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IGCSE English as a Second Language is accepted by universities and employers as proof of ability to understand and communicate in English. It is aimed at students whose first language is not English, but who use English as a language of study. Successful English as a Second Language candidates have better educational and employment prospects and gain lifelong skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening.

A grade C in IGCSE English as a Second Language satisfies the English proficiency requirements of many universities in the UK and in other anglophone countries.

Key Aims

The course will:

• enable you to communicate better in English;
• improve your ability to understand the nuances of social situations;
• enable you to understand and respond effectively to what you hear, read and experience;
• give you a greater international perspective;
• provide you with a sound foundation for studying other subjects in English.

Syllabus and Assessment

The course will prepare you for the reading, writing and listening parts of the Cambridge (CIE) English as a Second Language syllabus 0510 (papers 2 & 4).  These are the only elements which will count towards your exam grade.  They are also the elements which will enable you to prepare more effectively in the future for other IGCSE subjects.

The course gives guidance for, but does NOT prepare you for the required oral examination. The oral exam does NOT count towards your grade in the English as a Second Language examination.  A separate certificate indicating your achievement is issued in respect of the oral exam. 

Assessment comprises two written papers which, as advised above, are the only papers which count towards your exam grade.  The first is of 2 hours, the second of 45 minutes.  The exam may be taken in either May/June or November of each year.

The oral exam, with its separate certification, is of approximately 15 minutes. There is no coursework. 

There are many Cambridge exam centres in the UK. If you are based outside the UK, you will normally be able to sit for your exam at your nearest British Council office.

The Home Study Course

We have selected a book which is fully endorsed by Cambridge as your study text.  You’ll find both very easy to work with. These, together with the materials in your password protected file (which is online), contain everything you need to start studying right away. The course is designed specifically to cover the above syllabus - so you can be confident that you'll learn everything you need, in order to achieve the best possible grade in the examination. 

Your Tutor and your Assignments 

Your tutor is your online personal learning coach whom you can email at any time, and  to whom you can also talk via Skype.  He or she will give you detailed feedback on your learning assignments, and plenty of advice and encouragement throughout your course. 

You will have assignments with exam type questions to complete at regular intervals during the course. These are a key part of your learning process. They will prepare you thoroughly for your exam and will enable you and your tutor to gauge your progress throughout. Completing the course assignments will greatly increase your chances of a good exam grade.   

When you’ve finished each assignment, you email it to your tutor for assessment via your online file. Your tutor will provide you with rapid and detailed feedback, so you'll see your skills and knowledge developing month by month.

See fees for Adults or for Homeschoolers.

Course fees include:

• All the required course books.  There are no extra charges for books, other than for postage outside the UK. 
• Assessment and feedback on all assignments within 5 working days.
• Access to your personal tutors via email and Skype.
• Access to all online resources through WHOLE (Wolsey Hall Online Learning Environment)

Course fees do NOT include examination fees, which are payable to the examination centre.