Cambridge IGCSE English - Second Language (count-in oral) 0511 — 2025 May/June Paper 1 · Variant 2
0511/12/M/J/25 · 60 marks · 120 min
The question paper and its mark scheme, free to read here and free to download. This is Cambridge’s own paper, exactly as it was sat.
Question paper16 pages
















Mark scheme10 pages
Answers below. Sit the paper first if you are practising.










Paper as text
Question paper, page 1
[Turn over Cambridge IGCSE™ This document has 16 pages. Any blank pages are indicated. DC (SL) 355200 © UCLES 2025 ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE 0511/12 Paper 1 Reading and Writing May/June 2025 2 hours You must answer on the question paper. No additional materials are needed. INSTRUCTIONS ● Answer all questions. ● Use a black or dark blue pen. ● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page. ● Write your answer to each question in the space provided. ● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid. ● Do not write on any bar codes. ● Dictionaries are not allowed. INFORMATION ● The total mark for this paper is 60. ● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ]. * 2 9 7 0 4 8 6 5 0 9 * , , * 0000800000001 * ¬O. 4mHuOªE_|5W ¬}tS£©^b¦e:p ¥e¥U5u Uu E 5 uU
Question paper, page 2
2 0511/12/M/J/25 © UCLES 2025 Exercise 1 Read the article about butterflies, and then answer the questions. Butterflies Butterflies are probably the most easily recognisable of the million or so known species of insects, mainly because of their often‑colourful wings. As well as being beautiful, some butterflies have large spots on each wing, which look like the eyes of a bigger creature. These wing patterns can confuse animals that feed on butterflies. Scientists who study butterflies have so far identified around 17 500 types. These are split into six groups according to their physical characteristics and behaviour, with the largest two groups each containing around 5000 species. The Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing is the largest known butterfly, with wings that measure around 28 centimetres across. Although it faces few threats from other creatures due to its size, the destruction of its rainforest home and its appeal to collectors of rare insects have led to a rapid decline in numbers. It was once common, but currently appears as endangered on the Red List of Threatened Species – an international list that monitors the numbers of plant and animal species worldwide. By contrast, numbers of the world’s smallest butterfly, the Western Pygmy Blue, have grown in recent years. They are normally found in North and Central America, but populations have been discovered recently in Hawaii and Saudi Arabia. Scientists suggest that the main reason these butterflies survive in these areas is because they adapt well to different climates, rather than the fact that food is widely available. Despite their name, most of them are not blue at all, but brown: this plain colour makes them difficult to spot, which keeps them safe from hungry creatures hunting for a meal. Many butterflies fly from place to place in search of warmer weather and food, but the species called Painted Lady travels the furthest of all. Every year it makes its way from Mexico to Canada, which is a huge distance. Butterflies can fly quite fast – a useful skill when trying to avoid becoming food for birds – but even so, the journey takes several months. You might assume, therefore, that Painted Ladies have the longest life of any butterfly, but actually, many are born and die along the route. Painted Ladies, together with several other species, store toxic chemicals in their bodies as another defence. These make the butterflies taste unpleasant, so animals whose diet consists of insects avoid them. Butterflies mainly drink nectar, the sweet liquid produced by flowers. Some butterfly species, however, such as the Zebra Longwing and the Harvester, prefer some variety. As well as nectar, the former eat pollen, a powder produced by flowers, while the latter, strangely enough, consume mud, which appears to provide them with what they need to survive. * 0000800000002 * , , ĬÍĊ®Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊÞú·þ× ĬýĒóÒħċÿÕûí½ÎÏÝĂøĂ ĥõõÕõĕŵÅÅÕąąõĥÕÕÕ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Question paper, page 3
3 0511/12/M/J/25 © UCLES 2025 [Turn over Question 1 How many species of butterfly have been found up until now? … [1] Question 2 How are Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing butterflies described on the Red List of Threatened Species? … [1] Question 3 Why do scientists think Western Pygmy Blue butterflies are spreading to new locations? … [1] Question 4 What record does the Painted Lady hold among all the species of butterfly? … [1] Question 5 What is unusual about the diet of Harvester butterflies? … [1] Question 6 What features do different butterflies have that protect them from being eaten? Give three details. … … … [3] [Total: 8] * 0000800000003 * , , ĬÏĊ®Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊÞü·þ× ĬýđôÚġćïäýĄČĊçùĂĈĂ ĥõąĕµõåÕÕµąąąĕąĕÅÕ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Question paper, page 4
