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We keep things as simple as possible. Our objective is to make finding a tutor convenient, efficient and effective.

Read the full process
01

Fill out an online form

Complete an application online which will be received by one of our dedicated Learning Advisors

02

Get matched with a tutor

Our experienced Learning Advisor will review your application, and match you with the most appropriate tutor based on your application

03

Tutor makes contact

Once we confirm with the tutor, the tutor will make contact to organise your first session.

04

Have your first lesson

Our tutors will work around your schedule to organise a session whenever you would like. Only pay for tutoring you have completed.

Two kinds of GCSE tutor

Choose between top-performing recent graduates or qualified teachers. Either way, our matching process finds you a tutor based on subject, exam board, target grade and availability.

Academic Tutors

from $50 USD/hr

Top performing graduates who achieved top grades in the subject they teach.

How we select them
  • We accept only the top 5% of tutor applicants.
  • Each tutor is chosen for their academic results, teaching ability, and connection with students.
Choose this if you want

Relatable role model: work with a tutor who is similar in age and can be a peer

Affordability: academic tutors are more cost-effective than professional tutors

First-hand experience: they sat these papers recently and know what worked

Professional Tutors

from $75 USD/hr

Current or past qualified teachers and examiners with 5+ years professional teaching experience.

How we select them
  • We only select highly experienced, qualified GSCE teachers.
  • Every teacher is assessed on their teaching expertise, subject knowledge, and ability to engage students.
Choose this if you want

Quality assurance: trained and accredited teaching qualifications

Guaranteed track record: years of experience helping students succeed

Subject expertise: deep understanding of content and exam board requirements

Due to our international operations we quote our prices in USD. Pound amounts are an indicative conversion and you will be invoiced in USD.

Academic Tutors

from £37 GBP/hr

Top performing graduates who achieved top grades in the subject they teach.

Relatable role model: work with a tutor who is similar in age and can be a peer

Affordability: academic tutors are more cost-effective than professional tutors

First-hand experience: they sat these papers recently and know what worked

Professional Tutors

from £56 GBP/hr

Current or past qualified teachers and examiners with 5+ years professional teaching experience.

Quality assurance: trained and accredited teaching qualifications

Guaranteed track record: years of experience helping students succeed

Subject expertise: deep understanding of content and exam board requirements

Meet our GCSE English as a Second Language tutors

Our team is a combination of GCSE graduates who sat these exams recently and qualified teachers with years of classroom and examining experience.

Browse all tutors
Kate B, online GCSE English Tutor
Kate B
$75 USD/hr
Professional

42

Kate is a qualified English teacher with 20 years' experience both in the UK and internationally. Kate is trained to teach IGCSE (both English Language and English Literature) and A-Level English and has in previous roles been Head of English, coordinating departments in their teaching and structuring courses.

Kate's style is innovative and adaptive to each student's individual needs, tailoring resources to students' specific levels and requirements. Kate is known for giving extensive practical feedback, aimed directly at raising the grade level for each student.

Kate is trained to teach students whose first language is not English, as well as native speakers, and is accustomed to teaching a wide variety of abilities. She has worked all over the world, in Asia and in Europe, as well as in the UK. Kate's proactive and energetic teaching style motivates and inspires students to achieve their utmost potential.

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Taiwo O, online A Level Maths, Further Maths & Physics Tutor
Taiwo O
$50 USD/hr
Academic

12

I’m Taiwo, a tutor with ten years of teaching and tutoring experience and a B.Sc. in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University. I teach A-level, GCSE and IGCSE students, bringing together subject knowledge, classroom experience and a patient, practical approach to learning.

My subjects include Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English Language and Computer Science. My current GCSE teaching includes AQA Mathematics at Foundation and Higher levels and AQA English Language. My engineering background strengthens my teaching of Mathematics and Physics, while my professional software development experience allows me to connect computing concepts with practical applications.

I plan lessons around what each student needs. Some need to rebuild foundations; others understand the content but struggle to apply it in unfamiliar exam questions. I identify those gaps, explain ideas clearly and guide students towards solving problems independently. In Mathematics, that means understanding why a method works and recognising when to use it. In Science, it means connecting concepts, calculations and experimental evidence. In English, it means moving beyond identifying techniques to developing thoughtful analysis supported by precise examples.

Students can expect structured lessons, personalised homework and detailed feedback. I use past papers and mark schemes to help them understand what questions demand, improve the clarity of their answers and develop effective revision habits. I track difficulties across lessons so that we revisit what needs attention rather than simply move through topics.

