IGCSE First Language English 0500 from 2027: what changes, question by question?

By The Learning Mate team · Updated 21 October 2026 · 12 min read

From 2027, Cambridge IGCSE First Language English 0500 keeps two 2-hour, 80-mark papers, but Paper 1 Reading is rebuilt as four compulsory questions worth 20 marks each. In Paper 2, Directed Writing is split into a new 5-mark reading question, 1(a), and a 35-mark directed writing task, 1(b) (25 marks for writing, 10 for reading). Coursework (Component 3) and Speaking and Listening (Component 4) keep their tasks and mark allocations, but every component has updated marking criteria.

The 2027–2029 syllabus is used for exams in 2027, 2028 and 2029. This post compares it with the 2024–2026 syllabus, question by question, as of October 2026. For how levels marking works on the current papers, see our guide to marking IGCSE First Language English 0500.

When does the new 0500 syllabus start?

The new syllabus is first examined in March 2027 for schools in India and in June 2027 for everyone else. The 2024–2026 syllabus covers the remaining 2026 exams, so November 2026 is the last series on the old format.

Item	2024–2026 syllabus	2027–2029 syllabus
Exam years	2024, 2025, 2026	2027, 2028, 2029
Series	June and November (plus March in India)	June and November (plus March in India)
Grades	A* to G	A* to G
9–1 version	0990	0990, June and November only
Last series on old syllabus	November 2026	—

The 9–1 version, Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) First Language English 0990, has its own 2027–2029 syllabus. Cambridge's 0990 page says it is graded 9 to 1 but is otherwise the same as 0500, so everything below applies to it too. As of October 2026, that page lists 0990 as available in administrative zone 3 and for centres in Oman and the UAE.

What stays the same in 0500?

The overall structure does not change. All candidates take Paper 1, plus either Paper 2 or the Component 3 coursework portfolio. Reading and writing are still worth 50% each.

Component	Duration	Marks	Weighting	What changes for 2027
Paper 1 Reading	2 hours	80	50%	Four 20-mark questions; new marking criteria
Paper 2 Directed Writing and Composition	2 hours	80	50%	Section A split into 1(a) and 1(b); new criteria
Component 3 Coursework Portfolio	—	80	50%	Same marks; forms clarified; new criteria
Component 4 Speaking and Listening (optional)	about 10–12 min	40	Separately endorsed, 1–5	Same tasks and marks; new criteria

The component weightings by assessment objective are also unchanged: Paper 1 is 80% reading and 20% writing, and Paper 2 and Component 3 are 20% reading and 80% writing.

What changes in Paper 1 Reading?

Paper 1 moves from three questions worth 30, 25 and 25 marks to four questions worth 20 marks each, still on three texts. Cambridge says the restructure is meant "to help candidates to navigate the paper efficiently". The texts now have a combined total of about 1,400 words. The 2024–2026 syllabus specified 700–750 words for Texts A and B and 500–650 words for Text C.

2024–2026 question	Marks	2027–2029 question	Marks
Q1 comprehension, Text A (R1, R2, R5)	15	Q1 comprehension, Text A (R1–R5)	20
Q1 summary, Text B, max 120 words	15 (R10 + W5)	Q2(a) summary, Text B, max 120 words	15 (R10 + W5)
—	—	Q2(b) writer's attitude, Text B (R2, R3)	5
Q2 short answers, Text C (R1, R2, R4)	10	Q3 short answers, Text C (R1, R2, R4)	10
Q2 language task, about 200–300 words	15	Q3 language task, about 200–250 words	10
Q3 extended response, about 250–350 words	25 (R15 + W10)	Q4 extended response, about 250–300 words	20 (R10 + W10)
Total	80	Total	80

Question 1: comprehension

Comprehension grows from 15 to 20 marks and now tests all five reading objectives, R1 to R5. In the 2027 specimen paper, Question 1 has nine items worth 1 to 3 marks each. The last two test R4: why the writer chose one word over a plainer one (2 marks), and what a descriptive phrase suggests (3 marks). Under the old syllabus, comprehension tested only R1, R2 and R5.

Question 2: summary plus a new attitude question

The summary is unchanged in size, and a new 5-mark question on the writer's attitude follows it.

