Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language 0510/0511
IGCSE ESL Writing Resources
These writing resources begin with the exam structure so students can see exactly what Paper 1 requires before they move into model answers, planning and useful language.
Exam overview
- Exercise 5: Informal emailWrite to a friend in a natural, friendly style. Answers are 120-160 words and worth 15 marks.
- Exercise 6: Article, report, review or essayWrite a more formal or semi-formal response in the correct format. Answers are 120-160 words and worth 15 marks.
- Audience and purposeStudents should match their tone and ideas to the task and the reader.
- OrganisationA clear opening, developed paragraphs and a tidy ending help the answer flow.
Skills practiced
- Task and audienceStudents need to understand who they are writing for and why.
- Content pointsStrong answers cover the required ideas clearly and relevantly.
- Tone and registerWriting should sound appropriately friendly, formal or neutral for the task.
- Language rangeAccurate and varied language helps students communicate more precisely.
Common challenges
- Missing one or more content points.
- Writing in the wrong tone.
- Adding ideas that do not answer the task.
- Weak paragraphing or underdeveloped ideas.
- Memorised phrases that do not fit the context.
Strategy tips
Start with the exam task, identify the audience and purpose, then look at how the model answer handles tone, paragraphing and development. Students can then plan their own response before writing a full answer.
Exercise 5: Informal Email
Ready-to-use informal email models for Paper 1 Exercise 5, grouped by topic.
Going to an Outdoor Concert
Arts, Music and Entertainment
Attending a Lantern Festival
Culture and Traditions
Trying a New Study App
Digital Life and Technology
Joining a School Club
Education and School Life
Taking Part in a Beach Clean-Up
Environment and Conservation
Organising a Family Celebration
Family and Relationships
Trying a New Cafe
Food and Eating Habits
Attending a Careers Workshop
Future Plans and Ambitions
Helping at a School Charity Event
Global Issues
A New Fitness Class
Health and Wellbeing
Changes in Your Neighbourhood
Home and Local Area
Changing Your Morning Routine
Lifestyle and Daily Routines
Recording a School Podcast
Media and Communication
Meeting an Inspiring Person
People and Achievement
Visiting a New Public Library
Public Places and Services
Taking Part in a School Safety Drill
Safety and Rules
Visiting a Robotics Exhibition
Science and Innovation
Visiting a New Shopping Mall
Shopping and Consumer Life
Trying Indoor Climbing
Sports and Leisure
Organising a Study-and-Movie Night
Teenage Life
Going on a Wildlife Walk
The Natural World
A Delayed Journey
Transport and Travel
Helping at a Careers Event
Work and Careers
Exercise 6: Report Writing
Report writing resources for Paper 1 Exercise 6, with models, planning and success criteria.
School Arts Evening
Arts, Music and Entertainment
International Culture Day
Culture and Traditions
Student Podcast Project
Digital Life and Technology
Science Museum Trip
Education and School Life
Recycling Campaign
Environment and Conservation
Family Learning Evening
Family and Relationships
School Farmers’ Market
Food and Eating Habits
Careers Fair
Future Plans and Ambitions
Charity Week
Global Issues
Mental Health Awareness Week
Health and Wellbeing
Community Garden Project
Home and Local Area
Homework Free Evening Trial
Lifestyle and Daily Routines
School News Blog
Media and Communication
Student Mentoring Scheme
People and Achievement
New Library Space
Public Places and Services
Road Safety Campaign
Safety and Rules
Robotics Workshop
Science and Innovation
Second-Hand Uniform Sale
Shopping and Consumer Life
After-School Sports Club Trial
Sports and Leisure
Student Common Room Trial
Teenage Life
School Nature Trail
The Natural World
Cycle to School Week
Transport and Travel
Work Experience Preparation Day
Work and Careers
Exercise 6: Report Planning Banks
A bank of exam-style report tasks with partially supported planning.
