0510

IGCSE English - Second Language 0510 — October-November 2021 Past Papers, Topics & Exam Tips

The Cambridge IGCSE English - Second Language (0510) October-November 2021 session consisted of 4 papers across 12 variants. This page links to every question paper, mark scheme, grade threshold and session feedback document released by Cambridge for this session.

Grade Thresholds

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    Study Resources for English - Second Language

    Prepare for your exam with these complementary resources:

    Revision Notes
    8 topics

    0510 October-November 2021 Papers

    0510 Paper 1 - Reading and Writing (Core)

    1 hr 30 min • 60 marks

    Select variant:
    Question Paper
    Mark Scheme
    QP + MS QP + ER

    All variants (different time zones):

    QP:
    v1
    v2
    v3
    MS:
    v1
    v2
    v3

    0510 Paper 2 - Reading and Writing (Extended)

    2 hr • 80 marks

    Select variant:
    Question Paper
    Mark Scheme
    QP + MS QP + ER

    All variants (different time zones):

    QP:
    v1
    v2
    v3
    MS:
    v1
    v2
    v3

    0510 Paper 3 - Listening (Core)

    About 40 min • 30 marks

    Select variant:
    Question Paper
    Mark Scheme
    QP + MS QP + ER

    All variants (different time zones):

    QP:
    v1
    v2
    v3
    MS:
    v1
    v2
    v3

    Listening recordings (MP3), one per variant:

    Recording v1 Recording v2 Recording v3

    0510 Paper 4 - Listening (Extended)

    About 50 min • 40 marks

    Select variant:
    Question Paper
    Mark Scheme
    QP + MS QP + ER

    All variants (different time zones):

    QP:
    v1
    v2
    v3
    MS:
    v1
    v2
    v3

    Listening recordings (MP3), one per variant:

    Recording v1 Recording v2 Recording v3

    Other Resources

    Additional materials to help you prepare and understand how exams are marked.

    Examiner Report

    Insights from examiners on how students performed. Learn common mistakes to avoid and what examiners look for in top answers.

    View

    0510 October-November 2021 at a glance

    ← May-June 2021 All 0510 sessions February-March 2022 →

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    0510 Study Tips & FAQ

    What are paper variants?

    Cambridge releases multiple variants of each paper (e.g., Paper 11, 12, 13) to accommodate different time zones around the world and maintain exam security.

    Which variant you sit is set by your school's administrative zone: in the November 2026 timetable, for 0510, Variant 1 is sat in Zones 2 and 3, Variant 2 in Zones 4 and 5, and Variant 3 in Zones 1 and 6. Which zones sit which variant differs from subject to subject, so ask your exams officer which zone your school is in.

    All variants cover the same syllabus and have similar difficulty. Practice with any variant to prepare effectively for your exam.

    How to use Mark Schemes effectively

    Mark schemes show exactly how examiners award marks for each question. Understanding them helps you write answers that earn full marks.

    Tips:

    • Look for key words that must appear in your answer
    • Note how many points are needed for each mark
    • Understand the difference between "state" (brief) and "explain" (detailed)
    Understanding Grade Thresholds

    Grade thresholds show the minimum marks needed for each grade. They vary each session based on paper difficulty — harder papers have lower thresholds.

    November 2021, option FX (components 21, 41, 51), out of 200:

    A*
    183
    A
    170
    B
    157
    C
    145

    From the copy of the Cambridge grade threshold table, November 2021. Each option has its own thresholds: see every 0510 session.

    How to use thresholds:

    • Set realistic target marks based on your goal grade
    • Track your practice paper scores against thresholds
    • Remember: you don't need 100% for an A* — aim for consistency
    • Compare thresholds across sessions to gauge difficulty trends

    How to Use IGCSE English - Second Language Past Papers

    📝 Timed Practice

    Complete papers under exam conditions. 0510 Paper 2 (Reading and Writing, Extended) is 2 hr - practice finishing within this time to build exam stamina.

    ✅ Self-Marking

    Use the mark scheme to score your answers. Look for marking points you missed and understand what examiners expect in English - Second Language responses.

    📊 Examiner Reports

    Read the 0510 examiner report to see common mistakes. Focus revision on topics where candidates typically lose marks.

    🎯 Grade Targets

    In November 2021, an A* in IGCSE English - Second Language needed 176 to 183 out of 200 (88% to 92%) on the Extended options, depending on the option (copy of the Cambridge grade threshold table, November 2021). See the grade thresholds for every 0510 session.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where can I download IGCSE English - Second Language October-November 2021 past papers?
    You can download all IGCSE English - Second Language (0510) October-November 2021 past papers directly from this page. We provide 32 files: question papers, mark schemes, examiner reports, grade thresholds and listening recordings for variants 11, 12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 31, 32, 33, 41, 42, 43. Click "View" to open in browser or "Download" to save the PDF.
    Are 0510 mark schemes included?
    Yes, mark schemes for all 0510 October-November 2021 papers are included. Each question paper has a corresponding mark scheme showing expected answers and mark allocation.
    What papers are available for IGCSE English - Second Language 0510?
    IGCSE English - Second Language (0510) has 4 papers: Paper 1 (Reading and Writing (Core)), Paper 2 (Reading and Writing (Extended)), Paper 3 (Listening (Core)), Paper 4 (Listening (Extended)). Before 2024 there were two tiers: Core candidates sat Papers 1 and 3, Extended candidates Papers 2 and 4.
    What is the difference between paper variants 11, 12, and 13?
    The three variants (11, 12, 13) are different versions of the same paper used in different time zones to prevent cheating. All variants test the same syllabus content at the same difficulty level. You can practice with any variant as they are equally valid for revision.
    How can I practice these past papers effectively?
    Use our free Exam Hub to practice past papers like real exams. It lets you view question papers and mark schemes side-by-side, so you can self-mark your answers. No sign-up required, and it works with any PDF.

    Continue Studying English - Second Language

    Prepare for these topics before attempting the past papers:

    Revision Notes
    8 topics covered
    Practice Quiz
    Test your knowledge

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