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Edexcel 4ET1 is English Literature with set texts, an anthology and a Shakespeare/poetry component. Cambridge 0500 is First Language English - reading and directed writing on unseen non-fiction, with no set literary texts. They are different qualifications, so revise to the specification your school enters you for.
They share the same syllabus content and assessment; 0990 is the 9-1 graded version and 0500 is A*-G. Skills, papers and mark schemes are equivalent - revise identically and check which grading scale your school uses.
It depends on the route. Cambridge 0500/0990 offers an exam-only route and a coursework route; Edexcel 4ET1 is assessed by written examination. Ask your teacher which option your centre has chosen, as it changes how you prepare.
Yes. There are dedicated IGCSE hubs for Pearson Edexcel (4ET1 Literature, 4EA1 Language A) and Cambridge International (0500, 0990), with set-text guides, exam-technique walkthroughs and AI essay marking aligned to each specification.
Components cover the Pearson Poetry Anthology plus prose and drama set texts (commonly including Of Mice and Men, To Kill a Mockingbird, Things Fall Apart and a Shakespeare play). Your centre chooses the exact texts, so confirm yours with your teacher before revising.
In Paper 1 (Reading) and Paper 2 (Directed Writing and Composition) you respond to one or two texts in a specified form - a letter, speech, report or article - for a stated audience and purpose. Marks are split between reading (understanding and using the texts) and writing (style, structure and accuracy), so address both deliberately.
It depends on the syllabus your centre enters. Cambridge 0500 and Edexcel 4EA1/4ET1 are typically graded A*-G, while Cambridge 0990/0992 use the 9-1 scale. The teaching content and skills are equivalent across the paired syllabuses - check which code your school uses for grade boundaries.
Yes. Essay feedback is mapped to the relevant IGCSE assessment objectives and band descriptors for your syllabus, with targeted improvement steps. It is AI-assisted revision guidance, not an official Cambridge or Pearson result, and a human-review option is available.
Use the published specimen and assessment materials from the board, practise the exact question types under timed conditions, and self-assess against the mark scheme. Skill drills - directed writing structures, summary technique and analytical paragraphs - transfer across papers even when past-paper supply is limited.
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Cambridge IGCSE Language B reports results on the 9-1 numerical scale, while Language A uses A*-G. The two syllabuses share a mark scheme - so you can map every letter to a number. Use this table to translate between the two.
| IGCSE Language B grade | Language A equivalent | What it represents |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Above A* | More selective than A*. Awarded to roughly the top 4% of entries. Sophisticated analysis, controlled style, distinctive voice. |
| 8 | A / A* | Comfortably above the old A boundary and reaching into A* territory. Consistent analytical depth and accurate writing. |
| 7 | A | Equivalent to the old A grade. Confident, clear analysis and well-structured writing throughout. |
| 6 | B | Solid upper-middle performance. Relevant comment, generally accurate writing with some ambition. |
| 5 | B / C | “Strong pass”. Overlaps the old B-C boundary. Clear understanding, some analytical comment, mostly accurate writing. |
| 4 | C | Standard pass. Equivalent to the old C grade. Required by many sixth-form colleges as a minimum. |
| 3 | D | Basic understanding of texts and task, writing that communicates meaning with some errors. |
| 2 | E | Limited response. Some engagement with the text but significant weaknesses in analysis or accuracy. |
| 1 | F / G | Lowest pass. Basic communication of ideas with substantial weaknesses throughout. |
The reformed 9-1 scale was designed to stretch the top end. Under A*-G, an A* was awarded to roughly 8% of entries nationally. Grade 9 is set higher - typically around the top 4%. In practice, an A* student under 0500 is more likely to get an 8, with 9 reserved for genuinely outstanding work.