How IGCSE ESL (0511) is really marked
In our bank, IGCSE English as a Second Language spans twelve papers across listening (11, 12, 13), reading and writing (21, 22, 23), and separate speaking-related and skills papers (31, 32, 33, 41, 42, 43). The vast majority of the subject is points-marked: our bank's aggregate is 1149 points questions against 42 pure-levels questions and 12 points-with-levels questions, so level-of-response marking is a small but real part of the picture, not the exception.
That levels marking is concentrated in the reading and writing papers (11, 12, 13), each of which carries 10 pure-levels questions and 2 points-with-levels questions alongside around 100 points questions. This is where extended writing tasks live — the examiner reads the whole response and places it in a quality band, rather than crediting individual correct phrases. Everything else in the subject — comprehension, summary and note-making, and the standalone skills papers (31–33, 41–43) — is entirely points-marked.
So the practical shape of this subject is: most marks come from precise, specific answers to comprehension and language-use questions, with a smaller but consequential portion of marks in the extended-writing sections coming from overall quality of expression rather than individual ticks.
Command words in IGCSE English As A Second Language
| Command word | Times in our bank | What it demands |
|---|---|---|
| Identify | 761 | By far the most frequent command word — asks you to pick out the specific detail, word or piece of information from a text or recording that answers the question. |
| State | 224 | Wants a brief, precise fact given directly from the source material, without elaboration or explanation. |
| Complete | 94 | Used for filling gaps in notes, tables or sentences — each gap requires a specific correct answer drawn from the text or recording. |
| Give | 52 | Asks for a short, specific piece of information to be supplied, usually a single fact or detail. |
| Write | 38 | Used for the extended-writing tasks, where the response is assessed by level of response — overall coherence, range and accuracy of language decide the band, not individual phrases. |
| Match | 18 | Asks you to pair items correctly, such as headings with paragraphs or statements with speakers. |
| Summarise | 12 | Requires condensing information from a longer text into your own words, capturing the key points concisely rather than copying the original wording. |
| Discuss | 2 | A rarer command word here, asking for a more developed response weighing more than one point or perspective from the material. |
How to revise with past papers
Because the great majority of this subject is points-marked, the most useful past-paper habit for the comprehension, summary and note-making sections is training precision: identifying the exact detail a question wants, in the words or close paraphrase the mark scheme accepts, rather than a broadly correct but imprecise answer. After marking a practice paper, check exactly which word or phrase in the source carried each mark you missed.
For the extended-writing tasks, which are levels-marked, practice works differently: compare your writing against what a good response looks like in terms of structure, range of vocabulary and accuracy, rather than trying to tick off a checklist of content points. A well-organised piece using language you're confident with is likely to be placed in a higher band than a longer piece that overreaches and loses accuracy.
Because this subject mixes precise points marking with levels marking in specific sections, it's worth revising the two skills separately — treat comprehension accuracy and extended writing quality as different disciplines that happen to sit in the same exam.
Practise real 0511 questions with AI marking →FAQs
Is this subject mostly points-marked or levels-marked?
Mostly points-marked: in our bank, 1149 questions are points-marked against 42 pure-levels and 12 points-with-levels questions, with the levels marking concentrated in the reading and writing papers' extended-writing tasks.
Which papers include extended writing marked by level of response?
Papers 11, 12 and 13 each contain 10 pure-levels questions and 2 points-with-levels questions, alongside around 100 points-marked questions covering comprehension and shorter tasks.
What is the most frequent command word in this subject?
Identify, used 761 times in our bank — several times more often than the next most frequent command word, State (224 uses).
Do the listening and skills papers (31–33, 41–43) include any levels marking?
No — in our bank these papers are entirely points-marked, with every question awarding a mark for a specific correct answer.