Report Planning Bank
Arts, Music and Entertainment
Report Planning Bank
Culture and Traditions
Report Planning Bank
Digital Life and Technology
Report Planning Bank
Education and School Life
Report Planning Bank
Environment and Conservation
Report Planning Bank
Family and Relationships
Report Planning Bank
Food and Eating Habits
Report Planning Bank
Future Plans and Ambitions
Report Planning Bank
Global Issues
Report Planning Bank
Health and Wellbeing
Report Planning Bank
Home and Local Area
Report Planning Bank
Lifestyle and Daily Routines
Report Planning Bank
Media and Communication
Report Planning Bank
People and Achievement
Report Planning Bank
Public Places and Services
Report Planning Bank
Safety and Rules
Report Planning Bank
Science and Innovation
Report Planning Bank
Shopping and Consumer Life
Report Planning Bank
Sports and Leisure
Report Planning Bank
Teenage Life
Report Planning Bank
The Natural World
Report Planning Bank
Transport and Travel
Report Planning Bank
Work and Careers
Exercise 6: Article Writing
Step-by-step article writing resources with exam-style tasks, model texts, language analysis, planning and success criteria.
Live Arts Events
Arts, Music and Entertainment
Cultural Festivals
Culture and Traditions
AI Tools for Schoolwork
Digital Life and Technology
Less Homework
Education and School Life
Paper-Free Schools
Environment and Conservation
Family Meals
Family and Relationships
Cooking Lessons
Food and Eating Habits
Future Planning
Future Plans and Ambitions
Young People Taking Action
Global Issues
Later School Starts
Health and Wellbeing
Improving the Local Area
Home and Local Area
Screen-Free Evenings
Lifestyle and Daily Routines
Online News
Media and Communication
Celebrating Effort
People and Achievement
Modern Libraries
Public Places and Services
Phone Rules
Safety and Rules
Science Clubs
Science and Innovation
Buying Fewer Clothes
Shopping and Consumer Life
Non-Competitive Sports
Sports and Leisure
Student Voice
Teenage Life
Outdoor Learning
The Natural World
Cycling to School
Transport and Travel
Work Experience
Work and Careers
Exercise 6: Review Writing
Step-by-step review writing resources with exam-style tasks, model texts, language analysis, planning and success criteria.
School Film Night
Arts, Music and Entertainment
International Food Festival
Culture and Traditions
Revision App
Digital Life and Technology
Science Museum Trip
Education and School Life
Eco Workshop
Environment and Conservation
Family Learning Morning
Family and Relationships
Healthy Snack Bar
Food and Eating Habits
Careers Podcast
Future Plans and Ambitions
Charity Concert
Global Issues
Wellbeing Workshop
Health and Wellbeing
Community Garden
Home and Local Area
Morning Fitness Club
Lifestyle and Daily Routines
Student News Blog
Media and Communication
Student Achievement Exhibition
People and Achievement
New Library Space
Public Places and Services
Online Safety Workshop
Safety and Rules
Robotics Demonstration
Science and Innovation
Second-Hand Uniform Shop
Shopping and Consumer Life
New Sports Centre
Sports and Leisure
Student Common Room
Teenage Life
Nature Trail
The Natural World
Cycle-to-School Route
Transport and Travel
Work Experience Website
Work and Careers
Exercise 6: Review Planning Banks
A bank of exam-style review tasks with partially supported planning.
Review Planning Bank
Arts, Music and Entertainment
Review Planning Bank
Culture and Traditions
Review Planning Bank
Digital Life and Technology
Review Planning Bank
Education and School Life
Review Planning Bank
Environment and Conservation
Review Planning Bank
Family and Relationships
Review Planning Bank
Food and Eating Habits
Review Planning Bank
Future Plans and Ambitions
Review Planning Bank
Global Issues
Review Planning Bank
Health and Wellbeing
Review Planning Bank
Home and Local Area
Review Planning Bank
Lifestyle and Daily Routines
Review Planning Bank
Media and Communication
Review Planning Bank
People and Achievement
Review Planning Bank
Public Places and Services
Review Planning Bank
Safety and Rules
Review Planning Bank
Science and Innovation
Review Planning Bank
Shopping and Consumer Life
Review Planning Bank
Sports and Leisure
Review Planning Bank
Teenage Life
Review Planning Bank
The Natural World
Review Planning Bank
Transport and Travel
Review Planning Bank
Work and Careers