Cambridge IGCSE Literature in English 0475 assesses poetry, prose and drama through written papers, with an unseen paper or coursework depending on the route your school chooses. Our Cambridge IGCSE Literature in English course follows the 0475 syllabus: poetry and prose set texts, drama, and unseen poetry or prose. Your tutor helps you build arguments, choose evidence and write analytical essays to time, with written feedback on each one. Lessons are live and one-to-one with a verified subject tutor, who sets past-paper questions, marks them against the mark scheme and plans revision for the May/June or October/November series. Suitable for international school students, home-schoolers and private candidates.
Reviewed by S. Chakraborty, M.Sc. and B.Ed., University of Calcutta; English Language and Literature specialistLast updated
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What you will learn
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Course structure
In short: this course gives one-to-one online tutoring for Cambridge IGCSE Literature in English (0475). A verified English tutor teaches close reading of poetry, prose and drama, passage-based and essay technique, unseen critical commentary and coursework, with feedback on your answers.
Cambridge IGCSE Literature in English (0475) is an international GCSE-level literature qualification in which you study set poetry, prose and drama and write critical responses to them. It is untiered and graded A* to G. Everyone takes Paper 1 Poetry and Prose; the other half depends on the route your school chooses.
This course prepares you one to one with a verified English tutor for your set texts and route.
Official specification: Cambridge IGCSE Literature in English 0475 syllabus (2027). Papers and content can change, so check the current specification on the board's website.
For wider support, see our English literature tutoring page, or the Edexcel IGCSE English Literature course if your school follows Pearson.
Cambridge IGCSE Literature in English (0475, 2027 syllabus) has a compulsory Paper 1 plus a choice of route. Set texts change by exam year, so check the list for your year. Exams run in June and November; the March series is for centres in India only.
| Component | Time | Marks | Weighting | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 Poetry and Prose (compulsory) | 1 hour 30 minutes | 50 | 50% | Closed book: one poetry and one prose question |
| Route 1: Paper 2 Drama | 1 hour 30 minutes | 50 | 50% | Two texts: one passage-based and one essay question |
| Route 2: Paper 3 Drama (Open Text) | 45 minutes | 25 | 25% | One question |
| Route 2: Paper 4 Unseen | 1 hour 15 minutes | 25 | 25% | One critical commentary |
| Route 3: Paper 3 + Component 5 Coursework | — | 25 | 25% | Two assignments of 600–1,200 words |
Set texts are chosen by your school from the syllabus list for your exam year. Poetry is usually a selection of 15 poems from the Cambridge anthology Songs of Ourselves, alongside a prose text such as a novel or short stories, and one or two plays, which may include Shakespeare. Tutors work on the exact texts your school has chosen.
For each text you choose either (a) a passage-based question or (b) an essay question, and in Papers 1 and 2 you must answer one of each type.
Paper 4 asks for a critical commentary on an unseen poem or prose extract, so tutors practise annotating quickly and writing a focused response in 1 hour 15 minutes. In Paper 3 you may take a clean copy of your play into the exam, so the focus is on precise reference and close analysis rather than memorising quotations.
Here is an illustrative structure for a passage-based question, the kind Paper 1 and Paper 2 use.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| Read the question | Identify the key focus, such as how the writer creates tension |
| Annotate the passage | Note language, structure and form |
| Plan three or four points | Each tied to the focus |
| Write | Embed short quotations and analyse their effects |
| Conclude | Answer the question directly |
Students most often lose marks through the habits below. Each is easy to fix with practice and feedback.
| Mark-loser | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Retelling the plot | Make an argument in every paragraph |
| Long quotations | Embed short quotations |
| Feature-spotting | Explain each method's effect |
| Ignoring the question focus | Keep returning to the key words |
| Unprepared for closed book | Learn short, flexible quotations |
Lessons are live and one to one on video. Your tutor works through your set texts, plans answers with you and marks timed essays against the Cambridge level descriptors. See also Cambridge IGCSE First Language English (0500) and our English Literature subject page.
An IGCSE English literature tutor online gives you live 1-to-1 lessons on your 0475 set texts and unseen writing, with marked essays and passage-based practice.
This course suits Cambridge IGCSE students at school and private candidates in any country.
Prerequisites: good English reading and basic essay writing.
Course length: 40 lessons of 30 minutes across 5 modules.
| Stage | Topics | What you can do afterwards |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poetry and prose | Analyse language, form and theme in set texts |
| 2 | Drama, closed book | Write essays from memory with quotations |
| 3 | Drama, open book | Answer passage-based questions |
| 4 | Unseen; coursework | Respond to unseen texts and plan coursework |
Where it leads: see our English literature tutoring page, or the Edexcel IGCSE English Literature course.
The syllabus code is 0475.
Paper 2 Drama, or Paper 3 Drama (Open Text) combined with either Paper 4 Unseen or Component 5 Coursework.
Only for Paper 3 Drama (Open Text), where a clean copy of the set text is allowed.
Cambridge International publishes recent Cambridge IGCSE Literature in English 0475 past papers, mark schemes and examiner reports on its website, and schools can access more through their secure portals. Use them under timed conditions, then mark your answers carefully with the mark scheme. Your tutor sets past-paper questions topic by topic, then full timed papers closer to your exam.
Usually a set of 15 poems from Songs of Ourselves, chosen from the syllabus for your exam year.
No. Everyone can achieve grades A* to G.
Yes. Tutors mark your essays against the Cambridge level descriptors and show you how to improve.
The price depends on the tutor and session length. You see the hourly rate before booking, with no subscription.
Yes. Lessons are online and scheduled around your time zone.
Paper 1 Poetry and Prose (1 hour 30 minutes, 50 marks, 50%) plus one route: Paper 2 Drama, Paper 3 with Paper 4 Unseen, or Paper 3 with coursework.
IGCSE Literature in English is very achievable for students who read their set texts closely and practise timed essays. It rewards personal, well-supported responses rather than memorised notes. Students usually lose marks by retelling the plot instead of analysing language and structure, so regular essay feedback from a tutor makes a clear difference.
A 1 hour 15 minute critical commentary on an unseen text, worth 25 marks (25%).
Two assignments of 600 to 1,200 words, worth 25%.
Yes. Set texts change by exam year, so check the list for your year.
Focus on the question, analyse language and structure with short quotations, and link to the whole text.
June and November, with a March series for centres in India only.
Yes. You can book one session to see if the tutor suits you, with no subscription.
Cambridge International publishes the IGCSE Literature in English 0475 syllabus on its website. It lists the topics, the skills you are assessed on and the structure of each paper, so use the current version for your exam year. Your tutor uses it to check that your revision covers exactly what you can be asked.
Yes. Tutors can set past-paper questions and go through them in the next session.
Yes. Lessons are online, so you can book times that suit your time zone.
Yes. You can learn with a 1-to-1 IGCSE English literature tutor online through live video lessons from any country. Your tutor works through your own set texts, teaches you how to analyse language and marks your essays against the assessment objectives.
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