2(a) summary: still 10 marks for reading and 5 for writing, in continuous writing of no more than 120 words. The writing marks now cover W1, W2 and W3 (previously W2 and W3). In 2024–2026 papers the summary was the last part of Question 1, for example Question 1(f) in June 2024 Paper 11.
2(b) attitude: a short answer testing R2 and R3. The specimen asks students to assess the writer's attitude to the topic, using three details from Text B, and marks it in three levels out of 5.

Question 3: short answers and a shorter language task

The short answers stay at 10 marks, but the language task drops from 15 to 10 marks and from about 200–300 to 200–250 words.

Bold, not underlining. Words that students must find or explain are now shown in bold.
Word-meaning marks. Cambridge's change list says questions asking students to show understanding of words identified from a text now carry 2 marks. In the specimen, the two own-words phrase explanations (Question 1(b)) are worth 2 marks each, while single-word explanations in Question 3(b) are 1 mark each, so check each item's tariff.
Fewer, bigger items. In June 2024 Paper 11, the short answers were four 1-mark "identify" items, three 1-mark word meanings and a 3-mark language example. The 2027 specimen has two 1-mark "identify" items, three 1-mark word meanings and a 5-mark language example (3(c)) marked in three levels.
The language task uses one extract. The old task asked for three words or phrases from each of two paragraphs, including imagery. The specimen task asks for three powerful words or phrases from a single extract, marked in five levels out of 10. Cambridge says the question wording has been simplified.

Question 4: extended response

The extended response falls from 25 to 20 marks, split evenly: 10 for reading and 10 for writing. Students write about 250–300 words instead of 250–350, in one of the same text types: letter, report, journal, speech, interview or article. Reading now covers R1, R2, R3 and R5 (previously R1 to R3). The specimen task is an interview with three questions, and both mark tables are out of 10 in five levels.

What changes in Paper 2 Directed Writing and Composition?

Section A now has two parts: a 5-mark reading question, 1(a), then the directed writing task, 1(b), worth 35 marks. The reading texts are shorter, and the composition tasks do not change.

Paper 2	2024–2026	2027–2029
Section A texts	One or two texts, 650–750 words in total	One or two texts, 550–650 words in total
Question 1(a)	—	Structured question, 5 marks reading (R3, R4)
Directed writing	One question, 40 marks (W25 + R15)	Question 1(b), 35 marks (W25 + R10)
Forms	Speech, letter or article	Speech, letter, article or report
Length	About 250–350 words	About 250–350 words
Section B Composition	One of four titles, 350–450 words, 40 marks	Same tasks; updated criteria

Three details matter for marking:

R4 is new to Paper 2. Cambridge notes that R4 was not previously assessed in this paper. In the specimen, 1(a) asks students to evaluate a person's attitude, shown in a quoted extract, and justify it with details from the text. It is marked in three levels out of 5.
Directed writing reading is out of 10, not 15. The specimen reading table has five levels (9–10 at the top). The June 2024 Paper 21 mark scheme had six levels out of 15. Writing is still marked out of 25 in six levels.
Composition is still 16 + 24. Content and structure is out of 16 and style and accuracy out of 24. The descriptors have been rewritten; for example, the W4 lines now refer to engaging the reader rather than to register.

What changes in coursework and speaking and listening?

Component 3 and Component 4 keep their tasks and mark allocations, but both have new marking criteria.

Component 3 Coursework Portfolio: still three assignments of about 500–800 words. Assignment 1 is worth 30 marks (15 writing, 15 reading), and Assignments 2 and 3 are worth 25 each. Assignment 1 must now be a discursive, argumentative or persuasive speech, letter, article or report. The 2024–2026 syllabus allowed "any appropriate form". Its reading marks now include R4.
Component 4 Speaking and Listening: still an Individual Talk (3–4 minutes, 20 marks) and a Conversation (7–8 minutes, 20 marks). It is separately endorsed with grades 1 to 5.

What else is new: objectives, command words and learner attributes

Cambridge has reworded several assessment objectives but says the knowledge and skills assessed have not changed.

W2 now refers to organising "facts, ideas and opinions" (previously "ideas and opinions").
W4 changes from using register appropriate to context to using language appropriate to purpose and to engage the audience.
SL2 and SL3 in speaking and listening are reworded.
Command words: the 2024–2026 list had four (describe, explain, give, identify). The 2027–2029 list has eleven, adding analyse, assess, consider, evaluate, justify, outline and suggest. The specimens use "assess" in Paper 1 Question 2(b) and "evaluate" in Paper 2 Question 1(a).
Learner attributes are introduced: confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged.

Can I still use 2024–2026 papers for mocks?

