Chinese (Mandarin) — Foreign Language 0547

Choose your paper route

• Exams in 2025–2027Paper 1 Listening · Paper 2 Reading · Paper 3 Speaking · Paper 4 Writing

  Four papers, each weighted 25%. Paper 1 Listening 30 marks and about 40 minutes; Paper 2 Reading 40 marks and 1 hour 15 minutes; Paper 3 Speaking 40 marks, approximately 10 minutes plus 10 minutes' preparation, centre-assessed and moderated; Paper 4 Writing 45 marks and 1 hour 15 minutes (Q1 5, Q2 12, Q3 28). Speaking preparation is supervised and candidates may not make notes. Cambridge lists examinations in the June series; confirm the administrative-zone timetable and exact entry details with the centre. Private candidates may enter where a centre can conduct, assess, record and submit the Paper 3 speaking test as required. The qualification cannot be combined in one series with First Language Chinese 0509 or Second Language Chinese 0523. Cambridge does not list a November series for this syllabus.

• Exams in 2028–2030Paper 1 Listening · Paper 2 Reading · Paper 3 Speaking · Paper 4 Writing

  Four papers, each weighted 25%. The detailed syllabus lists Paper 1 as 30 marks and approximately 40 minutes including six minutes to transfer answers; Paper 2 is 40 marks and 1 hour 15 minutes; Paper 3 is 40 marks and approximately 10 minutes plus 10 minutes' preparation; Paper 4 is 40 marks and 1 hour 15 minutes (Q1 5, Q2 10, Q3 25). The subject page's summary says all papers are worth 40 marks, which conflicts with the detailed Paper 1 syllabus and specimen mark scheme; verify with Cambridge before using a raw Paper 1 score conversion. Supervised speaking notes are allowed and must be handed to the examiner before the test. Cambridge lists examinations in the June series; confirm the administrative-zone timetable and exact entry details with the centre. Private candidates may enter where a centre can conduct, assess, record and submit the Paper 3 speaking test as required. The qualification cannot be combined in one series with First Language Chinese 0509 or Second Language Chinese 0523. Cambridge does not list a November series for this syllabus.

Cambridge recommends prior broad-curriculum study and uses about 130 guided learning hours as a planning guide. This shorter StudyForA sequence is a starter, not a complete programme or a prediction of exam readiness.

Practice the papers

• ListeningPaper 1 · 1 lessons
  Paper 1 Listening: capture facts, sequence and opinions

  Both cycles: 30 objective items across five question groups, recordings heard twice. Current detailed syllabus/specimen mark scheme: 30 one-mark items, about 40 minutes including a six-minute transfer period. Subject-page summary discrepancy flagged above. Original TTS practice is not Cambridge audio.

• ReadingPaper 2 · 1 lessons
  Paper 2 Reading: scan, match and infer

  Seven groups of multiple-choice, matching and short answers in Chinese · 40 marks · 1 hour 15 minutes · externally assessed · dictionaries not allowed.

• SpeakingPaper 3 · 1 lessons
  Paper 3 Speaking: role play and topic conversations

  About 10 minutes plus supervised 10-minute preparation · one five-point role play and two topic conversations · 40 marks · centre conducted/marked and Cambridge moderated. The 2025–2027 route prohibits notes; from 2028 candidates may make supervised notes and hand them to the examiner.

• WritingPaper 4 · 1 lessons
  Paper 4 Writing: form, directed message and extended response

  1 hour 15 minutes. 2025–2027: 45 marks (form 5, directed writing 12 at about 80–100 characters, extended response 28 at about 150 characters). 2028–2030 version 2: 40 marks (form 5, directed writing 10 at about 80–100 characters, extended response 25 at about 150 characters). Both are externally assessed.