I currently work with international learners, including students in the UK and Hong Kong, and understand the importance of adapting explanations to different educational and language backgrounds. I want students to feel comfortable asking questions, willing to attempt challenging work and able to recognise their own progress. My aim is to build secure understanding, greater independence and confident exam preparation.

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Dominic C, online GCSE English Tutor
Dominic C
$75 USD/hr
Professional

34

My experience in tutoring started during my psychology studies, where I taught English as a Foreign Language. After completing an MSc in Performance Psychology, I worked as a sports psychologist and was invited to contribute as a consultant on national radio several times. I spent 2 years teaching English as a Second Language accross schools in Austria and Germany. I then gained a PGDE and went on to teach in both Scottish primary schools and international settings. I currently tutor English and Psychology online at A Level and GSCE level, bringing together strong academic standards with a warm, encouraging style.

My tutoring is rooted in a person-centred approach. In our initial session, we will identify your goals and develop a clear, achievable plan to work towards them. As learners have different strengths and preferences, I tailor each lesson to suit individual learning styles, incorporating structured explanations, active learning, and constructive feedback. I have extensive experience supporting students with additional support needs and adapt the pace, resources, and teaching strategies to ensure all learners feel supported, confident, and prepared for exams.

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Dexter H, online A Level English Tutor
Dexter H
$75 USD/hr
Professional

22

Dexter H is an English specialist, examiner and international teacher with over a decade of experience preparing students for IB, Cambridge IGCSE and Pearson A-level English qualifications. He has worked with learners across Europe, Asia and Latin America, supporting students in developing the close analysis, essay writing and exam technique needed to succeed in demanding English courses.

Alongside his IB work, Dexter teaches Cambridge IGCSE English, Cambridge ESL and Pearson A-level English, bringing examiner training and assessment insight to each course. As a trained examiner for Cambridge IGCSE English/ESL and Pearson A-level English, he understands how assessment criteria are applied and helps students move beyond general commentary into precise, evidence-based analysis. His support covers unseen analysis, comparative writing, coursework, literary interpretation, language responses and examination technique.

Dexter’s students have consistently achieved strong results across international English qualifications, including a 100% pass rate in Cambridge and IELTS examinations. He supports students in improving predicted grades, strengthening coursework, refining analytical writing and developing the confidence needed to perform under timed examination conditions.

Dexter is an English Language A and Language B specialist, IB Examiner and Workshop Leader. He has marked official IB, IGCSE and A-Level assessments, trained teachers in the Diploma Programme and helped students approach the various assessments with confidence and clarity.

Beyond the classroom, Dexter has authored major sections of Kognity’s Language and Literature digital textbook and designed IB-aligned resources for Revision Village, two of the most widely used platforms supporting IB students around the world. His work has helped shape the learning experiences of thousands of students internationally.

Formerly Head of English at Colegio Suizo de México, Dexter brings together classroom expertise, examiner insight and curriculum leadership. Known for his structured, supportive and engaging approach, he turns complex assessment tasks into clear, practical strategies that students can apply with confidence. His aim is not only to help students achieve excellent academic results, but also to develop the independence, analytical skills and self-belief that will serve them far beyond the exam.

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Aster A, online A Level Further Maths, Pure Maths & Physics Tutor
Aster A
$75 USD/hr
Professional

48

Aster is an experienced international educator with a Bachelor's degree in Physics and several years of experience teaching and tutoring students across a range of international curricula, including Cambridge, Australian, and other globally recognised programs. She specialises in Physics, Mathematics, Science, English, and academic skills development, and has worked with students from primary school through to senior secondary levels.

Throughout her career, Aster has taught students from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds, including Australian students in online learning environments. Her experience extends beyond subject content to helping students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, exam techniques, academic writing, and independent learning skills. She is also experienced in supporting students with essay writing, research projects, and assessment preparation.

Aster's teaching approach focuses on making complex concepts clear, engaging, and accessible. She adapts lessons to each student's learning style and believes that strong understanding is built through curiosity, confidence, and active participation. Students and parents appreciate her patient, supportive, and encouraging manner, as well as her ability to explain challenging topics in a simple and relatable way.

With a strong background in science education and a passion for helping students achieve their academic goals, Aster is committed to helping every student build confidence, improve performance, and enjoy the learning process.

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Natasha W, online A Level Biblical Studies & English Tutor
Natasha W
$75 USD/hr
Professional

23

Natasha W is an experienced educator and academic coach with over 25 years in education, including 14 years at an IB World School. She holds a Master of Education in Teaching and Innovation and currently serves as an adjunct professor, where she supports college students in academic writing, critical thinking, and research-based assignments.

