Read the assessment overview and practice questions
Assessment Overview
Cambridge IGCSE Chinese as a Second Language 0523. Examinations 2028 and 2029. Understand components, timings, weightings and assessed skills.
Your assessment structure
Take all three components. Reading and Writing together contribute 60%; Listening and Speaking each contribute 20%.
Raw marks are points available; weighting is the contribution to the qualification.
Paper 1 — Reading and Writing
2 hours; 60 raw marks; 60%. Five exercises involving reading and writing, including information transfer, short answers, multiple matching, functional and extended writing; externally assessed.
Paper 2 — Listening
Approximately 35–45 minutes; 30 raw marks; 20%. Four exercises using short answers, gap filling, information correction and multiple choice; externally assessed.
Component 3 — Speaking
Approximately 10–13 minutes; 60 raw marks; 20%. A 2–3 minute presentation, discussion and conversation; internally assessed and externally moderated.
Assessment objectives
AO1 — Reading: 30%
AO2 — Writing: 30%
Assessment objectives
AO3 — Listening: 20%
AO4 — Speaking: 20%
Prepare for the assessment
Listening and speaking use Mandarin. Reading and writing materials use traditional and simplified characters; answers may use either. Practise the presentation as well as spontaneous discussion and conversation.
Practise the appropriate response formats and use matching specimen/past papers and mark schemes.
Quiz 1 — Recognise the assessment
What will you do in Paper 1 — Reading and Writing?
A. Four exercises using short answers, gap filling, information correction and multiple choice; externally assessed.
B. Five exercises involving reading and writing, including information transfer, short answers, multiple matching, functional and extended writing; externally assessed.
C. Complete an oral interview instead of the written tasks.
Answer and explanation
B Yes. Paper 1 requires you to: five exercises involving reading and writing, including information transfer, short answers, multiple matching, functional and extended writing; externally assessed.
Quiz 2 — Check a common misconception
Speaking is reported only as a separate endorsement and has no share of the qualification grade.
Answer and explanation
False Correct. For Chinese 0523, Speaking contributes 20% to the qualification grade.
Quiz 3 — Read marks and weightings
Paper 1 has ____ raw marks and contributes ____% to the qualification.
Answer and explanation
60; 60. Correct. Paper 1 has 60 raw marks and a qualification weighting of 60%.
Quiz 4 — Match the assessed skills
– Reading → ____.
– Writing → ____.
– Listening → ____.
Answer and explanation
AO1: Reading; AO2: Writing; AO3: Listening. These are the assessment objectives used to describe what your responses must demonstrate.
Quiz 5 — Check the complete entry
Select every component identifier required for this qualification. P means Paper; C means Component. P1 C2 P4 P2 C3 P3 P5 P6 C1 C4
Answer and explanation
P1, P2, C3. Correct. Take all three components. Reading and Writing together contribute 60%; Listening and Speaking each contribute 20%.
Optional orientation practice, not Cambridge grades.