IGCSE Chinese Tuition Singapore
Cambridge IGCSE First Language, Second Language and Foreign Language Chinese
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No contract and no minimum number of lessons. The first lesson is a paid trial at the tutor's rate. Cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours ahead, or that lesson is charged.
- Typical rate
- S$45 to S$130/hr
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- 2 to 4 tutors in 16h
- Wrong fit?
- Free re-match
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IGCSE Chinese Tuition rates in Singapore
Hourly rates for IB and IGCSE, by type of tutor.
The same rates as a table
| Level | Part-time / undergrad | Full-time | Ex-MOE or NIE-trained |
|---|---|---|---|
| IB Diploma (DP1-DP2) / IGCSE | S$45-60/hr | S$65-90/hr | S$90-130/hr |
The final rate is set when you choose a tutor. See all tuition rates for 2027.
Where IGCSE Chinese students lose marks
The three IGCSE Chinese syllabuses test different things, so the problems depend on which one your child sits.
In 0509, the directed writing task brings in the student's own ideas, when it must use the two passages given.
In 0509, the Classical Chinese passage is skipped or guessed, though it carries 12 marks.
In 0523, extended writing falls short of 250 characters or misses the purpose and audience set in the question.
In 0523 and 0547, the speaking test is prepared from memorised answers that break down in the conversation.
1 more
A student is entered for a syllabus that does not match their Chinese, which makes every paper harder than it needs to be.
Working from the right syllabus, with its own question types, fixes most of these.
What IGCSE Chinese lessons cover
Lessons follow the Cambridge syllabus your child is entered for. Each has its own papers and tasks.
First Language Chinese (0509)
Paper 1, reading, directed writing and Classical Chinese, in 2 hours 15 minutes, and Paper 2, writing, in 2 hours.
Topics covered
- Comprehension of a fiction passage of about 1,000 characters
- Commenting on the writer's language and structure
- Directed writing of 250 to 350 characters from two passages
- Classical Chinese prose from the Ming dynasty
- Argumentative and discursive compositions
- Descriptive and narrative compositions
Chinese as a Second Language (0523)
Reading and writing 60%, listening 20% and speaking 20%.
Topics covered
- Information transfer and short-answer reading
- Multiple-matching questions
- Functional writing of 100 to 120 characters, such as an email
- Extended writing of 250 to 300 characters
- A 2 to 3 minute presentation and two conversations
- Listening with gap-fill and multiple-choice questions
Mandarin Chinese as a Foreign Language (0547)
Listening, reading, speaking and writing, 25% each, across five topic areas.
Topics covered
- Everyday activities and personal and social life
- The world around us, work and the international world
- A role play and conversations on two topics
- Form filling and directed writing of 80 to 100 characters
- An email, letter, article or blog of about 150 characters
0509, 0523 and 0547 side by side
From the Cambridge International syllabuses for 2027. All three are entered in the June series and graded A* to G.
| Part | First Language Chinese (0509) | Chinese as a Second Language (0523) | Mandarin Chinese (0547) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Papers | Paper 1 Reading, Directed Writing and Classical Chinese, 2 h 15 min, 60 marks, 50%. Paper 2 Writing, 2 h, 50 marks, 50% | Paper 1 Reading and Writing, 2 h, 60%. Paper 2 Listening, about 35 to 45 min, 20%. Component 3 Speaking, 20% | Listening 25%, Reading 25%, Speaking 25%, Writing 25% |
| Writing | Directed writing of about 250 to 350 characters, and two compositions of about 400 to 600 characters | A functional piece of 100 to 120 characters and an extended piece of 250 to 300 | A form, a directed task of 80 to 100 characters and an email, letter, article or blog of about 150 |
| Speaking | No speaking test | About 10 to 13 minutes: presentation, topic conversation, general conversation | About 10 minutes: a role play and conversations on two topics |
| Distinctive feature | A Classical Chinese passage of about 200 characters, 12 marks | Texts printed in traditional and simplified characters | Five topic areas with a vocabulary list |
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Cambridge International, IGCSE First Language Chinese 0509 syllabus for 2026 and 2027. Open the 0509 syllabus.
Cambridge International, IGCSE Chinese as a Second Language 0523 syllabus for 2026 and 2027. Open the 0523 syllabus.
Cambridge International, IGCSE Mandarin Chinese 0547 syllabus for 2025 to 2027. Open the 0547 syllabus.
