0510

Cambridge IGCSE English - Second Language (0510) - February-March 2022 Past Papers

Download 12 free IGCSE English - Second Language past papers, mark schemes, and examiner reports from the February-March 2022 Cambridge examination session. Includes question papers for all variants with full solutions.

About IGCSE English - Second Language (0510)

IGCSE English as a Second Language tests reading, writing, listening, and speaking for non-native speakers. Candidates must comprehend texts, complete forms, write reports, and respond to listening passages.

What this exam tests: Key skills include note-taking, email writing, summarizing information, and clear written expression.

Papers available in variants 11, 12, 13 for different time zones. All variants cover the same English - Second Language syllabus with equal difficulty.

Grade Thresholds

0510 February-March 2022 Papers

0510 Paper 1 - Reading and Writing (Core)

1 hr 30 min • 70 marks

Tests broad syllabus knowledge with 40 questions. Each question has four options (A-D). Core tier paper.

Question Paper
Mark Scheme
QP + MS QP + ER

All variants (different time zones):

QP:
v2
MS:
v2
View syllabus topics tested in Paper 1 (5 topics, 70 marks total)

This 0510 Paper 1 from February-March 2022 tests 5 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Formal writing (Writing) worth 20 marks out of 70 total marks. Other significant topics include Summary writing (12 marks) and Informal writing (12 marks).

Mark distribution by topic:

Formal writing 20/70
Summary writing 12/70
Informal writing 12/70
Reading for gist and detail 9/70
Retrieving and organising information 7/70

Understanding which topics carry the most marks helps you prioritize your English - Second Language revision. Practice questions from high-mark topics like Formal writing to maximize your score.

0510 Paper 2 - Reading and Writing (Extended)

2 hr • 90 marks

Extended tier multiple choice with more challenging questions covering the full syllabus. 40 questions, 45 minutes.

Question Paper
Mark Scheme
QP + MS QP + ER

All variants (different time zones):

QP:
v2
MS:
v2
View syllabus topics tested in Paper 2 (5 topics, 90 marks total)

This 0510 Paper 2 from February-March 2022 tests 5 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Formal writing (Writing) worth 26 marks out of 90 total marks. Other significant topics include Summary writing (16 marks) and Informal writing (16 marks).

Mark distribution by topic:

Formal writing 26/90
Summary writing 16/90
Informal writing 16/90
Reading for gist and detail 13/90
Retrieving and organising information 9/90

Understanding which topics carry the most marks helps you prioritize your English - Second Language revision. Practice questions from high-mark topics like Formal writing to maximize your score.

0510 Paper 3 - Listening (Core)

30-40 min • 30 marks

Structured and free-response questions testing understanding and application. Core tier, grades available C-G.

Question Paper
Mark Scheme
QP + MS QP + ER

All variants (different time zones):

QP:
v2
MS:
v2
View syllabus topics tested in Paper 3 (2 topics, 30 marks total)

This 0510 Paper 3 from February-March 2022 tests 2 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Listening for specific information (Listening) worth 8 marks out of 30 total marks. Other significant topics include Informal writing (8 marks)

Mark distribution by topic:

Listening for specific information 8/30
Informal writing 8/30

Understanding which topics carry the most marks helps you prioritize your English - Second Language revision. Practice questions from high-mark topics like Listening for specific information to maximize your score.

0510 Paper 4 - Listening (Extended)

45 min • 40 marks

Extended tier theory paper with more demanding questions. Full grade range A*-G available with this paper.

Question Paper
Mark Scheme
QP + MS QP + ER

All variants (different time zones):

QP:
v2
MS:
v2
View syllabus topics tested in Paper 4 (3 topics, 40 marks total)

This 0510 Paper 4 from February-March 2022 tests 3 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Spoken communication (Speaking) worth 10 marks out of 40 total marks. Other significant topics include Listening for specific information (8 marks) and Informal writing (8 marks).

Mark distribution by topic:

Spoken communication 10/40
Listening for specific information 8/40
Informal writing 8/40

Understanding which topics carry the most marks helps you prioritize your English - Second Language revision. Practice questions from high-mark topics like Spoken communication to maximize your score.

Other Resources

Additional materials to help you prepare and understand how exams are marked.

Examiner Report

Insights from examiners on how students performed. Learn common mistakes to avoid and what examiners look for in top answers.

