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Cambridge (CIE) · IGCSE

Japanese — Foreign Language 0716

Build vocabulary and grammar for everyday communication. Practise reading, listening, writing and speaking through familiar topics and original examples.

19 lessons and reviews0 practice setsSyllabus 2027–2029
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At a glance

What you'll cover

  • Topic area A
  • Topic area B
  • Topic area C
  • Topic area D
  • Topic area E
  • Assessment objectives · Listening
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Published syllabus exam years: 2027, 2028, 2029. Confirm exam-series and centre availability with your school and Cambridge.

Syllabus 2027–2029

Cambridge IGCSE Japanese 0716 syllabus map

2027–2029 Version 2 · published November 2025

42 of 42 mapped syllabus topic, skill, grammar and kanji entries have teaching and practice

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Study options and assessment

19 original starter lessons map all five topic areas and their syllabus subtopics, all 17 assessment objectives, grouped grammar structures and all 200 listed kanji. Each lesson includes an explained example and Guided, Independent and Transfer practice. This is not a complete 130-guided-hour course. This is an original mapped starter, not the recommended full course of about 130 guided learning hours. All Japanese examples, translations, grammar explanations, kanji groupings, listening scripts and pronunciation aids require review by a qualified Japanese-language teacher before publication is described as complete. Browser speech is supplemental, not Cambridge audio. Speaking rehearsal and writing feedback are formative and do not reproduce a live examiner or award official marks. The linked vocabulary workbook has not been reconciled word by word.

This route is for exams in 2027–2029, June series only, and is unavailable in some administrative zones. Version 2 updates dictionary-form grammar examples and the vocabulary workbook. Check local availability and use the correct syllabus for your exam year.

Choose your paper route

  • Exams in 2027–2029 · Version 2P1 Listening · P2 Reading · P3 Speaking · P4 Writing · A*–G

    All four papers contribute 25%. Paper 3 has one role play and two topic conversations; Paper 4 has a form, directed writing and an email or article/blog. June series only; confirm availability in your administrative zone.

Cambridge does not expect candidates to have studied Japanese before 0716. The recommended course is about 130 guided learning hours; this starter is much shorter. The syllabus is offered in June only and not in all zones.

View syllabus coverage

The map links all five topic areas and listed subtopics, all four assessment objectives, grouped grammar structures, the official 200-kanji list and all four paper formats. This is an original mapped starter, not the recommended full course of about 130 guided learning hours. All Japanese examples, translations, grammar explanations, kanji groupings, listening scripts and pronunciation aids require review by a qualified Japanese-language teacher before publication is described as complete. Browser speech is supplemental, not Cambridge audio. Speaking rehearsal and writing feedback are formative and do not reproduce a live examiner or award official marks. The linked vocabulary workbook has not been reconciled word by word.

Topic area A

Topic area B

Topic area C

Topic area D

Topic area E

Assessment objectives · Listening

Assessment objectives · Reading

Assessment objectives · Speaking

Assessment objectives · Writing

Grammar and structures · noun statements, linked clauses and adjective forms

Grammar and structures · polite/plain; non-past, negative, past and past negative

Grammar and structures · ます-stem, て, た, dictionary and ない constructions

Grammar and structures · particles; question words; comparisons; demonstratives

Grammar and structures · counters; dates, time and duration; suffixes; genkō yōshi

Official 200-kanji list

Specialist review and coverage gap

  • Vocabulary workbook reconciliationVOCAB-REVIEW · Assessment limitation, not a syllabus section
    Teacher, centre, or specialist assessment required

Specialist review and content gap

  • Japanese language specialist reviewJA-REVIEW · Assessment limitation, not a syllabus section
    Teacher, centre, or specialist assessment required

Course-depth limitation

  • Full guided-hours programmeJA-HOURS · Assessment limitation, not a syllabus section
    Teacher, centre, or specialist assessment required

Assessment limitation

  • Official audio and full exam simulationsJA-AUDIO · Assessment limitation, not a syllabus section
    Teacher, centre, or specialist assessment required
  • Human speaking and writing assessmentJA-MARKING · Assessment limitation, not a syllabus section
    Teacher, centre, or specialist assessment required

Read the syllabus update

Practice the papers
Assessment skills

Practice the papers

  • Listening · original practicePaper 1 · 1 lessons

    About 50 minutes including six minutes' transfer time · 40 marks · 37 multiple-choice/matching questions · recordings heard twice. Original scripts and browser speech are not Cambridge audio.

  • Reading · five question groupsPaper 2 · 1 lessons

    One hour · 40 marks · five question groups. Picture matching 5; signs/notices 5; short-text multiple choice 7; longer message/blog short answers 12; article short answers 11. Written responses are in Japanese; dictionaries are not allowed.

  • Speaking · role play and two conversationsPaper 3 · 1 lessons

    About 10 minutes plus 10 minutes' supervised preparation · 40 marks. One role play with five transactional questions, then two topic conversations. A teacher/examiner assesses and Cambridge moderates; StudyForA is not graded.

  • Writing · form and extended responsesPaper 4 · 1 lessons

    1 hour 15 minutes · 45 marks. Q1 form, 5 marks; Q2 about 160–180 characters, 12 marks; Q3 email or article/blog, about 250–300 characters, 28 marks. Candidates should know genkō yōshi; horizontal writing is not penalised.

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Lessons and worked examples

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All subject practice

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  1. 01

    Everyday activities: time, food, health and travel

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  2. 02

    Personal and social life: people, home and leisure

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  3. 03

    The world around us: places, nature and technology

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  4. 04

    The world of work: school, learning and careers

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  5. 05

    The international world: languages, culture and celebrations

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  6. 06

    Listening: catch detail, viewpoint and implied meaning

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  7. 07

    Reading: signs, messages, opinions and articles

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  8. 08

    Speaking: role-play, interaction and topic conversations

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  9. 09

    Writing: forms, connected messages and extended responses

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  10. 10

    Grammar: nouns, です forms and adjectives

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  11. 11

    Grammar: verb groups, tense and polite or plain style

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  12. 12

    Grammar: ます, て, た, dictionary and ない patterns

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  13. 13

    Grammar: particles, questions, comparison and demonstratives

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  14. 14

    Grammar: counters, dates, time, suffixes and genkō yōshi

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  15. 15

    Kanji set 1 · numbers, days and time

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  16. 16

    Kanji set 2 · direction, nature and food

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  17. 17

    Kanji set 3 · places, people and activities

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  18. 18

    Kanji set 4 · descriptions and school

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  19. 19

    Kanji set 5 · verbs, transport and town

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These checks record your study activity and self-assessment, not a mastery score. Check the course coverage map for available lessons and remaining topics.

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