IGCSE English
Second Language,
to A*.
Cambridge 0510 / 0991 coaching for ESL students — the version taken by most Vietnamese international school students. Reading, writing, listening and speaking tuned to grade A*/A standards.
The Cambridge ESL qualification. Four-skill coaching — reading, writing, listening and speaking — designed for non-native speakers targeting A*/A.
ESL grades move fastest of any IGCSE.
IGCSE English Second Language (0510) is the most common English IGCSE sat in Vietnam. It is designed for students who do not speak English as a first language but have strong functional English — and it is the single subject where focused coaching produces the fastest measurable grade gains on the entire IGCSE timetable.
Why grades move fast
Unlike 0500, ESL has a defined vocabulary range, a predictable paper structure and a mark scheme that rewards consistency over flair. Students who master the exam format typically gain 2+ grade bands in 8–12 weeks. This is the subject we can most confidently promise real results on.
How we teach it
Every Times Edu 0510 student covers all four skills every week — reading, writing, listening and speaking — with a dedicated drill on whichever is weakest. By week 6 most students are writing Paper 2 Part 3 responses to a solid A standard.
The full content we cover in 1:1 lessons.
Every Times Edu English Second Language mentor maps lessons directly to the official syllabus objectives below — so nothing on the exam is a surprise.
Reading Part 1
Multiple-choice and short-answer questions on short texts.
Reading Part 2
Longer passages with inference and vocabulary-in-context questions.
Reading Part 3
Summary writing — condensing information from a source text.
Writing Part 1
Form filling and note making from a prompt.
Writing Part 2
Short extended response — email, note or article.
Writing Part 3
Long extended response to a topic with clear structure and register.
Listening
Multiple-choice, gap-fill and short-answer listening tasks.
Speaking
Prompt-based discussion with the examiner — 10–15 minutes total.
The papers your child will actually sit.
Knowing exactly what each paper demands — and how it is marked — is half the battle. Here is the full breakdown.
Reading
Reading comprehension and summary across multiple question types.
Writing
Form filling plus short and long written responses.
Listening
Multiple-choice and short-answer listening tasks. Recorded material.
Speaking
Prompt-based individual speaking test with examiner.
Why even strong students lose grades here.
These are the three traps we see most often in diagnostic sessions with new IGCSE English Second Language students — and they are all fixable.
Weak Part 3 structure
Writing Part 3 is where most students lose their A*. A clear five-paragraph structure adds 4–6 marks instantly. We drill this in week 1.
Listening anxiety
Students who panic at the first unfamiliar word miss the next three. We teach a "skip-and-return" listening protocol that prevents this completely.
Repetitive vocabulary
ESL mark schemes reward range. Students who over-use the same transition words cap out at B. We build a usable vocabulary toolkit from week 2.
From diagnostic to final grade.
I started at grade 5 in ESL. My Times Edu mentor rebuilt my writing paragraph by paragraph and I finished with an A*. It was the single biggest grade jump of any of my subjects.
The questions we always get about English Second Language.
Have a specific question about your child's situation? Book a free 60-minute diagnostic and our specialist will answer every one.
Is ESL 0510 easier than First Language 0500?
Yes — ESL has a narrower vocabulary range and a more predictable paper structure, which makes it much more coachable. If your child's target is simply "an A/A* English grade on the IGCSE portfolio", 0510 is usually the right choice. If they need English for humanities-heavy university applications (especially UK English Literature), 0500 carries more weight.
Can you help with the speaking test?
Yes. The speaking exam is often the biggest source of anxiety for ESL candidates, and most classroom teaching does not drill it enough. We run full mock speaking tests with our examiner-trained coaches and rebuild confidence in 4–6 sessions.
How quickly can we see results?
This is the fastest-moving subject on the IGCSE board. Most students gain at least one full grade band in 6 weeks of consistent coaching, and 2 bands in 10–12 weeks.
Do you also prepare students for IELTS alongside IGCSE ESL?
Yes — we have a dedicated IELTS programme and many students combine IGCSE 0510 preparation with IELTS Academic prep under one roadmap. The skill overlap is significant.
Ready to turn IGCSE English Second Language into an A*?
Your child's free 60-minute English Second Language diagnostic includes a full topic-by-topic gap analysis, a realistic grade prediction and a personalised roadmap to final exams. Worth $60 — free for the first 50 families this intake.