of the Spoken text in the test is unchanged.
Listening test transcripts
From 2017 onwards Listening transcripts for Components 3 and 4 will be
published separately from the mark scheme.

From June 2019
The syllabus has been updated. The latest syllabus is version 1,
published September 2016.
Teachers are strongly advised to read the whole syllabus before planning
their teaching programme.
Change to syllabus
availability

Changes to syllabus
information

 This syllabus is examined in the June and November examination
series.

 There was an error in an earlier syllabus concerning the March
examination series in India: 0511 will NOT be available in India from
March 2017. [Only 0510 is offered in India only from March 2017
onwards.]

 Candidates who achieve grade C overall in Cambridge IGCSE English
as a Second Language 0511 (count-in speaking) can be considered to
be at a level equivalent to B2 on the Common European Framework of
Reference for Languages (CEFR).
 Grade descriptions have been updated.

 The syllabus assessment objectives (AOs) have been updated. The
wording of the AOs has been revised to make it clearer. The newly
worded AOs test the same skills and knowledge.

 The weighting of the components has changed slightly.

 There are changes to the AO weightings in the syllabus to make them
more balanced.
Changes to assessment

 Component 6, Speaking coursework, will be discontinued from 2019.
From 2019, all candidates will take Component 5.
 Component 5, the Speaking test, is unchanged.

Learn more! For more information please visit www.cie.org.uk or contact
Customer Services on +44 1223 553554 or email info@cie.org.uk

13

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language 0511 (count-in speaking)
(continued)
Changes to assessment
(continued)

 The weighting of the components has changed to:
Reading and Writing 60%
Listening 20%
Speaking 20%

 One exercise (3) has been removed from Components 1 and 2, and
the number of marks has changed for both papers:
Component 1 (Core): 6 exercises, 60 marks.
Component 2 (Extended): 6 exercises, 80 marks.

 Tasks in Components 1 and 2 (Reading and Writing) have been
updated:
- exercise 1 has been removed, exercise 2 will now be exercise 1
(but without the ‘chart’ question)
- exercise 2 will be a multiple matching task
- exercise 3 has been removed. The note-making exercise (currently
exercise 4) will become exercise 3
- exercise 4 will be summary writing with a source text printed in the
paper
- exercise 5 has no changes
- for exercise 6 there will be a greater variety of text types candidates
are asked to write. The text may be a report, or review or article.

 Marks for Components 1 and 2 have been updated to match the
changes to the type of exercise.

 There are no changes to marks for Component 3 and Component 4
(Listening). The only change to Components 3 and 4 will be the
introduction of mild Australian/US accents.
 The mark schemes for all components have an updated format. For
Components 1 and 2, the levels for the writing exercises have been
updated to make the progression clearer.

Changes to syllabus
content

 The syllabus content has been slightly updated and refreshed to reflect
the updated AOs, and to provide more variety to some exercises and
source material.
The specimen materials have been revised to reflect the changes to the
assessment and the syllabus content.

New syllabus

Change to availability

Regulated by Ofqual (UK only)

Revisions to syllabus

Advance notice of withdrawal

Publishers’ endorsed resources
14

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language 0511 (count-in speaking)
(continued)
Publishers’ endorsed
resources

Collins Cambridge IGCSE English
as a Second Language Student's
Book (Second Edition)

9780008197261 Collins

Collins Cambridge IGCSE English
as a Second Language Teacher
Guide (Second Edition)

9780008197292 Collins

Collins Cambridge IGCSE English
as a Second Language Student
Workbook (Second Edition)

9780008197278 Collins

Collins Cambridge IGCSE English
as a Second Language Revision
Guide (Second Edition)

9780008210380 Collins

Success International Extended
English Skills for Cambridge
IGCSE Student's Book (Fourth
Edition)

9781316637050 Cambridge
University Press

Success International Extended
English Skills for Cambridge
IGCSE Workbook (Fourth Edition)

9781316637081 Cambridge
University Press

Success International Extended
English Skills for Cambridge
IGCSE Teacher's Guide and CD
(Fourth Edition)

