A complete guide to Cambridge IGCSE English Literature
Cambridge IGCSE Literature in English (specification 0475) is the international equivalent of GCSE English Literature, run by Cambridge Assessment International Education. It is sat by students at international schools worldwide and by many UK independent schools. The course is structured around set texts in poetry, prose, and drama, with options for an unseen paper or a coursework route at some centres.
This guide walks through everything you need to know to sit the exam with confidence: How the papers are structured, the set text options, how the unseen sections work, and the revision techniques that work best for Cambridge IGCSE literature.
Three text genres
Poetry, prose, and drama. Schools choose set texts from a published Cambridge anthology and reading list.
Multiple paper options
Schools choose between Paper 1 (poetry and prose), Paper 2 (drama), Paper 3 (drama – open text), Paper 4 (unseen) or Paper 5 (coursework).
Recognised worldwide
Accepted by universities in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and across Europe and Asia as equivalent to UK GCSE.
How Cambridge IGCSE Literature in English is assessed
Cambridge IGCSE Literature in English is fully linear in its standard route. Exam papers are sat in May/June or October/November. There is no tiering – all students sit the same papers and can in principle access any grade.
Schools choose a combination of papers, typically Paper 1 plus Paper 2 (or 3) plus Paper 4 (or coursework Paper 5). The exact combination depends on the school. This guide covers the most common combination at international schools: Paper 1, Paper 2 or 3, and Paper 4 unseen.
| Paper | Content | Length | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Poetry and prose – two essay questions, closed book | 1h 30m | 50 |
| Paper 2 | Drama – two essay questions, closed book | 1h 30m | 50 |
| Paper 3 | Drama – open text | 45 min | 25 |
| Paper 4 | Unseen – one question on either poetry or prose | 1h 15m | 25 |
| Paper 5 | Coursework – portfolio assessed by the school | n/a | 25 |
Not tiered Cambridge IGCSE Literature in English is not split into Core and Extended. All students sit the same papers and any grade A* to G is in reach. Your school decides the combination of papers based on their teaching plan.
Paper 1: Poetry and prose
Paper 1 is split into two sections: Poetry and prose. Students answer one question from each section, giving two essays in total. The paper is closed book, so quotes must be memorised.
For each text, students can usually choose between a passage-based question (focused on a printed extract) or a general question on the whole text. The passage-based option is often easier to structure because the extract gives anchor points for analysis.
Paper 2: Drama (closed book)
Paper 2 covers two drama texts. Students answer one question on each, giving two essays. As with Paper 1, students can usually choose between a passage-based and a general question for each text. The paper is closed book.
Paper 4: Unseen analysis
Paper 4 is an unseen paper. Students answer one question, choosing either an unseen poem or an unseen prose extract. The focus is on how the writer uses language, structure, and form to create meaning and effect.
Most candidates find this the most unpredictable paper. Wide reading and lots of timed practice are the antidote.
Exam tip across all papers Cambridge examiner reports consistently flag underdeveloped analysis as the single biggest reason students drop marks. Push every quote through three layers: What it says, what it does (the technique), and how it links to the question.
Set texts and choosing what to revise
Cambridge publishes a set text list every two years that schools choose from. Your school will have selected specific poets, novels, and plays. Revise only the texts your school has taught – the syllabus is text-specific.
What you need for each text
- Plot: Clear knowledge of the events and structure, scene by scene or chapter by chapter
- Characters: Key traits, development arcs, and relationships
- Themes: Three to five main themes with how each is developed
- Quotes: Ten to fifteen short, memorised quotes per text
- Context: Historical, social, biographical background relevant to the text
- Language: Key techniques the writer uses repeatedly
- Structure: How the text is organised and why it matters
Where students lose marks The most common reasons students lose marks are giving plot summary instead of analysis, and forgetting to link back to the question in every paragraph. Train yourself to start every paragraph by addressing the question word directly.
Grading
Cambridge IGCSE Literature in English is graded A* to G. There is no tiering. All students sit the same papers and any grade is in reach.
Grade boundaries shift every series and are published by Cambridge on results day each August (for June) and January (for November). Boundaries for an A* tend to sit around 80–85% of the total marks across all papers, although this varies year to year.
Want to see the latest boundaries? Cambridge publishes full grade threshold tables on the CAIE website for both the June and November series. Search for "Cambridge IGCSE Literature in English 0475 grade thresholds" plus the year and series.
5 tips for Cambridge IGCSE Literature in English revision
Literature rewards precise quote knowledge, analytical depth, and clear structure. The students who get A* are not the ones who have read the most criticism – they are the ones who can deploy quotes precisely and analyse them three or four layers deep.
1. Build a quote bank for every text
For each set text, build a list of ten to fifteen short, versatile quotes that cover the main themes and characters. Memorise them word for word. Cambridge is mostly closed book, so quote recall matters more than on Edexcel International.
2. Drill the passage-based question type
Passage-based questions give you an extract to anchor your analysis. Practise zooming into a printed extract, picking three or four key features, and then zooming out to the whole text. This skill carries across every paper.
3. Drill unseen analysis weekly
Pick one unseen poem or prose extract a week, give yourself a strict time limit, and write a full response. Speed and confidence come with reps. The unseen is the most marks-per-minute opportunity for students who have practised.
4. Learn the context for each text
Cambridge rewards integrated context. Not standalone facts but context woven into your analysis. Know the historical, social, and biographical background of each text and how it affects meaning. Drop in a single well-placed context line, not a paragraph.
5. Use past papers as a diagnostic, not just practice
Mark your past papers honestly against the published mark scheme. Write down which assessment objectives you are weakest on. Target the weakest two and revise those texts more deeply before moving on.
