Hindi as a Second Language 0549

Choose your paper route

• Exams in 2023–2026 · legacy routePaper 1 Reading and Writing · Paper 2 Listening · optional Component 3 Speaking

  A*–G grades. Paper 1 is 2 hours, 60 marks and 67%; Paper 2 is approximately 35–45 minutes, 30 marks and 33%. Optional Component 3 is separately endorsed and does not count toward the overall grade. Cambridge lists November exams and March in India; availability is zone-limited.

• Exams in 2027–2029 · revised routePaper 1 Reading and Writing · Paper 2 Listening

  A*–G grades. Paper 1 is 2 hours, 60 marks and 70%; Paper 2 is approximately 60 minutes including transfer time, 40 marks and 30%. There is no Speaking component. Cambridge lists November exams and March in India; availability is zone-limited.

Cambridge describes 0549 as suitable for learners whose first language is not Hindi and who already have a working knowledge of the language. This 22-lesson sequence is a structured starter, not a complete 130-guided-hour language course. The 2027–2029 syllabus is in English; assessment materials are in Hindi. Check the exact exam-year syllabus and entry availability with your centre.

Practice the papers

• Reading and Writing2023–2026 Paper 1 · 9 lessons
  Navigate the legacy Reading and Writing paperFind facts and select details for a purposeFollow opinions and connections between ideasInfer purpose, attitude and implied meaningCommunicate information, ideas and opinions clearlyOrganise ideas into coherent paragraphsUse accurate grammar and varied vocabularyEdit spelling and punctuation for clarityMatch register, style and format to the reader

  2 hours · 60 marks · 67%. Six exercises: short answers, multiple matching, note-making, a summary of no more than 100 words, functional writing of about 120 words and extended writing of about 200 words. Use the syllabus for the specific exam year.

• Listening2023–2026 Paper 2 · 5 lessons
  Navigate the legacy Listening paperListen for names, times and specific factsUnderstand speakers’ ideas, opinions and attitudesConnect speakers’ ideas and reasonsInfer a speaker’s intention and implied meaning

  Approximately 35–45 minutes · 30 marks · 33%. Four exercises: short answers, gap fill, information correction and multiple choice. Each recorded text is heard twice. Browser speech synthesis is not Cambridge audio.

• Speaking · optional and separately endorsed2023–2026 Component 3 · 6 lessons
  Understand the optional legacy Speaking componentSpeak clearly and communicate an ideaDevelop a response and link ideasUse a range of spoken Hindi structuresMake spoken Hindi intelligibleTake part in a responsive conversation

  Optional component, approximately 10–12 minutes · 60 marks. Presentation of 2–3 minutes, discussion about the presentation, then general conversation. Internally assessed and externally moderated; grade 1–5 is separately endorsed and does not contribute to the overall grade.

• Reading and Writing2027–2029 Paper 1 · 9 lessons
  Navigate the 2027–2029 Reading and Writing paperFind facts and select details for a purposeFollow opinions and connections between ideasInfer purpose, attitude and implied meaningCommunicate information, ideas and opinions clearlyOrganise ideas into coherent paragraphsUse accurate grammar and varied vocabularyEdit spelling and punctuation for clarityMatch register, style and format to the reader

  2 hours · 60 marks · 70%. Six exercises: four reading and two writing. Both writing responses are 120–160 words: an informal email and a formal/semi-formal article, report, essay or review. There is no summary task.

• Listening2027–2029 Paper 2 · 5 lessons
  Navigate the 2027–2029 Listening paperListen for names, times and specific factsUnderstand speakers’ ideas, opinions and attitudesConnect speakers’ ideas and reasonsInfer a speaker’s intention and implied meaning

  Approximately 60 minutes including six minutes to transfer answers · 40 marks · 30%. Five exercises and 40 multiple-choice questions; recordings are heard twice. Use official Cambridge audio for exam preparation.