Wolsey Hall is a registered online Cambridge International School.
We offer a wide range of IGCSE subjects.
Paper 2
Reading and Writing (2 hours) – 60% of the total mark
Benefits of studying Cambridge IGCSE English Second Language
The combination of knowledge and skills in Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language gives learners a solid foundation for further study. Candidates who achieve grades A* to C are well prepared to follow a wide range of IGCSE courses.
The subject is aimed at students who have not previously been taught in English and whose English is at a basic level. For those who have a working knowledge of English we recommend IGCSE English Language i.e. first language English. If you are in any doubt as to the most suitable course, we can offer a test at no charge to help you decide.
A grade C in IGCSE English as a Second Language satisfies the English proficiency requirements of some universities in the UK and in other English speaking countries.
Take a look at our latest Exam Results.
Key topics covered in the course
- Understanding, identifying and selecting texts
- Carrying out a range of writing tasks on a number of topics
- Describing and reporting a wide range of information
- Organising and presenting material in appropriate format
- Retrieving facts and details from a range of information
- Understanding ideas and the connection between them
- Authentic Speaking and Listening practice, with exam preparation via Skype
Prior requirements and hours of study
- Previous study: CAIE recommends that learners starting this course are not first language speakers of English, but learners who use English as a lingua franca or language of study. Learners are likely to have studied a curriculum such as the Cambridge Secondary 1 programme or equivalent national educational framework. Learners in England will normally have followed the Key Stage 3 programme of study within the National Curriculum for England.
- Non-native speakers who are frequent users of the language should take IGCSE first language English.
- The course includes live tutorials to prepare for the speaking exam.
- Your child should allow for up to 150 hours’ study time to complete the course plus additional time for completing assignments. 150 hours is an approximate figure which depends on their learning abilities and the pace at which they work.
The syllabus and exam
The course will prepare your child for the reading, writing, speaking and listening parts of the syllabus for the Cambridge (CAIE) English as a Second Language syllabus 0511 or 0991.
The exam comprises three components:
Paper 4
Listening (50 minutes) – 20% of the total mark
Component 5
Speaking (10-15 minutes) – 20% of the total mark
Please note that the marks for the speaking component contribute to the overall grade.
There are Cambridge exam centres in over 150 countries. We can provide details of those most convenient.
All of our IGCSE courses include a number of past exam papers in the final module. These include the most recent paper which can be taken as a mock exam and submitted to your Tutor for assessment and feedback for a modest additional fee.
Course sample
Course Fees
The fee for IGCSE English as a Second Language is £865 via instalments. There is a discount of 5% for payment in full reducing the fee to £815. Read more about our fees and discounts, see what our fees include or use our fee calculator to find out the total cost of the courses you select. If you’re not delighted with your course, let us know within 45 days and we’ll refund your course fee (less the cost of the books).
IGCSE English Language
Our IGCSE English Language homeschooling course will enable your child to communicate clearly and effectively. These skills are vital for entry to higher education and in the workplace. A good grade in IGCSE English Language (C or 4 or better) is evidence of these skills. It will satisfy the English Language entrance requirements of universities, and meet the needs of employers everywhere.
IGCSE Spanish
Our Cambridge IGCSE Spanish homeschooling course is based around the language skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing, Psychological studies have found that speaking a second language, such as Spanish, is a great asset to the cognitive process. The brains of bilingual people operate differently than those of single language speakers
IGCSE Geography
Whether it is in our ability to grow crops, our capability to stock-pile water or our power to pre-empt natural disasters, the study of our environment and the geography of the planet plays a vital role. By studying the patterns of our planet we may be able to predict potential hazards in the future and therefore help to implement precautions to avoid the effects of climate change.
IGCSE History
In many ways our Cambridge IGCSE History homeschooling course is like studying literature. It’s easy to understand the story of a book as you read it, but it takes deeper thought to understand the themes, characters, symbolism and message of a book. In the same way it takes deeper thought to understand why something has happened in History or why it still affects the world today.
To be honest, I don’t think I would have done this so easily without the entire Wolsey Hall team on board – and, all the Tutors’ help. I am quite amazed at what I’ve done!
Hamzah Yousef Jameel, IGCSE & A level Homeschooling Student
UAE
I would recommend Wolsey Hall Oxford to anyone considering homeschooling. Each course has plenty of resources on canvas and the course books are very informative. Any questions or help that we needed (preparing and arranging exams etc) have always been dealt with by the friendly tutors and student progress manager. My daughter achieved excellent IGCSE results and is now taking an A Level course.
Donna Hogan – IGCSE Parent
UK
“Homeschooling with Wolsey Hall has been a very delightful experience! The courses are beautifully organized, from the amazing resources on Canvas to the very creative assignments. However, above all, I couldn’t be more thankful to my very encouraging and supportive Tutors and Student Progress Manager who was always very welcoming to each and every question I had. Wholeheartedly, I couldn’t have scored an A* in both Physics and Biology without your help. Thank you!”
Reem Arafat, Homeschooling IGCSE Student
Saudi Arabia
Wolsey Hall Oxford’s IGCSE courses are excellent for students who wish to homeschool. The step by step programme of study, with designated textbooks and online resources ensured that my daughter understood the concepts and their application in a logical manner. She also benefitted from completing the assignments and past exam papers. She worked hard… asking questions, getting feedback from her Tutors and sharpening her exam technique. Without the Wolsey Hall Oxford programme, she would not have achieved her fantastic results (six A*’s in her IGCSEs in 2016).
Andrew Yeoh, IGCSE Homschooling Parent
Australia
Thank you very much for your assistance, and I just want to say that homeschooling Sophie and her sister Helene has been made so much easier by your organization’s involvement – the tutors have been fabulous and the course presentation very easy to follow.
Jeff Hennig, IGCSE Homeschooling Parent,
USA
Contact us
If you’re thinking of enrolling your child at Wolsey Hall Oxford and you’d like to know more about what we do or how to enrol, please get in touch. We’re ready to enrol new students throughout the academic year.