9781316636589 Cambridge
University Press

Skills Check Online Solution for
Cambridge IGCSE English as a
Second Language

9781316636541 Cambridge
University Press

Cambridge IGCSE English as a
Second Language Coursebook
(Fifth Edition)

9781316636558 Cambridge
University Press

Cambridge IGCSE English as a
9781316636596 Cambridge
Second Language Workbook (Fifth
University Press
Edition)
Cambridge IGCSE English as a
Second Language Teacher's
Guide and DVD (Fifth Edition)

9781316636589 Cambridge
University Press

Learn more! For more information please visit www.cie.org.uk or contact
Customer Services on +44 1223 553554 or email info@cie.org.uk

15

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) English as a Second Language 0991
This syllabus is available for the UK only.
From June 2019
The latest syllabus is version 1, published September 2016.
This syllabus is available for the UK only.
This syllabus is identical to the 0511 IGCSE English as a Second
Language syllabus except for the grading. Teachers are advised to read
the whole syllabus before planning their teaching programme.
In addition to reading the syllabus carefully, teachers should refer to the
published specimen papers for exemplification, available on our public
website at www.cie.org.uk
You can learn more about this revised syllabus at www.cie.org.uk/new
Candidates who achieve grade 4 in Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) English as a
Second Language 0991 can be considered to be at a level equivalent to
B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
(CEFR).
Changes to grading and
reporting

Candidate results will be shown by one of the grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
or 9 indicating the standard achieved, 9 being the highest and 1 the
lowest. ‘Ungraded’ indicates that the candidate’s performance fell short of
the standard required for grade 1.

New syllabus

Change to availability

Regulated by Ofqual (UK only)

Revisions to syllabus

Advance notice of withdrawal

Publishers’ endorsed resources
16

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) English as a Second Language 0991 (continued)
This syllabus is available for the UK only.
Publishers’ endorsed
resources

Collins Cambridge IGCSE English
as a Second Language Student's
Book (Second Edition)

9780008197261 Collins

Collins Cambridge IGCSE English
as a Second Language Teacher
Guide (Second Edition)

9780008197292 Collins

Collins Cambridge IGCSE English
as a Second Language Student
Workbook (Second Edition)

9780008197278 Collins

Collins Cambridge IGCSE English
as a Second Language Revision
Guide (Second Edition)

9780008210380 Collins

Success International Extended
English Skills for Cambridge
IGCSE Student's Book (Fourth
Edition)

9781316637050 Cambridge
University Press

Success International Extended
English Skills for Cambridge
IGCSE Workbook (Fourth Edition)

9781316637081 Cambridge
University Press

Success International Extended
English Skills for Cambridge
IGCSE Teacher's Guide and CD
(Fourth Edition)

9781316636589 Cambridge
University Press

Skills Check Online Solution for
Cambridge IGCSE English as a
Second Language

9781316636541 Cambridge
University Press

Cambridge IGCSE English as a
Second Language Coursebook
(Fifth Edition)

9781316636558 Cambridge
University Press

Cambridge IGCSE English as a
9781316636596 Cambridge
Second Language Workbook (Fifth
University Press
Edition)
Cambridge IGCSE English as a
Second Language Teacher's
Guide and DVD (Fifth Edition)

9781316636589 Cambridge
University Press

Learn more! For more information please visit www.cie.org.uk or contact
Customer Services on +44 1223 553554 or email info@cie.org.uk

17

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) English Literature 0477
This syllabus is available for the UK only.
From June 2017
The latest syllabus is version 2, published September 2016.
This syllabus is available for the UK only.
This document has a new design. The subject content and the specimen
papers remain the same.
Minor changes to the wording of some sections have been made to
improve clarity.
This syllabus has been revised from the 0486 IGCSE Literature (English)
syllabus. There are significant changes and these are outlined below.
Teachers are advised to read the whole syllabus before planning their
teaching programme.
Change to syllabus code

0477 is the regulated syllabus for examination from 2017 onwards. 0486
IGCSE Literature (English) is only regulated for examination in 2016.
0486 will still be available to international Centres and independent
schools in the UK from 2017 onwards.

