0510

Cambridge IGCSE English - Second Language (0510) - October-November 2022 Past Papers

Download 32 free IGCSE English - Second Language past papers, mark schemes, and examiner reports from the October-November 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 October-November 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.

Select variant:

QP + MS QP + ER

All variants (different time zones):

QP:

MS:

View syllabus topics tested in Paper 1 (4 topics, 70 marks total)

This 0510 Paper 1 from October-November 2022 tests 4 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Formal writing (Writing) worth 29 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 29/70

Summary writing 12/70

Informal writing 12/70

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.

Select variant:

QP + MS QP + ER

All variants (different time zones):

QP:

MS:

View syllabus topics tested in Paper 2 (4 topics, 90 marks total)

This 0510 Paper 2 from October-November 2022 tests 4 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Formal writing (Writing) worth 39 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 39/90

Summary writing 16/90

Informal writing 16/90

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.

Select variant:

QP + MS QP + ER

All variants (different time zones):

QP:

MS:

View syllabus topics tested in Paper 3 (2 topics, 30 marks total)

This 0510 Paper 3 from October-November 2022 tests 2 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Review writing (Writing) worth 8 marks out of 30 total marks. Other significant topics include Formal writing (8 marks)

Mark distribution by topic:

Review writing 8/30

Formal 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 Review writing 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.

Select variant:

QP + MS QP + ER

All variants (different time zones):

QP:

MS:

View syllabus topics tested in Paper 4 (3 topics, 40 marks total)

This 0510 Paper 4 from October-November 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 Review writing (8 marks) and Formal writing (8 marks).

Mark distribution by topic:

Spoken communication 10/40

Review writing 8/40

Formal 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.

Other Files

0510 October-November 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 October-November 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)

29m

Summary writing (Reading)

12m

Informal writing (Writing)

12m

Retrieving and organising information (Reading)

7m

0510 Paper 2 (Reading and Writing (Extended))

90 marks total

Formal writing (Writing)

39m

Summary writing (Reading)

16m

Informal writing (Writing)

16m

Retrieving and organising information (Reading)

9m

0510 Paper 3 (Listening (Core))

30 marks total

Review writing (Writing)

8m

Formal writing (Writing)

8m

0510 Paper 4 (Listening (Extended))

40 marks total

Spoken communication (Speaking)

10m

Review writing (Writing)

8m

Formal 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 - October-November 2022

Key feedback from Cambridge examiners on how students performed

Key Takeaways

• Read the questions carefully to ensure you understand the requirements and avoid misinterpreting the information.
• Be precise in your answers, using concise phrases and avoiding the inclusion of irrelevant or incorrect details.
• Practice paraphrasing and using synonyms to express ideas in your own words, especially in summary writing.
• Manage your time effectively to ensure you attempt all questions and develop your responses adequately.
• Pay attention to the register and style appropriate for different writing tasks, such as emails versus articles.

Paper 11 - Reading and Writing (Core)

Almost all candidates were entered at the right level and were able to complete the paper in the time allowed. Many candidates who struggled with Exercises 1-4 performed well in Exercises 5 and 6.

Study Tips:

✓ Read the text at least twice before attempting to answer the questions to ensure thorough comprehension.
✓ Answer questions briefly, using sometimes one-word answers. Avoid lifting long sections from the text, as this can lead to incorrect answers.

Common Mistakes:

Q1 (Cenotes)

✗ Choosing incorrect numbers (12,000 or 7,000) relating to total cenotes worldwide or in Mexico, instead of the number specific to the Yucatan area.

→ Read the question carefully and ensure the answer matches the specific location asked for in the question.

Q5 (Cenotes)

✗ Mentioning 'silver' as the skin color of cenote fish, confusing it with the skin color of sea or lake fish.

→ Pay close attention to the specific characteristics mentioned in the text that pertain only to cenote fish.

Q8 (Cenotes)

✗ Writing 'great blue hole' or 'lazy lagoon' instead of identifying that the unique cenote in Belize is unique because it is in the sea.

→ Identify the specific feature that makes the cenote in Belize unique according to the text.

Q4 (Cenotes)

✗ Choosing 'cylinder cenote' or 'basin cenote' instead of 'jug cenote', which was the only one fitting the description in the question.

