Bahasa Indonesia 0538
Develop close reading and clear, purposeful writing. Explore how language works through texts, original examples and practice.
What you'll cover
- Reading assessment objective
- Writing assessment objective
- Speaking assessment objective
- Reading task format
- Writing task format
- Speaking task format
Published syllabus exam years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030. Confirm exam-series and centre availability with your school and Cambridge.
Cambridge IGCSE Bahasa Indonesia 0538 syllabus map
2025–2027 and 2028–2030
26 of 26 sections have teaching and practice
Start the learning pathwayStudy options and assessment
18 original lessons provide explained examples and Guided, Independent and Transfer practice across all 13 assessment objectives, three components, four Paper 1 reading exercises, both Paper 2 writing tasks and five official topic areas. The syllabus recommends daily use of Bahasa Indonesia and about 130 guided learning hours; this online sequence is a starter rather than a complete 130-hour course. Exams are available in the June series only and the subject is not available in every administrative zone. Cambridge's subject page lists zones 2, 3, 4 and 5. Private candidates need an accommodating centre able to conduct and assess Speaking and submit the required sample and paperwork for external moderation. Confirm the exam-year entry with Cambridge and the exams officer. This is an original online starter sequence, not the full approximately 130 guided learning hours, a complete timed specimen paper, an official Cambridge mark scheme, or a Cambridge grade. All Bahasa Indonesia teaching examples and task answers need review by a qualified Bahasa Indonesia teacher before publication. Writing self-checks are practice guidance, not calibrated marks. Speaking recordings stay in the open page and are not uploaded or scored; a centre teacher/examiner assesses Component 3 and Cambridge externally moderates it.
Use the syllabus and specimens for the examination year. Cambridge's 2028–2030 version says there are no significant changes affecting teaching. Exams are in the June series only; zones 2–5 only. Private entry depends on the centre's Speaking assessment and moderation arrangements.
Choose your paper route
- Exams in 2025–2027Paper 1 Reading and Understanding · Paper 2 Reading and Writing · Component 3 Speaking · A*–G
Use the 2025–2027 syllabus for these exam years. June series; zones 2–5 only. Exams are available in the June series only and the subject is not available in every administrative zone. Cambridge's subject page lists zones 2, 3, 4 and 5. Private candidates need an accommodating centre able to conduct and assess Speaking and submit the required sample and paperwork for external moderation. Confirm the exam-year entry with Cambridge and the exams officer.
- Exams in 2028–2030Paper 1 Reading and Understanding · Paper 2 Reading and Writing · Component 3 Speaking · A*–G
The 2028–2030 Version 1 syllabus was published September 2025 and states there are no significant teaching changes. Use the matching year’s syllabus and specimen materials. Exams are available in the June series only and the subject is not available in every administrative zone. Cambridge's subject page lists zones 2, 3, 4 and 5. Private candidates need an accommodating centre able to conduct and assess Speaking and submit the required sample and paperwork for external moderation. Confirm the exam-year entry with Cambridge and the exams officer.
Cambridge recommends that learners use Bahasa Indonesia daily at school and/or in their community. Its planning guide is about 130 guided learning hours; StudyForA's current sequence is shorter and is not a substitute for a complete course.
View syllabus coverage
All 13 assessment objectives, three assessment components, four Paper 1 reading exercises, two Paper 2 writing tasks and five official context areas link to original lessons. Cambridge expects about 130 guided learning hours; this online sequence is not a complete programme or full timed mock set. This is an original online starter sequence, not the full approximately 130 guided learning hours, a complete timed specimen paper, an official Cambridge mark scheme, or a Cambridge grade. All Bahasa Indonesia teaching examples and task answers need review by a qualified Bahasa Indonesia teacher before publication. Writing self-checks are practice guidance, not calibrated marks. Speaking recordings stay in the open page and are not uploaded or scored; a centre teacher/examiner assesses Component 3 and Cambridge externally moderates it.