4 0511/12/M/J/25 © UCLES 2025 Exercise 2 Read the article about four young people (A–D) who write their own songs. Then answer Questions 7(a)–(i). Four young songwriters A Hideko I’ve written songs for about two years. I’m in a band with three other members, who write songs too, but we tend to be more creative when we work independently than when working together. At band practice, the person who’s written the song plays it to the others and teaches them the structure and notes. My songs almost always start with the lyrics – I’m not quite sure why – and then I think of a tune for both them and the guitars. I used to just wait for inspiration to arrive when I was younger, hoping that if I went for a walk in the fields near my home, ideas would arrive. This method was far from successful though, as I couldn’t use most of what came into my head, so now I have fixed times during the week when I write, which is a pretty unusual approach. B Dimitri My songs are quite varied, with some being fast and loud and others quiet and slow. What they all have in common, however, is that the idea for the song most probably formed while I was watching a wildlife documentary or seeing an astonishing landscape. This may seem a bit odd, but at least I know what to do if I suddenly can’t think of anything to write about. My songs always progress in the same way, with that first moment of creativity providing me with the beginnings of a tune, which I’ll then add words to and develop into something that sounds like a song. Following this, I’ll use my laptop to record myself singing the tune, so I don’t forget it. I find it exhausting, but once I’ve got my energy back, I’ll then have the courage to play the song to others, to see what they think. C Marie‑Laure I’ve been writing songs for a long time now. Musically, I’m into everything from jazz to rock to hip‑hop – and what I find amusing is to re‑record a piece I’ve written in each of the styles I love. I wish I could report that truly important things like the environment and nature are what give me the majority of my ideas for songs, but it’s more often something trivial, like a story I’ve read about in the local newspaper. The software I use for composing songs is absolutely wonderful and has meant that I’ve never needed to learn an instrument. Ideas tend to flow more readily if there’s a group of us working on a song together, so I can’t call many of my compositions truly my own. I hope I never get tired of creating songs, as it’s something I’d like to develop into a career. D Hassan My early attempts at writing songs were all produced using a special program on my parents’ computer. There was something unsatisfactory about that, though, so I decided to learn to play the piano and soon became good enough to create music on it. I’m not the most confident songwriter, so whenever some lyrics or a tune come into my head which I think might one day be used in a song, I always ask a few friends whether they think it’s worth continuing with them. I hate giving up the ones they don’t like, as experience has taught me that it might be several months before the next inspiration comes. Many musicians record their own songs in several different ways – I can’t say that’s ever been my thing, though, and I rarely get tired of hearing or playing my songs in the form they were originally written. * 0000800000004 * , , ĬÍĊ®Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊàú·Ā× ĬýđñÚīõú×ăċăìċÛĒðĂ ĥÅÕĕõõåõµĕõąÅĕåĕÕÕ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Question paper, page 5
5 0511/12/M/J/25 © UCLES 2025 [Turn over For each statement, write the correct letter, A, B, C or D, on the line. Question 7 Which person … (a) gets their greatest inspiration from nature? … [1] (b) has phases when ideas for songs disappear? … [1] (c) has included writing songs in their regular routine? … [1] (d) writes best when they’re with other people? … [1] (e) usually writes the words before the music? … [1] (f) makes several different versions of the same song? … [1] (g) feels tired after spending time working on a song? … [1] (h) shares their initial ideas before developing them? … [1] (i) creates their work entirely on a computer? … [1] [Total: 9] * 0000800000005 * , , ĬÏĊ®Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊàü·Ā× ĬýĒòÒĝùĊâõöÆðóÿĒĀĂ ĥÅåÕµĕÅĕåĥåąÅõÅÕÅÕ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Question paper, page 6
6 0511/12/M/J/25 © UCLES 2025 Exercise 3 Read the article about a type of bicycle called a recumbent bike, and then complete the notes. Recumbent bikes Bicycles are one of the most popular forms of transport, and have been for many years, but have you ever heard of, or seen, a recumbent bike? Recumbent bikes are extremely comfortable to ride compared to standard bicycles. Instead of sitting upright with legs going straight down, the rider lies back with their legs pointing forward to pedals which are in front of them. Traditional bicycles have changed little in their overall appearance for well over a hundred years; a bicycle from the 1920s looks surprisingly similar to one you might see around town today. You might think recumbent bikes are a recent development of a standard bicycle, but they were actually invented a long time ago. However, apart from a brief period of popularity in the 1930s, they have never really become a common sight on our roads and cycle paths. So why is this the case? Well, that’s harder to answer than you might imagine, as recumbent bikes have a lot to offer and there are only a handful of disadvantages associated with them. For example, they require relatively little effort to ride, thanks to the sitting position of the rider. The large seat that makes this possible, however, means that they weigh a lot, which does put some people off. Despite this, when riders that are new to cycling on recumbent bikes have got used to their machines, they find that they are very rapid, at least along flat