→ Match the description provided in the question to the correct type of cenote mentioned in the text.

Paper 12 - Reading and Writing (Core)

Candidates were generally correctly entered at this level, though more precise reading of questions and rubrics is needed, particularly in Exercises 1 and 4. Some struggled with time management.

Study Tips:

✓ Scan all texts to identify key details corresponding to each question, looking for synonyms and paraphrases.
✓ Read the question carefully in Exercise 4 to avoid irrelevant details.

Common Mistakes:

Q1 (Quarry)

✗ Identifying 'toothpaste' but overlooking or negating 'make-up' by adding extra information (e.g., 'chicken feed').

→ Ensure you identify all required details and avoid adding unnecessary or incorrect information.

Q2 (Quarry)

✗ Selecting '500 000 to 700 000' (the amount extracted each year) instead of 'a million tonnes' (the maximum amount that could be removed).

→ Pay close attention to keywords like 'maximum' and select the detail that specifically corresponds to it.

Q4 (Quarry)

✗ Including the extra details ‘administrators and managers’ when asking for the main job.

→ Focus your answer on the main job.

Q6 (Quarry)

✗ Selecting people who find this route suitable instead of naming the route.

→ Make sure you name the route to achieve the marks.

Paper 13 - Reading and Writing (Core)

The majority of candidates were correctly entered for the Core tier. Candidates found the topics accessible and were able to write at appropriate length.

Study Tips:

✓ Read the question carefully to ensure you provide information relevant to the task.
✓ Read the questions very carefully, and ensure that you are paying attention to the important details of the question.

Common Mistakes:

Q2 (Fashion)

✗ Providing 'businesses to improve' and omitting the salient detail 'their practices'.

→ Include all key details from the text when answering the question.

Q4 (Fashion)

✗ Interpreting the question word 'what' as 'who', suggesting that her son persuaded her, which could not be credited.

→ Pay close attention to the wording of the question and interpret it correctly.

Q5 (Fashion)

✗ Omitting 'too' when conveying the idea that clothes would be 'too expensive for some'.

→ Make sure you include all of the important details that the text mentions when coming up with an answer.

QGeneral (Location scouts)

✗ Indiscriminate lifting of irrelevant details from the text.

→ Focus on precise details and paraphrase when summarising the material in the text.

Paper 21 - Reading and Writing (Extended)

Most candidates were correctly entered for the extended paper and responded well to the questions. The greatest challenge was with the length of written answers.

Study Tips:

✓ Pay attention to reference and linking words in the texts to understand the relationships between ideas.
✓ Practice with verb, noun, and adjective synonyms, along with forming alternative grammatical structures.

Common Mistakes:

Q5 (Cenotes)

✗ Confusing sea and lake fish (silver) with fish in cenotes (transparent skin, poor eyesight).

→ Recognize and be guided by discourse markers, relative pronouns and determiners.

Q8 (Cenotes)

✗ Giving the name of the unusual cenote, not what was unusual about it, which was that it was in the sea.

→ Candidates did not connect 'the former' and 'the latter' in the relevant section of the text to the two places mentioned.

Q9 (Cenotes)

✗ Responses such as ‘life-giving water’ and ‘a way of communicating’ were not specific enough and did not provide the key details required.

→ Make sure that your answer is as specific and clear as it possibly can be in order to achieve the marks.

QGeneral (Biofuels)

✗ Writing a lengthy introduction that did not contain content points.

→ Make sure your introduction contains clear and useful details so that you make the most out of the wordcount.

Insights extracted from the official Cambridge Examiner Report for 0510 October-November 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 October-November 2022 examination session included 4 paper components, each testing different skills and knowledge areas.

This page contains all 0510 past papers from October-November 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:

Extract questions: We analyze each question paper (QP) and identify individual questions and their mark allocations (shown in square brackets, e.g., [3]).
Match to syllabus: Each question is matched to the official Cambridge 0510 syllabus topics based on keywords, concepts, and question content.
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 October-November 2022 past papers?

You can download all IGCSE English - Second Language (0510) October-November 2022 past papers directly from this page. We provide 32 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 October-November 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.