Get your child exam-ready for IGCSE French.
Live, one-to-one sessions with a specialist French tutor, matched to your child's CAIE syllabus and target grade. Book a trial in minutes.
Cambridge IGCSE French: what parents should know.
Cambridge IGCSE French is a widely sat CAIE qualification that tests reading, writing, listening and speaking. It gives students a globally recognised language credential and a strong foundation for A-Level French.
IGCSE French is set by Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE). It is designed for students aged 14 to 16 and sits within the broader Cambridge pathway, leading naturally into AS and A-Level French.
CAIE grades IGCSE French on a scale of A* to G. Marks come from four assessed components: listening, reading, speaking and writing. Strong technique across all four components is essential to score at the top of the grading scale.
Cambridge IGCSE French exams are offered in the May/June and October/November exam series each year. Most students in the GCC sit the May/June series, so preparation typically begins six to twelve months before the exam session.
A group class cannot do this.
Lessons built around the gaps
The tutor identifies exactly which IGCSE French components are holding the grade back, whether that is written expression, listening comprehension or oral fluency, and targets those first.
Real past-paper technique
Every session includes timed practice on genuine CAIE French past papers, with the tutor walking through mark-scheme expectations so the student learns to write and speak for the examiner.
Parents kept in the loop
After each session, parents receive a written progress note and the week's homework, so there are no surprises heading into exam season.
The globally recognised French qualification for 14 to 16 year-olds.
Cambridge IGCSE French is an internationally recognised qualification set by Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE). It is designed for secondary students aged 14 to 16 and is taught in international schools across the GCC and worldwide.
Assessment covers four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. CAIE grades results from A* to G. The speaking component is assessed separately, and the written papers follow CAIE mark schemes that reward precise vocabulary and grammatical accuracy.
Tuitional tutors work directly from the CAIE IGCSE French syllabus code 0520, so every lesson maps to the exact content and question types a student will face in their exam series, with no wasted session time.
What a one-to-one IGCSE French lesson actually looks like.
Every session follows a four-phase structure: recap, teach, apply, review. The tutor keeps each phase timed so no minute is wasted.
Book a trial lessonA typical 60-minute session
- 0-5 min
Recap and quick diagnostic
The tutor opens with a short check on the previous session's homework, spotting any vocabulary or grammar points that still need work before moving on.
Example: The student attempts five gap-fill sentences using past-tense verbs (passé composé) assigned as homework, and the tutor marks them live.
- 5-25 min
Teach the target topic
The tutor introduces or deepens the focus topic using clear explanations, model sentences and structured practice, tailored to the student's current level.
Example: Teaching the subjunctive mood for CAIE syllabus 0520, using model phrases such as 'Il faut que tu fasses' drawn from CAIE specimen material.
- 25-50 min
Apply it to past-paper questions
The student works through real CAIE French past-paper questions under timed conditions, and the tutor marks responses against the official mark scheme, explaining exactly where marks are won or lost.
Example: Paper 2 Reading and Directed Writing from a recent CAIE May/June series, focusing on the extended writing task and how to structure a formal letter response.
- 50-60 min
Review, set homework, report
The tutor summarises what was covered, agrees a focused homework task, and logs the session notes ready for the parent progress report.
Example: Homework set to write a 150-word French opinion paragraph using connectives practised in the session, ready for review next lesson.
After the lesson
Parents receive a written session summary, the homework brief and next steps. The session recording is saved to the platform so the student can revisit any explanation at any time.
Four simple steps.
Tell us the goal
Share your child's year group and IGCSE French target.
Get matched
We pair you with a specialist CAIE French tutor.
Trial lesson
Your child attends a live one-to-one trial session.
Start weekly
Regular sessions begin at times that suit your family.
The qualification that opens doors to A-Level French and beyond.
Cambridge IGCSE French, set by CAIE, assesses four language skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. Students typically sit the exam aged 14 to 16, with results graded A* to G across two annual exam series.
Strong IGCSE French grades are widely accepted for university pathway entry and provide a solid base for AS and A-Level French. One-to-one tutoring ensures every lesson targets the specific CAIE components where marks are actually available.
Why families across the GCC trust Tuitional for IGCSE French.
My daughter went from barely scraping a C to achieving an A in her IGCSE French mock. Her tutor was patient, structured every session around the CAIE mark scheme, and made oral practice feel genuinely manageable. We could not be more grateful.
Finding a tutor who actually knows the CAIE French syllabus inside out made all the difference. Sessions start on time, the homework is relevant, and I finally feel confident about the speaking component.
I used to dread French writing tasks. After six sessions my tutor helped me master the passé composé and formal letter format. My school teacher noticed the improvement immediately.
Scheduling around our busy week was simple. We book Sunday evenings and the session link appears automatically. No chasing, no admin. Just great IGCSE French lessons.
IGCSE French tutoring, your questions answered.
The things parents and students ask us most, in plain language.
?What does a Cambridge IGCSE French tutor actually cover?+
A Tuitional IGCSE French tutor covers all four CAIE components: listening, reading, writing and speaking. Sessions follow the syllabus 0520 specification, so every topic covered links directly to the exam. Grammar, vocabulary, oral technique and written accuracy are all addressed.
?How many sessions does my child need before the exam?+
It depends on the starting level and how much time remains before the exam series. Most students benefit from weekly sessions beginning at least three to six months ahead of their exam. Your tutor will set a clear session plan after the first lesson.
?Can the tutor help with the IGCSE French speaking component?+
Yes. Oral preparation is built into the lesson plan. Tutors run mock speaking assessments, coach pronunciation and fluency, and train students on the conversation topics and role-play scenarios used in the CAIE speaking component.
?Are lessons recorded if my child wants to review them?+
Every session is recorded and stored on the Tuitional platform. Students can rewatch any explanation, replay vocabulary drills, or revisit a grammar point at any time, at no extra cost.
?How much does IGCSE French tutoring cost with Tuitional?+
IGCSE tutoring on Tuitional starts from AED 50 per hour. You can pay per session or buy a package with no lock-in and no cancellation fee. Full details are on our tutoring packages page.
?What if my child doesn't get on with the first tutor?+
Tuitional offers a free re-match if the first tutor pairing doesn't feel right. You simply contact us and we arrange an alternative French tutor at no additional charge.
Book a trial IGCSE French lesson today.
Your child's first live session is a low-commitment way to see the difference one-to-one tutoring makes. A specialist CAIE French tutor, matched to your syllabus, available around your schedule.
- Live, one-to-one video with a specialist CAIE French tutor
- Matched to your child's exact syllabus and target grade
- Flexible scheduling, session recordings included
- Free re-match if the first tutor isn't the right fit