In her early years of learning under the British system, she attended a high school where A- level GSCE subjects were taught. Also as an adjunct professor, she helped students to achieve outstanding results in A-level GSCE. Natasha specializes in English, Literature, English as a Second Language, History, Biblical Studies and Religious Studies. She has worked with students from over 40 nationalities and is highly skilled in supporting multilingual learners to develop clarity, confidence, and precision in their communication. Her students consistently improve in essay structure, argument development, and overall academic performance.

In addition to her teaching experience, Natasha has worked with schools and organizations to strengthen communication and engagement across diverse teams, bringing a global and practical perspective to her work with students.

Natasha’s teaching style is structured, supportive, and empowering. She focuses on building independent thinkers by breaking down complex tasks, aligning work with IB assessment criteria, and gradually releasing responsibility to the student. She ensures that each session is purposeful, engaging, and tailored to help students achieve both academic success and long-term confidence

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Roger R, online GCSE Economics Tutor
Roger R
$50 USD/hr
Academic

47

Roger achieved 11 A*s at GCSE in the UK and is currently pursuing a degree in Economics at Columbia University and Sciences Po Paris. He tutors GCSE and iGCSE students, with a particular focus on Economics and related subjects. He is fluent in Italian, Spanish and French, and is comfortable working with students for whom English is not their first language. Roger is a rigorous and dedicated tutor who aims to make lessons engaging while building students’ confidence and interest in the subject.

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Sana R, online A Level Business & English Tutor
Sana R
$50 USD/hr
Academic

10

T. Sana is an experienced English and Humanities tutor specializing in supporting IGCSE, GCSE and A-Level students, as well as ESL/EFL learners from diverse international backgrounds, including students from Malaysia, Singapore, India, China, Japan, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.

She provides academic support in English Language, English Literature, Business Studies, Sociology and Humanities, helping students develop the subject knowledge, analytical skills and exam techniques required for secondary and advanced-level study.

For IGCSE and GCSE learners, T. Sana focuses on reading comprehension, language analysis, structured writing, vocabulary development, grammar, essay planning and effective examination responses. Students receive targeted practice designed to strengthen weaker areas and build confidence in approaching examination-style questions.

For A-Level students, lessons place greater emphasis on critical thinking, textual and contextual analysis, developing arguments, academic writing, evaluation skills and producing well-structured, evidence-based responses. Support can be adapted to the student's syllabus, examination board and individual learning objectives.

T. Sana also has experience supporting IB-style academic work, including essay writing and Extended Essay guidance, with particular attention to research, organization, clarity, critical analysis and academic expression.

Her background in research-based academic writing enables her to guide students in developing coherent arguments, selecting and organizing evidence, improving written expression and approaching extended academic responses systematically.

She is particularly committed to students who require additional time, repetition and structured support. Rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach, lessons are adapted to each learner's pace, current ability and academic goals. Customized lesson plans, targeted practice and engaging activities help students make steady and measurable progress.

T. Sana creates a positive and encouraging learning environment where students can strengthen their foundations, develop effective examination strategies and progressively build the confidence and independence needed for IGCSE, GCSE and A-Level examinations.

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Karim T, online A Level English Tutor
Karim T
$75 USD/hr
Professional

20

Karim T is an accomplished English Language and Literature educator, English as a Second Language (ESL) specialist, and communication professional with a distinguished academic record and extensive experience in international secondary education. His professional expertise is particularly focused on IGCSE, O-Level, and A-Level English Language and English as a Second Language, with a strong commitment to developing students’ linguistic accuracy, communication skills, academic writing, critical thinking, and confidence in using English effectively.

Karim earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Translation with a Minor in Communication from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), graduating Summa Cum Laude as the Valedictorian of his graduating class with a GPA of 3.72 (Excellent with Honors).

His academic excellence was established at an early stage. He graduated from Nefertari British International School under the IGCSE system with an outstanding 9 A*s, a result officially recognized by Egypt’s Central Coordination Office as equivalent to 100%, and graduated as the Valedictorian of his high school class. This achievement made Karim a two-time Valedictorian, having graduated first in both high school and university.

Professionally, Karim has developed substantial experience teaching English Language, English as a Second Language, and English Language & Literature within international secondary-school settings. His teaching experience encompasses students preparing for IGCSE and O-Level examinations, as well as advanced A-Level English Language study. He has worked extensively on developing students’ reading comprehension, writing proficiency, vocabulary, grammar, spoken communication, analytical skills, and ability to communicate effectively for both academic and real-world purposes.