roads. It’s a different story on slopes, though, because one thing riders of recumbent bikes notice is that it’s tricky to cycle up hills on them. This is because it’s impossible to stand up on the pedals, which you can do when riding a traditional bicycle. Experts have compared the physical effects on riders of using recumbent bikes and traditional bicycles. Their conclusions were that the levels of fitness that can be achieved by the rider are exactly the same for both. However, riding recumbent bikes puts less stress on the body, due to the position of the rider. Anyone considering purchasing a recumbent bike needs to bear a few things in mind. Firstly, recumbent bikes are not a practical choice for cycling through busy city streets. So if that is your aim, then it’s probably best to get a traditional model rather than a recumbent. The reason for this is that although they can be stopped very quickly, which is often a requirement for staying safe in urban environments, it’s difficult for motorists to spot recumbent bikes, even if they’re checking reasonably carefully for other road users. Whichever kind of bicycle you finally decide to buy, be sure to get plenty of advice, preferably from an experienced bicycle dealer, before making that final choice. * 0000800000006 * , , ĬÑĊ®Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊÝü¶þ× ĬýđòÍħđĄêòć¯ĐċкðĂ ĥĕąÕµµÅµĥąąąąõĥĕĕÕ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Question paper, page 7
7 0511/12/M/J/25 © UCLES 2025 [Turn over Imagine you are going to give a talk to your classmates about recumbent bikes. Use words from the article to help you write some notes. Make short notes under each heading. Question 8 The advantages of recumbent bikes: • … • … • … • … [4] Question 9 The disadvantages of recumbent bikes: • … • … • … [3] [Total: 7] * 0000800000007 * , , ĬÓĊ®Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊÝú¶þ× ĬýĒñÕġčôÏĈúúÌóººĀĂ ĥĕõĕõÕåÕõõÕąąĕąÕąÕ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Question paper, page 8
8 0511/12/ M/J/25 © UCLES 2025 Exercise 4 Read the article about a photographer called Ahmed Ibrahim, who takes pictures of life under the sea, and then answer the questions. Underwater photography by Ahmed Ibrahim I work as an underwater photographer, taking pictures of life beneath the surface of our oceans. I’ve always been fascinated by both photography and the underwater world, so it’s no surprise I’ve ended up doing what I do. Although my mother and father’s preference was painting rather than photography, my sister and I were always encouraged to discover our own individual ways of expressing ourselves, rather than simply sharing in their passion. I’m sure that if they’d pushed us in a particular career direction, I wouldn’t be as content with life as I am now. The first thing I became obsessed with was filmmaking, saving up for a whole year to buy a video camera! I was always rather dissatisfied with each film I made, though, and it took me a while to realise why. I’m the sort of person who likes everything to be perfect – if something isn’t absolutely right, I never feel at peace. In a 20‑minute video, however expertly it’s filmed, I would be sure to find something I wasn’t totally happy with. A photo, on the other hand, is taken in an instant, and if it’s no good, I just delete it and try again. So I changed to photography, even though I had to invest in a different camera. What started as a hobby is now a full‑time profession, which I’ve been lucky enough to do worldwide. Although it’s an incredibly difficult place to work, the region I return to most often is Antarctica. I’ve finally learned how to prevent my cameras freezing when it’s –30°C, but the wind can unexpectedly go from 10 to 100 kilometres per hour in just a few minutes, often accompanied by snow, something I’ll never get used to. Antarctica is vast, so I can spend most of a three‑week project looking for the whales I’ve come to photograph without seeing a single one. But a single high‑quality image of a whale underwater makes it all worthwhile. I also love hot places and my family and I have recently made our home on the Caribbean island of Bonaire after living in New York for many years. My wife’s in the same profession as me, and we’re both drawn to the fast pace of city life. Coming up with original proposals for potential photography work was actually quite hard, though, because we were so cut off from the natural world. Living on Bonaire has solved that problem, although it now takes longer to reach the locations we’re working in. So what do I hope to achieve through my photography? Well, it’s my belief that a large proportion of the world’s population is losing touch with nature, partly through increased numbers living in urban, rather than rural, environments. If my photos help to restore those links for just one person, then I’ve succeeded. After all, the more people there are who respect nature, the less damage they’ll do to it. There are some extraordinary creatures living in our seas that deserve to be known about and protected. I’d therefore be delighted if anyone reading this decided to become an underwater photographer too. I’ll save you some time looking for underwater photography courses by informing you that, apart from a few very basic qualifications, there are none. Taking pictures underwater is, by its very nature, far riskier than taking them on shore. So put your time initially into making sure you’re totally comfortable operating in challenging underwater environments; it’s your ability to manage there that’ll keep you out of danger and eventually allow you to take memorable photographs. * 0000800000008 * , , ĬÑĊ®Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊßü¶Ā× ĬýĒôÕīğõìĊññĪÏĜêøĂ ĥååĕµÕåõĕÕåąÅĕåÕĕÕ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Question paper, page 9