Changes to grading and
reporting

Changes to syllabus
content

Candidate results will be shown by one of the grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
or 9 indicating the standard achieved, 9 being the highest and 1 the
lowest. ‘Ungraded’ indicates that the candidate’s performance fell short of
the standard required for grade 1.





Changes to assessment

The syllabus sections have all been updated.
The syllabus aims have been updated to reflect differences between
0486 and 0477.
Candidates will be required to study a novel, a wide selection of
poetry, a Shakespeare play and modern drama, and be prepared to
write a comparison of two unseen texts.
The set texts are listed for 2017 to 2019.

The assessment objectives have been updated and the assessment
structure revised.








This qualification will be graded using a numerical grading scale of
9–1.
The qualification comprises three compulsory components which are
assessed by examination only.
Paper 1: Poetry and Prose is worth 35% of the total marks for the
qualification.
Paper 2: Drama is worth 35% of the total marks for the qualification.
Paper 3: Unseen Comparison is worth 30% of the total marks for the
qualification.
In Paper 1 candidates answer two questions, one from
Section A: Poetry and one from Section B: Prose.

New syllabus

Change to availability

Regulated by Ofqual (UK only)

Revisions to syllabus

Advance notice of withdrawal

Publishers’ endorsed resources
18

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) English Literature 0477 (continued)
This syllabus is available for the UK only.
Changes to assessment
(continued)










In Paper 2 candidates answer two questions, one on Shakespeare
and the other on modern drama.
In Paper 2 candidates must answer one passage-based question and
one essay question.
In Paper 3 candidates answer one question. The skill of comparison
has been introduced to the qualification and will be assessed in
Paper 3. This task requires candidates to compare two unseen texts.
Candidates will be presented with a choice of either two poems to
compare or two prose texts to compare.
Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar (SPaG) will be assessed in
Paper 3 and will be worth 5% of the total marks for the qualification.
A new assessment objective (AO5) has been introduced for the
assessment of SPaG in Paper 3 only.
This syllabus covers three years of assessment. Set texts lists are
provided for each year of entry, and the duration that a text will remain
on the syllabus is indicated by asterisks in the syllabus.

In addition to reading the syllabus carefully, teachers should refer to the
published specimen papers for exemplification, available on our public
website at www.cie.org.uk
You can learn more about this revised syllabus at www.cie.org.uk/new
Regulation

This syllabus has been regulated in England by Ofqual for 2017, 2018 and
2019. The Qualification Number is 601/5295/3.

Performance tables

To access the latest information regarding performance tables Centres
should consult the Department for Education website
www.education.gov.uk

Cambridge IGCSE First Language English 0500
From March 2017
The latest syllabus is version 1, published February 2015.
From 2017 this syllabus will be published in its own syllabus document
and not with the version of the syllabus that is regulated in England (0627,
formerly 0522).

From March 2019
We regularly consult with schools to ensure our qualifications and
assessments meet their requirements. We have decided to extend our
consultation period for Cambridge IGCSE English – First Language
0500. As a consequence, we expect to publish the syllabus for 2019
examination, together with specimen papers and mark schemes, in early
December 2016.

Learn more! For more information please visit www.cie.org.uk or contact
Customer Services on +44 1223 553554 or email info@cie.org.uk

19

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Cambridge IGCSE First Language English 0522
From 2017
June 2017 is the final examination series for syllabus 0522. This syllabus
is being offered in the June 2017 series as a re-sit opportunity only. It is
available in the UK and intended only for candidates that are aged 16 or
above on 31 August 2016. This syllabus will not be offered again and
there will be no further re-sit opportunities.
From 2017 this syllabus is being replaced by a new syllabus that is
regulated in England: code 0627.
Performance tables

To access the latest information regarding performance tables Centres
should consult the Department for Education website
www.education.gov.uk

Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) First Language English 0627
This syllabus is available for the UK only.
From June 2017
The latest syllabus is version 2, published September 2016.
This document has a new design. The subject content and the specimen
papers remain the same.
Minor changes to the wording of some sections have been made to
improve clarity.
This syllabus is available for the UK only.
This syllabus has been revised from the 0522 IGCSE First Language
English syllabus. There are significant changes and these are outlined
below. Teachers are advised to read the whole syllabus before planning
their teaching programme.
Change to syllabus code

0627 is the regulated syllabus for examination from 2017 onwards.