Karim’s approach to IGCSE and O-Level English emphasizes building a secure foundation in language while developing the examination skills required for success. He supports students in mastering comprehension, directed writing, descriptive and narrative writing, summary skills, vocabulary, grammar, sentence construction, and effective written expression. Particular emphasis is placed on helping students understand how language choices influence meaning, tone, purpose, audience, and overall effectiveness.

At A-Level, Karim adopts a more sophisticated and analytical approach to English Language, guiding students toward advanced language analysis, discursive and argumentative writing, linguistic terminology, textual interpretation, and the ability to construct precise, coherent, and well-supported academic responses. He encourages students to move beyond simply identifying language features and instead develop the ability to explain how and why language choices create particular effects and meanings.

His experience also includes teaching within the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, where he taught English Language & Literature and Theory of Knowledge. This background has further strengthened his ability to cultivate higher-order thinking, academic writing, independent inquiry, and sophisticated communication skills. He has successfully guided graduating Diploma Programme cohorts through demanding academic requirements while maintaining a broader focus on intellectual development and university readiness.

As an English as a Second Language educator, Karim places particular importance on helping learners become confident, accurate, and independent users of English. His instruction combines explicit language development with meaningful communication, enabling students to strengthen their grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills while developing the confidence to use English in academic, professional, and everyday contexts.

Committed to continuous professional development, Karim has completed official International Baccalaureate Category 2 professional development workshops in Theory of Knowledge and English B, complementing his broader expertise in international English-language education.

Beyond teaching, Karim’s multidisciplinary background includes research and development, public speaking, strategic communication, and educational innovation. His academic training in translation and communication has given him a particularly strong understanding of language, audience, register, purpose, and effective communication—skills that directly inform his approach to English Language and ESL instruction.

Karim is driven by the belief that effective English education extends beyond examination preparation. His goal is to equip students with the language proficiency, analytical ability, academic confidence, and communication skills necessary to succeed in IGCSE, O-Level, and A-Level examinations while preparing them for higher education and an increasingly interconnected global environment.

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The tutors you see here are just a selection from our team of hundreds of tutors, please contact our Learning Advisors to discuss tutoring options

Why GCSE English as a Second Language needs the right tutor

What makes GCSE English as a Second Language hard

English as a Second Language tests four separate skills, and most students are noticeably weaker in one or two of them. A student who reads well can still lose heavily on listening, where each recording is heard only twice and the distractors are designed to catch partial understanding, or on writing, where marks depend on accurate grammar, a range of vocabulary and the right register as much as on ideas. Because the papers are untiered and cover every grade, the highest marks need control of language well beyond everyday conversation.

Other things that make it hard:

  • Listening questions that test attitude, opinion and implied meaning, not just facts
  • Writing to tight word limits in both informal and formal styles, with marks split between content and language
  • Summary and note-making tasks that must use the text's ideas in the student's own words
  • Speaking tests that require spontaneous, developed answers to unseen questions, not memorised scripts
  • Long reading and listening tasks completed under time pressure, including transferring answers on Cambridge Listening

How tutoring changes the outcome

Our English as a Second Language tutors work from your board's own past papers, mark schemes and examiners' reports, so practice matches the exact task types and marking criteria of your syllabus. Sessions target where English as a Second Language marks are actually lost:

  • listening distractors, practised with real past paper audio until students can hear the difference between the options
  • writing that answers the prompts but uses a narrow range of grammar and vocabulary, or the wrong register
  • summary and note-making answers that copy from the text instead of selecting and rephrasing
  • speaking answers that stay short, practised in mock tests until students can develop and extend their responses

What you'll learn in GCSE English as a Second Language tutoring

Core skills developed

Every English as a Second Language syllabus assesses reading, writing, listening and speaking, but the weighting differs by board. Edexcel International weights all four skills equally at 25%. On Cambridge, the count-in speaking syllabuses give 25% each to reading, writing, listening and speaking, while the speaking endorsement syllabuses weight reading and writing at 35% each and listening at 30%, with speaking graded separately. OxfordAQA gives 30% each to reading and writing and 20% each to listening and speaking. We use past papers skill by skill, so you can see which of the four is holding your grade back.