Yes. Most old questions still work, but four need adapting and all should be marked with the new criteria from the 2027 specimen mark schemes. Past papers remain the best bank of texts and tasks. The table maps a 2024–2026 paper, laid out like June 2024 Paper 11 and Paper 21, onto the new format.

2024–2026 question	2027 equivalent	Use as it is?	How to adapt
P1 Q1(a)–(e) comprehension, 15 marks	P1 Q1, 20 marks	Partly	Add about 5 marks of R3/R4 items, such as "why this word?" and "what does this phrase suggest?"
P1 Q1(f) summary, 15 marks	P1 Q2(a), 15 marks	Yes	Mark with the specimen 2(a) reading and writing tables
—	P1 Q2(b), 5 marks	No equivalent	Write one "assess the writer's attitude" question on the same Text B
P1 Q2(a)–(c) short answers, 10 marks	P1 Q3(a)–(c), 10 marks	Mostly	Drop two "identify" items and mark the language example out of 5 by level
P1 Q2(d) language task, 15 marks	P1 Q3(d), 10 marks	Partly	Use one of the two paragraphs, ask for three choices, 200–250 words, mark out of 10
P1 Q3 extended response, 25 marks	P1 Q4, 20 marks	Mostly	Set 250–300 words; mark reading and writing out of 10 each
P2 Q1 directed writing, 40 marks	P2 Q1(b), 35 marks	Mostly	Mark reading out of 10; add a 5-mark 1(a) on an extract from the same texts
P2 Section B composition, 40 marks	P2 Section B, 40 marks	Yes	Same tasks; mark with the updated content and style tables

Two cautions. Old Paper 2 reading texts were set at 650–750 words, against 550–650 now, so students will have more to read. And question numbers have moved, so relabel any old paper before it goes into a mock pack, for example the summary as Question 2(a).

What this means for marking mocks this year

If your students sit 0500 in 2027, set and mark this year's mocks in the new format. A student resitting in November 2026 still sits the 2024–2026 papers.

Use the specimen papers for at least one full mock. The 2027 specimen Paper 1, Paper 2, inserts and mark schemes are on the 0500 past papers page of Cambridge's website and on the School Support Hub. Until the first 2027 papers are released, they are the only complete papers in the new format.
Mark old questions against the new tables. The level descriptors changed in every component. Using the old 15-mark tables for a 10-mark task will distort totals.
Watch the reading and writing balance. In Paper 1 Question 4, writing is now half the marks (10 of 20), compared with 10 of 25 before. In Paper 2, five reading marks have moved out of the directed writing into 1(a), so a student who skips 1(a) to save time for 1(b) loses those marks outright.
Teach language analysis across the paper. The language task is worth less, but R4 now appears in Paper 1 Questions 1 and 3(c) and in Paper 2 Question 1(a).
Practise pacing on equal questions. The syllabus suggests about 15 minutes for reading the texts, which leaves roughly 25 minutes for each 20-mark question.
Standardise first. New descriptors mean new anchor scripts. Our guide to moderating IGCSE mock marking in a department sets out a simple process.
Treat grades as estimates. Cambridge only publishes grade thresholds after a series is sat, so there are none yet for the new papers. See which grade boundaries to use for IGCSE mocks.

For the other Cambridge subjects changing between 2027 and 2029, see our full list of Cambridge IGCSE syllabus changes.

FAQ

When is the first exam for the new IGCSE First Language English 0500 syllabus?

The 2027–2029 syllabus is first examined in March 2027 for schools in India and in June 2027 for other schools. November 2026 is the last series on the 2024–2026 syllabus.

How many questions are in 0500 Paper 1 from 2027?

Four compulsory questions, each worth 20 marks, on three texts of about 1,400 words in total. The paper is still 2 hours and 80 marks.

What is Question 1(a) in 0500 Paper 2 from 2027?

It is a new 5-mark reading question that tests R3 and R4 on the Section A texts before students write. The directed writing task becomes Question 1(b), worth 10 marks for reading and 25 for writing.

Has the 0500 composition changed for 2027?

The tasks have not changed. Students still choose one of four titles, two descriptive and two narrative, and write about 350–450 words for 40 marks, but the marking criteria have been updated.

Can I still use 0500 past papers for 2027 mocks?

Yes, with adaptations. The summary and composition tasks transfer directly, while comprehension, the language task, the extended response and directed writing need their marks and wording adjusted to the new format.