9 0511/12/M/J/25 © UCLES 2025 [Turn over For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C, and put a tick (✓) in the appropriate box. Question 10 What does Ahmed suggest about his childhood? A He is grateful for being raised in a creative household. B He tended to ignore any careers guidance he was given. C He felt inspired by the example his parents set. [1] Question 11 Ahmed changed from making films to taking photographs because photography A would be cheaper in the long term. B was less technically challenging. C suited his character better. [1] Question 12 Ahmed says the most demanding aspect of taking photos in Antarctica is A coping with sudden changes in weather. B keeping equipment in working order. C finding the intended subjects. [1] Question 13 Why did Ahmed and his family recently move from a city to a tropical island? A It provided easier access to filming opportunities. B It offered more inspiration for ideas for projects. C It matched better with their preferred lifestyle. [1] * 0000800000009 * , , ĬÓĊ®Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊßú¶Ā× ĬýđóÍĝģąÍð®çÀêĈĂ ĥåÕÕõµÅĕąåõąÅõÅĕąÕ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Question paper, page 10
10 0511/12/M/J/25 © UCLES 2025 Question 14 What does Ahmed say is the main goal of his photography? A to show people things they’ve never seen before B to rebuild contact between people and animals C to illustrate the harm people are doing to the planet [1] Question 15 Ahmed recommends that anyone wanting to become an underwater photographer should first A complete training with a qualified professional. B develop their photography skills on land. C ensure that they are experienced divers. [1] [Total: 6] * 0000800000010 * , , ĬÑĊ®Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊÞü¸þ× ĬýēôÐĩħģæāúÛĆÍðĒĀĂ ĥõÅÕµÕąõµĥåÅŵåÕåÕ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Question paper, page 11
11 0511/12/M/J/25 © UCLES 2025 [Turn over Please turn over for Exercise 5. * 0000800000011 * , , ĬÓĊ®Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊÞú¸þ× ĬýĔóØğīēÓ÷ćĎÒåìĒðĂ ĥõµĕõµĥĕåĕõÅÅÕÅĕµÕ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Question paper, page 12
12 0511/12/ M/J/25 © UCLES 2025 Exercise 5 Question 16 You recently went away for the weekend with your family. However, there was a problem during your weekend away. Write an email to a friend telling them about your weekend away. In your email you should: • say why you were going away • describe what the problem was • explain how the problem affected you and your family. Write about 120 to 160 words. You will receive up to 6 marks for the content of your email and up to 9 marks for the language used. * 0000800000012 * , , ĬÑĊ®Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊàü¸Ā× ĬýĔòØĥęĖèùĀĕôĉĊĂĈĂ ĥÅĥĕµµĥµÅµąÅąÕĥĕåÕ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Question paper, page 13
13 0511/12/M/J/25 © UCLES 2025 [Turn over … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … [Total: 15] * 0000800000013 * , , ĬÓĊ®Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊàú¸Ā× ĬýēñÐģĕĦÑÿñÔèñÎĂøĂ ĥÅĕÕõÕąÕÕÅÕÅąµąÕµÕ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Question paper, page 14
14 0511/12/M/J/25 © UCLES 2025 Exercise 6 Question 17 A new transport museum has just opened near where you live. You recently visited it with some friends and decide to post a review of your visit on the transport museum’s website. Here are some comments: I learned a lot about different forms of transport. Some of the interactive displays were not working. The guides could explain things in different languages. I was expecting the museum to be bigger. Now write a review of your visit to the new transport museum. The comments above may give you some ideas, and you should also use some ideas of your own. Write about 120 to 160 words. You will receive up to 6 marks for the content of your review and up to 9 marks for the language used. * 0000800000014 * , , ĬÍĊ®Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊßùµĂ× ĬýĔóÍĝĪĎãĉöïČìÚ²ðĂ ĥĥĕĕµµÅõµÕÕąÅõåĕĥÕ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Question paper, page 15
15 0511/12/M/J/25 © UCLES 2025 … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … [Total: 15] * 0000800000015 * , , ĬÏĊ®Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊßûµĂ× ĬýēôÕīĦĞÖïċºÐÔþ²ĀĂ ĥĥĥÕõÕåĕååąąÅĕÅÕõÕ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Question paper, page 16
16 0511/12/M/J/25 © UCLES 2025 Permission to reproduce items where third‑party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity. To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer‑related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series. Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge Assessment. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is a department of the University of Cambridge. BLANK PAGE * 0000800000016 * , , ĬÍĊ®Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊÝùµĄ× ĬýēñÕġĘīáñĄ±îðàâøĂ ĥÕµÕµÕåµÅąõąąĕĥÕĥÕ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Mark scheme, page 1
