Academic English for IGCSE · CEFR roadmap · Free to find your level

Is your English ready for IGCSE?

IGCSE is taught and examined in English — the subject is only half the battle. We bridge the gap between everyday ESL English and the academic English you need to read the questions, understand the command words, and write the answers. Find out how many English words you know in about 2 minutes.

50 words · about 2 minutes — see your word count and CEFR level straight away.
Built for ESL students in international schools

Or read a short mystery at your level

Or paste your homework or essay and get it marked

2min
to your vocabulary level

50 words show roughly how many English words you know and your CEFR level — no account needed.

A2→C1
a clear roadmap

Reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary and listening — trained rung by rung toward the level IGCSE demands.

$0
to start

Find your level free, then a free account saves it and unlocks your personalised training plan.

The academic English roadmap

Every rung is a subject you unlock.

CEFR levels are not abstract grades here — each one is a concrete IGCSE skill. This is what climbing the ladder actually buys you.

B1 Foundation

Follow IGCSE Science & Maths instructions accurately

Read a question the way the exam means it. Understand what "state", "calculate" and "describe" are asking, so you stop losing marks you actually knew — the language stops getting in the way of the subject.

B2 Intermediate

Master "Explain" & "Compare" command words for Biology & History

Write answers that do what the command word demands. Explain a process, compare two ideas, justify a conclusion — the structured academic English that turns a 2-mark answer into a 5-mark one across every subject.

C1 Advanced

Write fluent, high-scoring essays for First Language English

The top of the ladder: argue, analyse and craft with the range and control that First Language English (0500) rewards. Fluent academic writing that reads like a native — and scores like one.

Find which rung you're on

50 words · about 2 minutes · Your result straight away

How it works

Know your level, then climb.

1

Check your vocabulary in 2 minutes

Answer "I know it" or "Don't know" for 50 words. Some are made up to catch guesses. You see roughly how many words you know and your CEFR level straight away — then read a short mystery with the hard words in bold.

2

Get a plan aimed at the next rung

Save your result with a free account and we build a personalised plan — reading, writing, grammar and vocabulary — targeted exactly at the academic English your next IGCSE step needs.

3

Practise daily and watch the level move

Every answer is marked instantly with the fix, so the loop is short. The plan adapts as you improve, carrying you from B1 instructions up to C1 essays.

What you train

The four skills IGCSE actually tests.

Not survival English — the academic reading and writing that decides your grade in every subject taught in English.

Reading — for the exam, not the café

Comprehension built around real academic texts and question stems, so you read a Science, History or English passage the way the mark scheme expects.

Writing — marked instantly

Write to the command word and the AI marks it in seconds, showing exactly what to add — the fastest way to climb from B1 sentences to C1 essays.

Grammar & vocabulary — academic register

The structures and subject vocabulary that carry marks: connectives, tense control, and the precise words examiners look for in every subject.

Listening — classroom-ready

Follow instructions, lectures and discussions in academic English, so lessons taught in English stop being a barrier.

Academic English FAQ

Before you find your level

What is academic English for IGCSE?

It is the English you need to study IGCSE subjects in English — reading Science and Maths questions accurately, understanding command words like "explain" and "compare", and writing structured answers. It is different from conversational English: it is the language of the exam itself, and it decides marks in every subject.

Which CEFR level do I need for IGCSE?

B1 is the floor for following instructions in Science and Maths; B2 is where you master command words for subjects like Biology and History; C1 is where you write fluent, high-scoring First Language English essays. The 2-minute vocabulary check shows which rung your vocabulary is on.

How is this different from IELTS or general English?

IELTS is a general proficiency test; this is built around the academic English IGCSE actually uses — the command words, question stems and subject register of Cambridge exams. If your goal is to succeed in IGCSE subjects taught in English, this trains exactly that.

Is it really free to start?

Yes. The 2-minute vocabulary check is free with no signup. A free account saves your result and unlocks a personalised training plan across reading, writing, grammar and vocabulary at your level. More AI marking each day is on the optional AI Coach plan.

Find out if your English is
IGCSE-ready.

Check your vocabulary in about 2 minutes, see your CEFR level — then start climbing with a plan built for you.
Built for ESL students in international schools.

Free to try · No card · Works on mobile