View

Other Files

0510_m22_tn_32
0510_m22_tn_42

0510 February-March 2022 - Topics Breakdown by Paper

Each Cambridge IGCSE English - Second Language (0510) paper tests specific syllabus topics. Below is a breakdown of topics for each paper in February-March 2022, showing how marks are distributed. Use this to focus your revision on topics relevant to your papers.

0510 Paper 1 (Reading and Writing (Core))

70 marks total
Formal writing (Writing)
20m
Summary writing (Reading)
12m
Informal writing (Writing)
12m
Reading for gist and detail (Reading)
9m
Retrieving and organising information (Reading)
7m

0510 Paper 2 (Reading and Writing (Extended))

90 marks total
Formal writing (Writing)
26m
Summary writing (Reading)
16m
Informal writing (Writing)
16m
Reading for gist and detail (Reading)
13m
Retrieving and organising information (Reading)
9m

0510 Paper 3 (Listening (Core))

30 marks total
Listening for specific information (Listening)
8m
Informal writing (Writing)
8m

0510 Paper 4 (Listening (Extended))

40 marks total
Spoken communication (Speaking)
10m
Listening for specific information (Listening)
8m
Informal writing (Writing)
8m

Study tip: If you're taking the Extended tier, focus on Papers 2, 4, and 6. For Core tier, prepare for Papers 1, 3, and 5/6. Review the topics above for your specific papers and practice past questions from those syllabus areas.

Examiner Insights - February-March 2022

Key feedback from Cambridge examiners on how students performed

Key Takeaways

  • • Read and listen to the rubrics for each section carefully to ensure you understand the requirements.
  • • Answer questions precisely and avoid including unnecessary or distracting information.
  • • Practice and review basic grammar and spelling rules to improve accuracy in written responses.
  • • Actively engage with texts and audio materials by highlighting key words and predicting possible answers.
  • • In speaking tests, support your answers with specific examples and actively engage in conversation with the examiner.
Paper 12 - Reading and Writing (Core)

Overall, there were successful responses to Exercise 5 and 6, showing awareness of the target audience. However, basic punctuation continues to be an area for practice in both exercises, and some responses exceeded the specified word limit in Exercise 4, affecting the total mark awarded.

Study Tips:

  • ✓ Practice summarizing texts to improve your ability to extract relevant information and stay within word limits.
  • ✓ Review and practice basic punctuation rules to enhance clarity and accuracy in writing.

Common Mistakes:

QExercise 1 (Reading Comprehension)
✗ Including incorrect additional information when answering questions.
→ Answer questions precisely, only including information explicitly required and avoiding unnecessary details.
QExercise 4 (Summary Writing)
✗ Exceeding the word limit by including irrelevant details.
→ Carefully consider the relevance of each point to the summary topic and stay within the specified word limit to ensure all content points are credited.
QExercise 5 & 6 (Writing)
✗ Making errors in basic punctuation
→ Practice basic punctuation rules (commas, periods, apostrophes) to improve clarity and accuracy in writing.
QExercise 5 (Informal Writing)
✗ Mixing informal and formal language, resulting in an inconsistent tone.
→ Maintain a consistent informal tone in informal writing tasks by using appropriate vocabulary and sentence structures.
Paper 22 - Reading and Writing (Extended)

Most candidates were appropriately entered for the extended tier. Candidates generally performed well, but should focus on carefully reading and recognizing the requirements of individual questions and ensuring responses are precise.

Study Tips:

  • ✓ Practice skimming and scanning techniques to efficiently identify key information in texts.
  • ✓ Expand vocabulary and focus on using a variety of appropriate language and vocabulary in writing tasks.

Common Mistakes:

QExercise 1 (Reading Comprehension)
✗ Selecting the most obvious detail instead of the key detail or including distracting information.
→ Carefully analyze each question and choose the answer that precisely addresses the question's specific requirements. Avoid opting for answers that are only partially correct or include distracting elements.
QExercise 2 (Multiple Matching)
✗ Failing to identify the key idea in questions, leading to incorrect matching.
→ Carefully consider the central idea of each question to avoid being misled by similar details in different texts. Pay attention to keywords and their specific context.
QExercise 4 (Summary Writing)
✗ Exceeding the word limit by including irrelevant details, impacting content and language marks.
→ Focus solely on the core information required to answer the question and be concise.
QExercise 5 (Email Writing)
✗ Writing underdeveloped content due to staying near the minimum word limit
→ Write a fully developed email by expanding on each bullet point with specific examples and details to create comprehensive and engaging content.
Paper 32 - Listening (Core)

Candidates generally performed reasonably well in listening for gist and speakers’ opinions, but had more difficulty listening for correct specific details. Longer talks also proved challenging, suggesting a need for more practice in following and navigating through extended audio texts. Attention to detail, especially in spelling and word forms, is essential for improved performance.

