Six Paper 1 Practice Papers: 2027 Mock Exams — Paper 1 for IGCSE First Language English

Helps with: getting exam-ready for the new 2027 Paper 1 with plenty of full, timed practice.

Six complete practice papers for Cambridge IGCSE First Language English (0500/0990) Paper 1 Reading, written for the 2027 specification. With only one specimen paper published so far, good practice material for the new format is hard to find. This pack gives students six more full papers to sit, mark and learn from.

Every paper follows the 2027 structure: three linked texts (non-fiction, an opinion article and a narrative), Questions 1(a)–(f), a 2(a) summary and 2(b) writer’s attitude, Questions 3(a)–(d) and an extended Question 4 response written from inside the story. The source texts are challenging, at coursebook level, while the questions stay clear and straightforward.

• 6full practice papers
• 480marks of practice
• 6Cambridge-style mark schemes
• 6different Q4 forms

What’s included?

• Six PDFs, one per paper. Each contains the line-numbered insert, the full question paper with answer lines, and the mark scheme.
• Mark schemes set out like the official Cambridge ones (Question | Answer | Marks), with what to accept and what not to accept.
• All 11 summary points for every 2(a), plus model answers for 2(a), 3(d) and Question 4, colour-coded and explained.
• Level descriptors in plain English, so students can mark their own work, and a ‘Where did your marks go?’ page that points them to the right next step.

What are the papers?

1. The Hive: the waggle dance of honeybees; whether city beekeeping really helps bees; a boy, his grandmother and a swarm. Question 4: a letter.
2. The Deep: the 1960 dive to the Challenger Deep; the case against deep-sea mining; a trainee pilot trapped four kilometres down. Question 4: an interview.
3. Summit: the first ascent of Everest in 1953; overcrowding on Everest today; a young climber’s decision on the final ridge. Question 4: a speech.
4. Buried: Pompeii and Fiorelli’s plaster casts; limiting visitors at famous ancient sites; a volunteer’s discovery on a Roman dig. Question 4: a report.
5. Crossing: the first Channel swims by Matthew Webb and Gertrude Ederle; the risks of cold-water swimming; a first open-water race. Question 4: an article.
6. After Dark: light pollution and the vanishing night sky; switching off streetlights; a boy who is afraid of the dark sees the Milky Way. Question 4: a diary entry.

Written for students aged 14–16, with challenging texts that stretch students aiming for the top grades and clear questions that support weaker readers.

How to use it

Sit each paper as a timed two-hour mock, or set one section at a time for homework. Every question type comes up six times, so students can see their progress from paper to paper.

These practice papers are also included in the Paper 1 Complete Bundle.

Original practice papers written by Thorogood English in the style of the 2027 Cambridge specification. Not produced or endorsed by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Licensed for use with the purchaser’s own students only.