  • Reading for specific detail, opinion and implied meaning across a range of text types
  • Listening to monologues and conversations for facts, attitudes and connections between ideas
  • Writing informal and formal texts with clear organisation, accurate grammar and appropriate register
  • Summarising and making notes from a source in your own words
  • Speaking fluently and spontaneously, with control of vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation

How are students assessed

English as a Second Language is assessed entirely by exams and a speaking test, with no coursework. Only the international boards offer it: there is no UK GCSE in this subject. Cambridge and OxfordAQA examine everything in a single series, while Edexcel International is unitised, so each skill can be sat and resat in a different series before the grade is cashed in.

  • Reading and listening exercises: timed practice with real past papers and audio, reviewing every wrong answer against the mark scheme
  • Writing tasks: drafting to the word limit for each task type, then rewriting to raise the range and accuracy of the language
  • Speaking test: full mock tests in the board's format, building longer, more spontaneous answers

What GCSE English as a Second Language topics do we cover?

Four assessments, all taken in the same series in May/June or November, graded 9–1. Speaking counts towards the grade. An optional endorsement entry (9280E) is being withdrawn, with final entries in May/June 2027.

  • Paper 1: Writing (1 hour 15 minutes, 60 marks, 30%): four tasks of increasing challenge
  • Paper 2: Reading (1 hour 15 minutes, 60 marks, 30%): short answer and multiple choice questions
  • Paper 3: Listening (45 minutes, 40 marks, 20%)
  • Paper 4: Speaking (10 minutes plus preparation, 40 marks, 20%): a Photocard and a General conversation

Themes

  • Theme one: Identity and culture
  • Theme two: Local, national, international and global areas of interest
  • Theme three: Current and future study and employment

OxfordAQA builds every paper around three named themes, so topic vocabulary studied in class feeds directly into all four assessments. Writing and reading carry 60% between them, and the final writing task lets students draw on one or more themes at length. Sessions on this board build vocabulary theme by theme and practise the extended final writing task and the general conversation.

Four externally assessed units, each worth 25% and 50 marks, available in June and November. The qualification is unitised: units can be taken over one or more series, or all together at the end of the course, and resat before a cash-in code is used to obtain the overall grade. It is single tier, graded 9–1, and aligned to CEFR levels A2 to B2. 4XES2 replaced the linear English as a Second Language specification (4ES1), whose last assessment was in May/June 2025.

  • Unit 1: Reading (1 hour)
  • Unit 2: Listening (45 minutes)
  • Unit 3: Writing (1 hour 15 minutes): informal writing, semi-formal writing and summary writing
  • Unit 4: Speaking (22–23 minutes): a role play, a topic talk and a picture-based conversation

Topics

  • Topic 1: Myself and Others
  • Topic 2: Travel and Tourism
  • Topic 3: Education
  • Topic 4: Employment
  • Topic 5: Global Issues (one of The Environment, Equality or The Media)

Pearson's speaking unit counts for a full quarter of the grade, and the topic talk must be on a Global Issues subtopic the student researches and chooses themselves. From summer 2026 Pearson maps Reading and Listening up to CEFR C1 at grade 9, with no change to question types. Sessions on this board use the unit structure to target the weakest skill first and prepare the topic talk and follow-up discussion in depth.

The same three components are used across four syllabus codes. All candidates take Reading and Writing, Listening and Speaking; what changes is whether speaking counts towards the grade and which grading scale is used. Exams run in June and November, with a March series in India for 0510. The 0991 and 0993 syllabuses are not available in all regions.

  • 0510 (Speaking Endorsement): graded A* to G; Reading and Writing 70%, Listening 30%, Speaking graded separately 1 to 5
  • 0511 (Count-in Speaking): graded A* to G; Reading and Writing 50%, Listening 25%, Speaking 25%
  • 0991 (Count-in Speaking): graded 9–1, weighted as 0511
  • 0993 (Speaking Endorsement): graded 9–1, weighted as 0510, with Speaking reported as Pass, Merit or Distinction

Components

  • Component 1: Reading and Writing (2 hours, 60 marks): four reading exercises and two writing exercises of 120–160 words, one informal email and one more formal piece
  • Component 2: Listening (about 50 minutes, 40 marks): five exercises of multiple-choice questions
  • Component 3: Speaking (about 10–15 minutes, 40 marks): an interview, a short talk and a discussion

Cambridge's papers are untiered, and the Listening paper is entirely multiple choice, with answers transferred to a separate answer sheet at the end. The choice between count-in and endorsement codes matters: on 0511 and 0991 a strong speaker can lift the overall grade, while on 0510 and 0993 the written papers decide it alone. Sessions on this board confirm which code you are entered for and weight practice towards the components that carry your grade.