Study Tips:

  • ✓ Practice listening to a wide range of numbers and different speakers with varied accents.
  • ✓ Improve spelling by actively practicing common vocabulary sets and their correct spellings.

Common Mistakes:

QExercise 1 (Listening for Specific Details)
✗ Selecting distracting details instead of the correct answers or including distracting details in addition to the correct answer.
→ Focus intently on the specific information asked for in the question and avoid incorporating extra, potentially misleading details.
QExercise 2 (Gap Filling)
✗ Providing answers that do not fit grammatically into the sentence due to incorrect word forms (singular/plural).
→ Check the surrounding words to ensure your answer fits grammatically. Predict the part of speech before listening.
QExercise 2 (Spelling)
✗ Incorrect spelling that changes the meaning of the word (homophones) or makes the intended word unidentifiable
→ Practice common vocabulary and their correct spellings. If unsure of the spelling, make a recognizable attempt.
QExercise 3 (Matching)
✗ Using the same letter twice, resulting in the answer not being credited
→ Listen again to make sure each person matches a different opinion.
Paper 42 - Listening (Extended)

Candidates demonstrated a high level of success in listening comprehension, particularly in identifying specific details. However, challenges remain in distinguishing between correct and distracting information, especially in gap-filling exercises. Continued practice in listening for specific details and enhancing vocabulary can further improve performance.

Study Tips:

  • ✓ Practice listening to a variety of speakers with different accents and speech patterns.
  • ✓ Improve vocabulary by reading and listening to a wide range of materials.
  • ✓ Listen to the talks multiple times.

Common Mistakes:

QExercise 1 (Listening Comprehension)
✗ Selecting distracting details in error instead of the correct answer or including the distracting detail in addition to the correct answer.
→ Listen closely for precise answers and avoid including extra details that are not directly relevant to the question.
QExercise 2 (Gap Filling)
✗ Selecting the wrong information that does not fit the gap.
→ Pay careful attention to the context surrounding the gaps and make sure your answers fit grammatically and logically.
QExercise 5 (Listening Comprehension)
✗ Including distractor information.
→ Carefully listen to the speaker and choose precise answers.
QGeneral (Spelling)
✗ Spelling attempts are ambiguous and/or create a new word.
→ Practice spelling common words and be aware of homophones. Check spellings carefully to avoid ambiguity

Insights extracted from the official Cambridge Examiner Report for 0510 February-March 2022. View full report →

About Cambridge IGCSE English - Second Language (0510)

Cambridge IGCSE English - Second Language (0510) is one of the most popular qualifications taken by students worldwide. The February-March 2022 examination session included 4 paper components, each testing different skills and knowledge areas.

This page contains all 0510 past papers from February-March 2022, including question papers (QP), mark schemes (MS), and examiner reports (ER). Use these resources to practice under timed conditions and understand how examiners award marks.

View all 0510 past papers → | All 2022 sessions →

Get English - Second Language Study Tips

Join students preparing for 0510. Get weekly study tips, new past papers alerts, and exam reminders.

0510 Study Tips & FAQ

What are paper variants?

Cambridge releases multiple variants of each paper (e.g., Paper 11, 12, 13) to accommodate different time zones around the world and maintain exam security.

  • Variant 1 (e.g., 11, 21): Usually for Zone 1 (Americas)
  • Variant 2 (e.g., 12, 22): Usually for Zone 2 (Europe, Africa)
  • Variant 3 (e.g., 13, 23): Usually for Zone 3 (Asia, Oceania)

All variants cover the same syllabus and have similar difficulty. Practice with any variant to prepare effectively for your exam.

How to use Mark Schemes effectively

Mark schemes show exactly how examiners award marks for each question. Understanding them helps you write answers that earn full marks.