This document consists of 10 printed pages. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 [Turn over Cambridge IGCSE™ ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE 0511/12 Paper 1 Reading and Writing May/June 2025 MARK SCHEME Maximum Mark: 60 Published This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not indicate the details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began, which would have considered the acceptability of alternative answers. Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for Teachers. Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes. Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the May/June 2025 series for most Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International A and AS Level components, and some Cambridge O Level components.
Mark scheme, page 2
0511/12 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 2 of 10 Generic Marking Principles These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers. They should be applied alongside the specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptions for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these marking principles. GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 1: Marks must be awarded in line with: • the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question • the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question • the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts. GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 2: Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions). GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 3: Marks must be awarded positively: • marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit is given for valid answers which go beyond the scope of the syllabus and mark scheme, referring to your Team Leader as appropriate • marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do • marks are not deducted for errors • marks are not deducted for omissions • answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these features are specifically assessed by the question as indicated by the mark scheme. The meaning, however, should be unambiguous. GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 4: Rules must be applied consistently, e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed instructions or in the application of generic level descriptors. GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 5: Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question (however; the use of the full mark range may be limited according to the quality of the candidate responses seen). GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 6: Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should not be awarded with grade thresholds or grade descriptors in mind.
Mark scheme, page 3
0511/12 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 3 of 10 Annotations guidance for centres Examiners use a system of annotations as a shorthand for communicating their marking decisions to one another. Examiners are trained during the standardisation process on how and when to use annotations. The purpose of annotations is to inform the standardisation and monitoring processes and guide the supervising examiners when they are checking the work of examiners within their team. The meaning of annotations and how they are used is specific to each component and is understood by all examiners who mark the component. We publish annotations in our mark schemes to help centres understand the annotations they may see on copies of scripts. Note that there may not be a direct correlation between the number of annotations on a script and the mark awarded. Similarly, the use of an annotation may not be an indication of the quality of the response. The annotations listed below were available to examiners marking this component in this series. Annotations Annotation Meaning Correct point Benefit of the doubt given No benefit of the doubt given Information missing Repetition Meaning is unclear Page or response viewed by the examiner – including blank and additional pages (and marked if appropriate) Writing response is under word guidance
Mark scheme, page 4
0511/12 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 4 of 10 Reading R1 demonstrate understanding of specific factual information R2 demonstrate understanding of the connections between the ideas, opinions and attitudes R3 identify and select details for a specific purpose R4 demonstrate understanding of implied meaning Writing W1 communicate information, ideas and opinions W2 organise ideas into coherent text using a range of linking devices W3 use a range of appropriate grammatical structures and vocabulary W4 use appropriate register and style for the given purpose and audience
Mark scheme, page 5
0511/12 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 5 of 10 Exercise 1 Question Answer Marks Guidance 1 17 500 / seventeen thousand five hundred / seventeen and a half thousand 1 Accept ‘around 17 500’ Question Answer Marks Guidance 2 endangered 1 Question Answer Marks Guidance 3 adapt to climates 1 Do not accept ‘adopt’ for ‘adapt’ as this changes the meaning. Question Answer Marks Guidance 4 travels furthest 1 Accept appropriate verbs for ‘travels’. Superlative idea required. Question Answer Marks Guidance 5 mud 1 Question Answer Marks Guidance 6 Award one mark for each detail up to a maximum of three marks: 1 large spots / patterns that look like eyes of bigger creature / wing patterns that confuse 2 large / size / wings 28cm across / large wings 3 plain / colour / brown 4 fly fast 5 toxic chemicals in bodies / store toxic chemicals / taste unpleasant 3 3 credit responses that suggest the idea of camouflage that is supported by the text.
