English Second Language IGCSE (CIE Syllabus 0511)

The syllabus assesses students’ ability to use English as a medium of practical communication, and is aimed at students for whom English is not a first language/mother tongue, but for whom it is their language of study.

Eligible Students will be encouraged to sit this examination at the end of Year Nine and if they achieve a grade C or above will then have the opportunity to sit the First Language English and Literature courses in Years Ten and Eleven.

Assessment

There are three exams: a reading & writing paper (paper 2), a listening paper (paper 4) and an oral exam (component 5) .

The weightings for the exams are 70% for reading and writing, 15% for the listening exam and 15% for the oral exam.

Students at SAIS will usually sit the extended exam which will enable the students to achieve the highest grade possible.

Students are assessed on the following skills:

READING & LISTENING

 ability to skim and scan to find relevant information

 select and organise material relevant to specific purposes

 recognise, understand and distinguish between facts, ideas and opinions

 infer meaning

WRITING

 summarise and take notes accurately

 use paragraphs, punctuation, grammar , spelling correctly

 communicate clearly, accurately and appropriately

 use a range of vocabulary well

 employ correct register

SPEAKING

 employ suitable pronunciation and stress patterns

 engage in and influence the direction of conversation

 use a range of vocabulary and grammar accurately