Example from a Physics mark scheme:

Q: Calculate the speed of a car that travels 150m in 5 seconds. [2]

Mark scheme answer:

• speed = distance / time [1 mark for formula]

• speed = 150 / 5 = 30 m/s [1 mark for correct answer with unit]

Tips:

  • Look for key words that must appear in your answer
  • Note how many points are needed for each mark
  • Check if units are required for the final mark
  • Understand the difference between "state" (brief) and "explain" (detailed)
Understanding Grade Thresholds

Grade thresholds show the minimum marks needed for each grade. They vary each session based on paper difficulty — harder papers have lower thresholds.

Example Grade Thresholds (out of 100 total):

A*
90+
A
80-89
B
70-79
C
60-69

* Actual thresholds vary by subject and session

How to use thresholds:

  • Set realistic target marks based on your goal grade
  • Track your practice paper scores against thresholds
  • Remember: you don't need 100% for an A* — aim for consistency
  • Compare thresholds across sessions to gauge difficulty trends
How is the topic breakdown calculated?

The "Topics Breakdown by Paper" section above shows which syllabus topics are tested in each paper and how many marks they carry. Here's how we calculate this:

Our methodology:

  1. Extract questions: We analyze each question paper (QP) and identify individual questions and their mark allocations (shown in square brackets, e.g., [3]).
  2. Match to syllabus: Each question is matched to the official Cambridge 0510 syllabus topics based on keywords, concepts, and question content.
  3. Sum marks per topic: For each paper, we add up the marks for all questions testing the same topic. For example, if Q1 (4 marks) and Q5b (3 marks) both test "Enzymes", that topic shows as "7 marks" for that paper.

Example: If Paper 3 shows "Photosynthesis - 13 marks", it means questions worth a total of 13 marks (out of the paper's 30 marks) tested the Photosynthesis topic from the Plant Nutrition unit of the syllabus.

How to use this: Look at the paper(s) you'll be taking (e.g., Papers 2, 4, 6 for Extended tier). The topics with the highest marks in YOUR papers are where you should focus your revision. A topic worth 15 marks deserves more study time than one worth 3 marks.

Note: Our topic matching may be inaccurate for questions that span multiple topics. Use this as a guide alongside the official syllabus.

How to Use IGCSE English - Second Language Past Papers

📝 Timed Practice

Complete papers under exam conditions. 0510 Paper 4 is 45 min - practice finishing within this time to build exam stamina.

✅ Self-Marking

Use the mark scheme to score your answers. Look for marking points you missed and understand what examiners expect in English - Second Language responses.

📊 Examiner Reports

Read the 0510 examiner report to see common mistakes. Focus revision on topics where candidates typically lose marks.

🎯 Grade Targets

Check grade thresholds to see how many marks you need for your target grade. An A* in IGCSE English - Second Language typically requires 85-90%.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I download IGCSE English - Second Language February-March 2022 past papers?
You can download all IGCSE English - Second Language (0510) February-March 2022 past papers directly from this page. We provide 12 files including question papers, mark schemes, and examiner reports for all variants (11, 12, 13). Click "View" to open in browser or "Download" to save the PDF.
Are 0510 mark schemes included?
Yes, mark schemes for all 0510 February-March 2022 papers are included. Each question paper has a corresponding mark scheme showing expected answers and mark allocation.
What papers are available for IGCSE English - Second Language 0510?
IGCSE English - Second Language (0510) has 4 papers: Paper 1 (Reading and Writing (Core)), Paper 2 (Reading and Writing (Extended)), Paper 3 (Listening (Core)), Paper 4 (Listening (Extended)). Core tier students take Papers 1, 3, 5/6. Extended tier students take Papers 2, 4, 5/6.
What is the difference between paper variants 11, 12, and 13?
The three variants (11, 12, 13) are different versions of the same paper used in different time zones to prevent cheating. All variants test the same syllabus content at the same difficulty level. You can practice with any variant as they are equally valid for revision.
How can I practice these past papers effectively?
Use our free Exam Hub to practice past papers like real exams. It lets you view question papers and mark schemes side-by-side, so you can self-mark your answers. No sign-up required, works with any PDF, and your files stay completely private.

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We share these materials freely for educational purposes to help students prepare for their examinations. This platform is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cambridge International.

For official examination resources, registration, and support, please visit cambridgeinternational.org.