Before you book an IGCSE Chinese tutor
What IGCSE families ask before starting.
| Question | For IGCSE Chinese |
|---|---|
| Which tutor suits IGCSE? | Choose a tutor who has taught the syllabus your child is entered for, since 0509, 0523 and 0547 differ a great deal. For 0509, ask about Classical Chinese. Each profile shows the tutor's qualifications, experience and the curricula taught. |
| What does it cost? | IGCSE Chinese is in the IB Diploma and IGCSE band: S$45 to S$60 an hour with an undergraduate tutor, S$65 to S$90 with a full-time tutor and S$90 to S$130 with an ex-MOE teacher. Four weekly lessons of 1.5 hours with a full-time tutor add up to S$390 to S$540. |
| How does it start? | Tell us the syllabus code, the school and the exam year. We send 2 to 4 tutor profiles within 16 hours. The first lesson is a paid trial at the tutor's hourly rate. |
| What are the terms? | No contract and no minimum, so lessons can run to the June series and stop there. Cancel or move a lesson at least 24 hours ahead, or it is charged. If the fit is wrong, we re-match you free. |
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IGCSE Chinese Tuition: a guide for parents
Cambridge IGCSE Chinese comes in three syllabuses, and choosing the right one matters more than any single lesson. First Language Chinese (0509) is for strong readers and writers: two written papers, an extract of Classical Chinese, and no speaking test. Chinese as a Second Language (0523) tests reading and writing, listening, and a speaking test with a presentation. Mandarin Chinese as a Foreign Language (0547) is for learners building from everyday topics, with four equal papers. A candidate cannot take two of these in the same exam series, and all three are graded A* to G.
Read the full guide
An IGCSE tutor reads the syllabus your child's school entered them for and teaches to its papers. For 0509 that means analysing how writers use language and writing argued compositions. For 0523 it means functional writing such as emails, and preparing a two to three minute presentation. For 0547 it means role plays and building vocabulary across the syllabus topics. 0509 and 0523 accept traditional or simplified characters, so the tutor works in the form your child writes. Lessons run at home or online, using Cambridge past papers for the syllabus year your child sits.
The Classical Chinese section of 0509 Paper 1 worries students more than it should. It is one unseen passage of about 200 characters from a Ming dynasty story or essay, with short-answer and multiple-choice questions worth 12 marks, and students never have to write in Classical Chinese. The questions test the language of the passage, so no background knowledge is needed. A tutor builds the small toolkit that unlocks most passages: common function words such as 之, 其, 而 and 乃, words whose classical meaning differs from today's, such as 走 meaning to run, and the habit of reading a sentence twice before answering. Practised on a short passage each week, the section turns from a guess into steady marks.
Official syllabus: MOE Singapore · SEAB Singapore
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IGCSE Chinese Tuition: frequently asked questions
Which IGCSE Chinese syllabus should my child take?
0509 is a first language syllabus, testing analysis, argued writing and Classical Chinese. 0523 is for learners who use Chinese well for practical purposes, and includes a speaking test. 0547 is a foreign language syllabus built on everyday topics and a vocabulary list. A candidate can enter only one of the three in a single exam series. The school usually decides, but a tutor can give a view.
Can my child write in simplified characters?
For 0509 and 0523, yes. Cambridge prints the texts and questions in both traditional and simplified characters, and candidates may answer in either form. A tutor still checks that your child reads traditional forms in an unfamiliar passage, since the question paper carries both.
Is there a speaking test in IGCSE Chinese?
It depends on the syllabus. 0509 has no speaking test, only two written papers. 0523 has a speaking test of about 10 to 13 minutes worth 20%: a 2 to 3 minute presentation, a conversation about it, and a general conversation. 0547 has a speaking paper of about 10 minutes worth 25%, with a role play and conversations on two topics.
Are the IGCSE Chinese syllabuses changing?
Cambridge has published new syllabuses for exams from 2028: 0509 and 0523 for 2028 and 2029, and 0547 for 2028 to 2030. Students sitting in 2027 use the current versions described on this page. A tutor should check the syllabus year that matches your child's exam, as Cambridge itself advises.
How much does IGCSE Chinese Tuition Singapore cost?
Rates run S$45 to S$130 an hour, depending on the tutor: undergraduate tutors at the lower end, ex-MOE teachers at the upper end. You pay only the hourly rate on your tutor's shortlist.
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