Mark scheme, page 6
0511/12 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 6 of 10 Exercise 2 Question Answer Marks Guidance 7(a) B 1 7(b) D 1 7(c) A 1 7(d) C 1 7(e) A 1 7(f) C 1 7(g) B 1 7(h) D 1 7(i) C 1
Mark scheme, page 7
0511/12 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 7 of 10 Exercise 3 Question Answer Marks Guidance 8 Award one mark for each acceptable response, up to a maximum of 4 marks: The advantages of recumbent bikes: 1 comfortable 2 little effort 3 rapid on flat roads 4 less stress on body / less stress on rider 5 stopped quickly 4 2 accept ‘less for ‘little’ 4 accept ‘little’ for less Question Answer Marks Guidance 9 Award one mark for each acceptable response, up to a maximum of 3 marks: The disadvantages of recumbent bikes: 1 weigh a lot / heavy / weight 2 tricky up hills / impossible to stand on pedals / slow on slopes 3 not practical through busy streets / not good choice through city streets 4 difficult to spot 3 1 Accept ‘seat weighs a lot’
Mark scheme, page 8
0511/12 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 8 of 10 Exercise 4 Question Answer Marks Guidance 10 A 1 11 C 1 12 A 1 13 B 1 14 B 1 15 C 1 Exercise 5 Question Answer Marks Guidance 16 Award up to a total of 15 marks. Up to 6 marks to be awarded for Content. Plus up to 9 marks to be awarded for Language. See marking criteria for Questions 16 and 17. 15 Exercise 6 Question Answer Marks Guidance 17 Award up to a total of 15 marks. Up to 6 marks to be awarded for Content. Plus up to 9 marks to be awarded for Language. See marking criteria for Questions 16 and 17. 15
Mark scheme, page 9
0511/12 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 9 of 10 Marking criteria for Questions 16 and 17 Table A: Content Marks Description 5–6 Task fulfilment • Task is fulfilled. • Content is fully relevant throughout. • Consistently appropriate style for the text type. • Excellent sense of purpose and audience. Development of ideas • Content is very well developed. 3–4 Task fulfilment • Task is generally fulfilled. • Content is generally relevant. • Generally appropriate style for the text type. • Generally good sense of purpose and audience. Development of ideas • Content is generally developed. 1–2 Task fulfilment • Task is only partially fulfilled. • Content is only partially relevant. • Style for the text type is inconsistent or inappropriate. • Insufficient sense of purpose and audience. Development of ideas • Limited attempt to develop content. 0 No creditable response
Mark scheme, page 10
0511/12 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 10 of 10 Table B: Language Marks Description 7–9 Range and accuracy • Content is communicated skilfully and appropriately. • Uses a wide range of common and less common vocabulary appropriately. • Uses a wide range of simple and complex structures. • High level of accuracy of language. Occasional errors may be present, but these do not impede communication. Organisation • Effectively organised and sequenced. • Uses a wide range of linking words and/or other cohesive devices appropriately. 4–6 Range and accuracy • Content is communicated clearly. • Uses a range of common vocabulary appropriately, and attempts to use some less common vocabulary. • Uses a range of simple structures, and attempts to use some complex structures. • Generally good level of accuracy of language. Errors do not generally impede communication. Organisation • Generally well organised and sequenced. • Uses a range of linking words and/or other cohesive devices generally appropriately. 1–3 Range and accuracy • Content is communicated but lacks clarity. • Uses only common vocabulary. • Uses only simple structures. • Lack of control of language. Errors impede communication. Organisation • Limited attempt at organisation and sequencing. • Limited attempt to use linking words and/or other cohesive devices. 0 No creditable content.
What you needed in this session
Cambridge’s own grade thresholds for 2025 May/June, Paper 1 · Variant 2. A higher threshold means an easier paper — the bar moves with how the cohort did.