Reading assessment objective
- Identify and select relevant informationR1
- Demonstrate understanding of explicit meaningsR2
- Demonstrate understanding of implicit meanings and attitudesR3
- Understand how writers achieve effects and influence readersR4
Writing assessment objective
- Communicate information, ideas and opinions clearly and effectivelyW1
- Articulate experience and express what is thought, felt and imaginedW2
- Organise ideas for a particular purpose and audienceW3
- Use spelling, punctuation and grammar accuratelyW4
- Use appropriate vocabulary and a range of sentence structuresW5
Speaking assessment objective
- Present facts, ideas and opinions in a cohesive orderS1
- Communicate clearly and purposefully using fluent languageS2
- Use grammatical structures and vocabulary accurately and effectivelyS3
- Understand and respond appropriately in conversationS4
Reading task format
- Paper 1 Exercise 1 · information transferP1-E1
- Paper 1 Exercise 2 · note makingP1-E2
- Paper 1 Exercise 3 · comprehensionP1-E3
- Paper 1 Exercise 4 · modern prose comprehension and styleP1-E4
Writing task format
- Paper 2 Section 1 · summaryP2-SUM
- Paper 2 Section 2 · compositionP2-COMP
Speaking task format
- Component 3 Part 1 · cultural presentationC3-PRESENTATION
- Component 3 Part 2 · conversationC3-CONVERSATION
Official topic area
- Health and fitness · food, diet and sportTOPIC-HEALTH
- Home life · family, traditional and modern cultureTOPIC-HOME
- Education and training · school, college, work and professionsTOPIC-EDUCATION
- Free time · holidays, art, music and hobbiesTOPIC-FREE-TIME
- The world we live in · media, environment, current affairs, technology, travel and tourismTOPIC-WORLD
Assessment limitation
- Full-length year-specific examination papersFULL-EXAM-PRACTICE · Assessment limitation, not a syllabus sectionTeacher, centre, or specialist assessment required
Quality limitation
- Qualified Bahasa Indonesia content and language reviewBAHASA-REVIEW · Assessment limitation, not a syllabus sectionTeacher, centre, or specialist assessment required
Assessment boundary
- Centre-assessed Speaking marks and moderationSPEAKING-MARKING · Assessment limitation, not a syllabus sectionTeacher, centre, or specialist assessment required
Practice the papers
Practice the papers
- Reading and Understanding · four exercisesPaper 1 · 6 lessonsPaper 1 · transfer precise informationPaper 1 · make focused notesPaper 1 · answer explicit comprehensionPaper 1 · infer viewpoint and attitudePaper 1 · explain language effects in modern prosePlan practice across all three components
1 hour 45 minutes · 50 marks · 35% · externally assessed. Exercise 1 information transfer (7); Exercise 2 note making (9); Exercise 3 comprehension (12); Exercise 4 modern prose comprehension and style (22: 13 comprehension, 9 style/vocabulary/effects).
- Reading and Writing · summary and compositionPaper 2 · 5 lessonsPaper 2 · select and organise summary pointsPaper 2 · build an argumentative compositionPaper 2 · create a vivid descriptionPaper 2 · shape a coherent narrativePlan practice across all three components
1 hour 45 minutes · 60 marks · 45% · externally assessed. Summary: 130–180 words from a source of about 400–450 words (24 marks). Composition: choose argumentative, descriptive or narrative, 350–500 words (36 marks).
- Speaking · presentation and conversationComponent 3 · 3 lessonsComponent 3 · prepare a cultural presentationComponent 3 · sustain a conversationPlan practice across all three components
Approximately 9–11 minutes · 40 marks · 20% · internally assessed by the centre and externally moderated by Cambridge. Presentation 2–3 minutes on Indonesian culture; conversation 7–8 minutes. No script is allowed in the test. StudyForA self-recording is not a Cambridge mark.
Lessons and worked examples
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- 01
Paper 1 · transfer precise information
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Not started - 02
Paper 1 · make focused notes
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Not started - 03
Paper 1 · answer explicit comprehension
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Not started - 04
Paper 1 · infer viewpoint and attitude
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Not started - 05
Paper 1 · explain language effects in modern prose
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Not started - 06
Paper 2 · select and organise summary points
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Not started - 07
Paper 2 · build an argumentative composition
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Not started - 08
Paper 2 · create a vivid description
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Not started - 09
Paper 2 · shape a coherent narrative
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Not started - 10
Revise cohesion, grammar and vocabulary
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Not started - 11
Component 3 · prepare a cultural presentation
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Not started - 12
Component 3 · sustain a conversation
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Not started - 13
Topic area · health and fitness
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Not started - 14
Topic area · home life and culture
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Not started - 15
Topic area · education, training and work
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Not started - 16
Topic area · free time
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Not started - 17
Topic area · the world we live in
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Not started - 18
Plan practice across all three components
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Not started
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Browse 26 topics →No StudyForA practice set is published for this exact qualification yet. Use the official papers below or in the resource guide.