How IGCSE English - Second Language is marked
IGCSE English - Second Language is marked across eight papers (11, 12, 21, 22, 31, 32, 41, 42), and in our bank the marking is overwhelmingly point-marked: 642 of the 670 questions we hold are points, with 22 pure-levels and just 6 points-with-levels. Papers 31, 32, 41 and 42 are entirely points-marked in our bank, while the small levels component sits within papers 11, 12, 21 and 22, which include extended-writing tasks.
For the points-marked comprehension, listening and language questions that make up most of the paper, each mark corresponds to a specific correct answer, word, or piece of information identified or supplied — precision in reading the question and giving exactly what's asked for is what earns credit.
The small levels-marked and points-with-levels component covers extended written responses, where the examiner also weighs organisation, coherence and accuracy of language alongside the content points made — this is where basic mechanics like punctuation start to affect the mark, not just what you say but how clearly the writing holds together.
The topic weighting in our bank is led by Listening (31 questions) and Reading comprehension (13), with Travel and tourism, Writing, Food and drink and Summary and note-making making up the remaining smaller categories.
Where candidates actually lose marks
- In extended writing, punctuation is limited to commas or omitted altogether, causing a loss of focus and meaning in the response. (try the question)
- In extended writing, candidates attempt complex language and sentence structures but lack the accuracy to use them correctly, undermining the response. (try the question)
- A lack of basic punctuation means different ideas are not successfully separated from one another, which affects the organisation and coherence of the writing. (try the question)
- As with other writing tasks, insufficient basic punctuation prevents ideas being separated clearly, again damaging organisation and coherence. (try the question)
Command words in IGCSE English - Second Language
| Command word | Times in our bank | What it demands |
|---|---|---|
| Identify | 235 | Asks you to pick out a specific piece of information from a text or recording — the answer must match exactly what's being asked for, not just be generally related. |
| Choose | 178 | Wants you to select the correct option from a given set — precision in matching the question's exact requirement matters. |
| State | 111 | Wants a short, exact answer with no further explanation required. |
| Complete | 80 | Used for filling in a gap, table or note accurately with information taken directly from the source text or recording. |
| Give | 38 | Asks for a specific piece of information or a short answer, similar in demand to state or identify. |
| Write | 22 | Introduces the extended writing tasks, where organisation, coherence and accurate language matter alongside the content covered. |
| Summarise | 6 | Asks you to condense the key points of a text into a shorter piece of writing, selecting what's relevant and expressing it clearly. |
How to revise with past papers
Because most of the marks in this subject are points-marked comprehension and listening questions, practise reading and listening tasks under timed conditions and check each answer against the exact wording the question asked for — a generally-relevant answer that doesn't match the specific detail requested won't be credited.
For the extended-writing components, build the habit of using full stops and basic punctuation consistently before attempting more complex sentence structures — missing or comma-only punctuation blurs meaning and makes extended writing hard to follow, so getting the basics secure is worth prioritising over ambition in vocabulary or structure.
When practising writing tasks, read your response back specifically checking whether each idea is clearly separated from the next — this is a simple, generic proofreading habit that directly addresses the organisation and coherence that extended writing is marked on.
Practise real 0991 questions with AI marking →FAQs
Is this subject mostly comprehension-based?
Yes — in our bank, 642 of 670 questions are points-marked, and Listening and Reading comprehension are the largest topic categories, alongside a smaller extended-writing component.
Why does punctuation matter so much in the writing tasks?
Extended writing is marked partly on organisation and accuracy, and limited or missing punctuation makes ideas run together and lose focus — so it's a foundational skill the mark scheme is sensitive to.
Should I use complex vocabulary and sentence structures?
Attempting complex language without sufficient accuracy tends to cost marks — accurate simpler language is likely to serve you better than ambitious language used incorrectly.
Which topics come up most in past papers?
In our bank, Listening (31 questions) and Reading comprehension (13) are the largest categories, with Travel and tourism, Writing, Food and drink, and Summary and note-making making up the rest.