Changes to grading and
reporting

Candidate results will be shown by one of the grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
or 9 indicating the standard achieved, 9 being the highest and 1 the
lowest. ‘Ungraded’ indicates that the candidate’s performance fell short of
the standard required for grade 1.
Changes to Speaking and Listening reporting
The Speaking and Listening Test will be separately endorsed and
reported on the certificate as Pass, Merit or Distinction.

Changes to syllabus
content





The syllabus sections have all been updated.
The syllabus aims have been updated to reflect differences between
0522 and 0627.
We expect to provide grade descriptions in an update to this syllabus
in due course.

New syllabus

Change to availability

Regulated by Ofqual (UK only)

Revisions to syllabus

Advance notice of withdrawal

Publishers’ endorsed resources
20

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) First Language English 0627 (continued)
This syllabus is available for the UK only.
Changes to assessment
















We expect to provide grade descriptions in an update to this syllabus
in due course.
The assessment objectives have been updated.
Paper 1 and Paper 2 will be graded using a numerical grading scale of
9–1. The Speaking and Listening Test will be graded using Distinction,
Merit and Pass.
The assessment structure has been revised.
There are now three components: Paper 1, Paper 2 and
Component 3 Speaking and Listening Test.
There are no core and extended papers. All papers are untiered.
There are no coursework options.
Paper 1 Reading Passages has been revised. It is 2 hours 10
minutes, has 80 marks and is worth 50% of the total marks. There are
three unseen passages and these are taken from the 19th, 20th and
21st centuries.
–

Paper 1, Question 1, Comprehension, is based on Passage A.
Passage A will be up to 600 words long and will be from the 19th
century. The question is worth 30 marks. Candidates are required
to respond to a series of sub-questions requiring answers of
different lengths.

–

Paper 1, Question 2, Summary, is based on Passage B. Passage
B will be up to 550 words long and will be from the 20th or 21st
century. The question is worth 25 marks. Candidates are required
to respond in a specified text type to one extended question.
Candidates are advised that their response should be no longer
than 250 words.

–

Paper 1, Question 3, Comprehension and comparison, is based
on Passage B and Passage C. Passage C will be up to 550 words
long, and will be thematically linked to Passage B. Passage C will
be from the 20th or 21st century, and will be from a different
century to Passage B. The question is worth 25 marks.
Candidates are required to respond to a series of sub-questions
requiring answers of different lengths.

Paper 2 Directed Writing and Composition has been revised. It is
2 hours, has 80 marks and is worth 50% of the total marks. There are
two unseen passages.
–

Paper 2, Section 1, Directed Writing, is based on Passage A and
Passage B. Passage A and Passage B will be a combined total of
up to 950 words long, and will be thematically linked. Passage A
and Passage B may be taken from either the 20th or 21st century,
and could be from the same century. The question is worth 40
marks.

–

Paper 2, Section 2, Composition, is now worth 40 marks.

Component 3 Speaking and Listening Test has been revised and is
now separately endorsed.
–

The Speaking and Listening Test is now approximately 8–10
minutes long, with each part taking approximately 4–5 minutes.

Learn more! For more information please visit www.cie.org.uk or contact
Customer Services on +44 1223 553554 or email info@cie.org.uk

21

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) First Language English 0627 (continued)
This syllabus is available for the UK only.
Changes to assessment
(continued)

–

Part 2 of the Speaking and Listening Test is now called
‘Questions’.

–

The band descriptors have been revised. See Section 4,
Component 3 Speaking and Listening Test, Table A and Table B
in the syllabus.

–

The section ‘Additional information for Component 3’ has been
removed from the syllabus and teachers must refer to the relevant
sections of the Cambridge Handbook (UK), available at
www.cie.org.uk

–

The Speaking and Listening grades will be reported as Pass,
Merit and Distinction.