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FAQs

We have answers to your most frequently asked questions. Anything not answered here, please reach out to our team.

Can I sit IGCSE English as a Second Language as a private candidate?

Yes. Private candidates enter through an exam centre that accepts them, such as a school or a British Council office, rather than directly with the exam board: you register with the centre, pay its fees and sit the exams there. The main thing to check is the speaking test, which has to be conducted by the centre, so make sure your centre can run it for the board and syllabus you choose. On Cambridge, the 0510 and 0993 syllabuses report speaking separately, while 0511 and 0991 count it towards the grade. See the private candidate guidance from Pearson, Cambridge and the British Council.

How much does IGCSE English as a Second Language tutoring cost?

IGCSE English as a Second Language tutoring with an academic tutor costs from $50 USD (£38) per hour, and packages save 5–15%, which suits regular conversation and writing practice through the course, with extra sessions before the speaking test. Pay as you go is invoiced after each lesson, with no lock-in contracts. Professional tutors (qualified teachers and examiners) cost from $75 USD (£56) per hour. See pricing.

Late cancellations and no-shows are charged at half the lesson fee. That applies if you cancel less than one hour before the start time, or don't turn up. You can still change a session time whenever you need to, as long as you give your tutor notice.

Who are your IGCSE English as a Second Language tutors?

Our academic tutors are high-achieving graduates and undergraduates who scored in the top band in English as a Second Language themselves, and our professional tutors are qualified teachers or examiners with 5+ years' experience. We accept only the top 5% of applicants. You are matched to a tutor who knows your board, so they can run mock speaking tests in your board's format and mark your writing against its assessment criteria. Read more about our GCSE tutors and how we select tutors.

How does IGCSE English as a Second Language tutoring work?

Lessons are one-to-one and online, with a tutor matched to IGCSE English as a Second Language, your exam board and your target grade. Each session works on your weakest areas using past paper questions from your own board, whether that is Edexcel International GCSE 4XES2, Cambridge IGCSE or OxfordAQA. For English as a Second Language that usually means timed reading and listening practice with real past papers, writing tasks drafted and rewritten to raise accuracy and range, and full mock speaking tests in your board's format. See how it works or start with the student application.

Is IGCSE English as a Second Language hard?

It depends mostly on your starting level. Students who already use English every day at school usually find reading and listening manageable, but lose marks in writing through grammar slips and a narrow range of vocabulary. Listening at natural speed, writing to the word limit for each task type, and giving longer, spontaneous answers in the speaking test are the other common difficulties. Our online IGCSE tutoring focuses on exactly those areas.

How hard is it to get a grade 9 in IGCSE English as a Second Language?

In June 2026, 9.4% of Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language candidates worldwide achieved an A*, and 71.3% achieved a C or above (Cambridge). Pearson has said that from summer 2026, grade 9 on its 4XES2 Reading and Listening units maps to CEFR level C1 for the highest-achieving candidates (Pearson). A top grade needs accurate grammar and a wide vocabulary in writing, and confident, extended answers in the speaking test.

What are the grade boundaries for IGCSE English as a Second Language?

Grade boundaries are set after each exam series and change every year, so older figures are only a guide. In June 2026, Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language 0510 set its A* threshold at 141 to 143 out of 150 (94–95%), depending on the paper variant, with grade C at 111 to 119 (74–79%). Those thresholds are much higher than in most subjects, so accuracy on every question matters. Edexcel International 4XES2 is unitised, so its grade is built from the results of each unit. Source: Cambridge.

Does IGCSE English as a Second Language have coursework, practicals or a speaking exam?

There is no coursework, but every board includes a speaking test. On Edexcel International GCSE it counts for 25%, conducted by the school and marked by Pearson, and on OxfordAQA it counts for 20%. On Cambridge IGCSE it depends on the syllabus your school enters: on 0511 and 0991 speaking counts for 25%, while on 0510 and 0993 it is reported separately as an endorsement and does not affect the main grade. See the Edexcel International specification.

How is IGCSE English as a Second Language assessed?

There is no UK GCSE in English as a Second Language; it is offered only by the international boards. Edexcel International GCSE 4XES2 is unitised, with Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking units worth 25% each, which can be sat and resat in different series before the grade is awarded. Cambridge IGCSE sets a 2-hour Reading and Writing paper, a Listening paper and a Speaking test, and OxfordAQA sets writing, reading, listening and speaking papers in one series. See the Edexcel International specification.

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