In addition to reading the syllabus carefully, teachers should refer to the
published specimen papers for exemplification, available on our public
website at www.cie.org.uk
You can learn more about this revised syllabus at www.cie.org.uk/new
Regulation

This syllabus has been regulated in England by Ofqual for 2017, 2018 and
2019. The Qualification Number is 601/5296/5.

Performance tables

To access the latest information regarding performance tables Centres
should consult the Department for Education website
www.education.gov.uk

Speaking and Listening

Grading and reporting
Centres should be aware that the Speaking and Listening Test for the
IGCSE (9–1) First Language English (0627) will be reported separately as
an endorsed grade on the certificate. Candidates who satisfy the
conditions for the Speaking and Listening Test will be awarded Pass,
Merit or Distinction grades.
‘Unclassified’ indicates that the candidate’s performance fell short of the
standard required for a Pass endorsement grade. ‘Unclassified’ will be
reported on the statement of results but not on the certificate.
The letters Q (result pending) and X (no result) may also appear on the
statement of results but not on the certificate.
Band descriptors
The band descriptors remain unchanged. Grade thresholds will be
decided for each examination series based on available evidence.
Cue cards
The cue card and (if used) illustrative material must be retained by
Centres until six months after publication of results. The cue card and (if
used) illustrative material must be labelled with the candidate’s name and
number.

New syllabus

Change to availability

Regulated by Ofqual (UK only)

Revisions to syllabus

Advance notice of withdrawal

Publishers’ endorsed resources
22

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) First Language English 0990
This syllabus is available for the UK only.
From June 2019
We expect to publish the syllabus for 2019 examination, together with
specimen papers and mark schemes, in early December 2016.
This syllabus is available for the UK only.
This syllabus is identical to the 0500 IGCSE First Language English
syllabus except for the grading. Teachers are advised to read the whole
syllabus before planning their teaching programme.
Changes to grading and
reporting

Candidate results will be shown by one of the grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
or 9 indicating the standard achieved, 9 being the highest and 1 the
lowest. ‘Ungraded’ indicates that the candidate’s performance fell short of
the standard required for grade 1.

Publishers’ endorsed
resources

Cambridge IGCSE First Language
English Coursebook (Fourth
Edition)

9781107657823 Cambridge
University Press

Cambridge IGCSE First Language
English Workbook (Fourth Edition)

9781107695771 Cambridge
University Press

Cambridge IGCSE First Language
English Teacher’s Resource
(Fourth Edition)

9781107651944 Cambridge
University Press

Complete First Language English
for Cambridge IGCSE®

9780198389057 Oxford University
Press

Complete First Language English
for Cambridge IGCSE® Workbook

9780198389064 Oxford University
Press

Cambridge IGCSE English
Revised Edition

9780007517053 Collins

First Language English for
Cambridge IGCSE

9781408523285 Oxford University
Press

Cambridge IGCSE English as a
First Language Third Edition

9781444191660 Hodder Education

Learn more! For more information please visit www.cie.org.uk or contact
Customer Services on +44 1223 553554 or email info@cie.org.uk

23

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Cambridge IGCSE Literature (English) 0486
From 2017
The latest syllabus is version 1, published February 2015.
This syllabus has been updated. Some of the changes are significant.
Teachers are advised to read the whole syllabus before planning their
teaching programme. In addition, teachers are advised to refer to the
published specimen assessment materials on our public website at
www.cie.org.uk

Changes to syllabus













Performance tables

Assessment Objective 1 (AO1) has the following wording added:
‘supported by reference to the text’.
The list of set texts for the syllabus has been updated and the number
of poems candidates are required to study has increased from 14 to
15 for each collection.
The terminology has been changed to refer to coursework as
‘Centre-based assessment’ rather than ‘school-based assessment’.
In Component 5: Coursework, the band descriptors have been
updated to further clarify the assessment criteria for an empathic
response. The bands have also been inverted (highest: Band 8;
lowest: Band 0).
There are some changes to the format of the mark schemes for
Components 1 to 4. The band descriptors have changed and the
bands have been inverted (highest: Band 8; lowest: Band 0). New
specimen mark schemes for examination from 2017 are available on
our public website at www.cie.org.uk/igcse
The specimen question papers for examination from 2015 for
Components 1 to 4 are still applicable for examinations from 2017.
(Note: texts used in the specimen question papers for examination
from 2015 are for general illustrative purposes; see the syllabus for
details of the set texts for 2017.)
Please note that syllabus 0486 is not regulated from 2017. For first
examination in 2017, a separate syllabus 0477 is regulated in
England.

To access the latest information regarding performance tables Centres
should consult the Department for Education website
www.education.gov.uk

New syllabus

Change to availability

Regulated by Ofqual (UK only)

Revisions to syllabus

Advance notice of withdrawal

Publishers’ endorsed resources
24

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Cambridge IGCSE Literature (English) 0486 (continued)
From 2019
The latest syllabus is version 2, published September 2016.
Changes to syllabus

This document has a new design. The subject content and the specimen
papers remain the same.
Minor changes to the wording of some sections have been made to
improve clarity.
Changes to set texts:
The set texts have changed for 2019. Please see Section 4 of this
syllabus for the set texts for 2019.

Publishers’ endorsed
resources

Any textbooks endorsed to support the syllabus for examination from 2015
are still suitable for use with this syllabus.

Cambridge IGCSE World Literature 0408
From June 2017
The latest syllabus is version 2, published June 2016.
Paper 3: There are changes to set texts in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Full
details are provided in the syllabus.

Learn more! For more information please visit www.cie.org.uk or contact
Customer Services on +44 1223 553554 or email info@cie.org.uk

25

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Cambridge O Level
Cambridge O Level English Language 1123
From June 2018
The latest syllabus is version 1, published September 2015.
This syllabus has been revised. Some changes are significant and these
are outlined below. Teachers are advised to read the whole syllabus
before planning their teaching programme.

Changes to syllabus
content





Changes to question
papers

The syllabus sections have been updated.
The wording of the assessment objectives (AOs) has been revised to
make it more concise. (The reworded AOs test the same knowledge
and skills of English Language and continue to be grouped as AO1
Reading and AO2 Writing.)
The description of components has been updated to reflect changes
to the papers.

Paper 1 Writing




Section 1 Directed Writing: the rubric on the question paper has been
amended to show how marks are awarded – 15 marks for task
fulfilment and 15 marks for language.
Section 2 has been renamed Composition (previously named Creative
Writing). The number of marks for this task is unchanged at 30 marks.
There will continue to be a choice of 5 essay questions. These will be
grouped as:
Description 1
Argument 2
Narrative 2
The single-word essay option has been removed.

Paper 2 Reading


Section 1 Reading for Ideas (25 marks): The summary task has been
updated as follows:
–

Q1a: 12 marks for content points

–

Q1b: 10 marks for the written summary (for relevance and for
coherence)

–

candidates write a summary of approximately 150–180 words

–

3 marks for short-answer questions.

New syllabus

Change to availability

Regulated by Ofqual (UK only)

Revisions to syllabus

Advance notice of withdrawal

Publishers’ endorsed resources
26

Syllabus changes (UK schools)
September 2016 v1.0

Cambridge O Level English Language 1123 (continued)
Changes to question
papers (continued)



Section 2 Reading for Meaning (25 marks): Tasks have been updated
in this paper, including:
–

where questions require a paraphrase of a section of the text
(‘own words’ questions), the section of the text to be paraphrased
will be given in the question

–

the introduction of multiple choice style questions for vocabulary

–

separate section for questions on writer’s craft.

Please see the published specimen papers for reference.


The mark schemes have been amended to reflect the changes to the
question papers. Please see the published mark schemes for
reference.

In addition to reading the syllabus carefully, teachers should refer to the
published specimen papers for exemplification of these changes, available
on our public website at www.cie.org.uk
Publishers’ endorsed
resources

Cambridge O Level English
Student Book

9781107610804 Cambridge
University Press

Cambridge O Level English
Language

9781471868634 Hodder Education

Oxford Progressive English
Book 9 (Third Edition)

9780199401864 Oxford University
Press, Pakistan

Oxford