What is the simplest difference between IGCSE Chinese 0523 and 0547?

0523 (Chinese as a Second Language) usually suits learners who already have a working base and need stronger exam reading and longer writing skills. 0547 (Mandarin Chinese, Foreign Language) usually suits learners studying Mandarin mainly as a foreign language, often with less exposure outside lessons.

How do the exam structures differ between 0523 and 0547?

0523 uses 3 components, with Reading and Writing carrying the biggest weight. 0547 uses 4 papers with an even split across Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing.

Which syllabus has longer writing requirements?

0523 typically requires longer writing (functional writing around 100–120 characters and extended writing around 250–300 characters). 0547 typically uses shorter targets (directed writing around 80–100 characters and extended writing about 150 characters) and may include a form-filling task.

IGCSE Chinese 0523 vs 0547 in Hong Kong: Which One Should You Choose?

Q: What should parents ask the school to confirm the right IGCSE Chinese entry?

Confirm the entry code (0523 or 0547), the exam series (month and year), which skill is limiting the grade most (writing, reading precision, listening, or speaking), and whether students practise timed writing regularly with corrections.

Aileen Ting
Jan 2
4 min read

A tutor explained the difference between IGCSE Chinese 0523 and 0547 to students in a simple classroom.

If your school says "IGCSE Chinese" but you see two different codes, 0523 and 0547, you are not alone. This is one of the most common questions we hear from Hong Kong families.

Here is the key point: this is not about which one is harder. It is about which route fits your child’s background, so their effort turns into marks.

If you want an overview of all our IGCSE Chinese support options first, you can view them here: IGCSE Chinese tutor in Hong Kong.

Mini Checklist:

Before you compare textbooks or revision guides, check these 3 things first:

[ ] The Code: Has the school officially entered 0523 or 0547?
[ ] Exposure: Does your child use Chinese weekly in real life, or mostly only in lessons?
[ ] The Gap: Where are marks being lost most: writing speed, reading precision, or speaking confidence?

Not sure? Email the school and confirm.

IGCSE Chinese 0523 vs 0547

Part 1: For Parents (How to Decide)

The Simplest Difference in One Sentence

0523 (Chinese as a Second Language): Usually suits learners who already have a working base and need stronger exam reading and longer writing skills.
0547 (Mandarin Chinese, Foreign Language): Usually suits learners studying Mandarin mainly as a foreign language, often with less exposure outside lessons.

The Exam Differences That Matter Most

1) Weighting and Structure

0523 uses 3 components, where "Reading and Writing" carries the biggest weight.
0547 uses 4 papers, with an even split across Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing.

2) Writing Length (This is the big one.)

Feature	0523 (Second Language)	0547 (Foreign Language)
Short / Directed	100–120 characters (Functional writing)	80–100 characters (Directed writing)
Extended	250–300 characters (Extended writing)	About 150 characters (Email/letter or blog)
Extra Task	N/A	Form-filling (Single words / short phrases)

What this means in real life:

If your child struggles to write longer, organised paragraphs under time pressure, 0523 can feel heavy because it demands up to 300 characters. If your child needs shorter, more structured writing targets, 0547 often feels more manageable.

Important Note for Hong Kong Families:Written Papers: For 0523, papers are printed in both Traditional and Simplified characters; students can choose to answer in either.Speaking: For 0523, the speaking test is assessed in Mandarin only. Even if a child understands some Cantonese from grandparents, they often still need structured Mandarin speaking practice to secure a high grade.

What Parents Should Ask the School (Copy & Paste)

You can copy this into an email to get clarity quickly:

"Please confirm the IGCSE Chinese entry code: 0523 or 0547.""Which exam series are we sitting (month and year)?""What is currently limiting the grade most: writing, reading precision, listening, or speaking?""Do students practise timed writing regularly in class, with corrections?"

Which one usually fits which student?

0523 often fits students who:

Can read quite a lot, but lose marks because answers are not precise enough.
Can write, but writing becomes messy or disorganised under timing.
Need help with longer writing structure (planning, linking, staying on task).

0547 often fits students who:

Learn Mandarin mainly through lessons (pure international background).
Know vocabulary but struggle to use it smoothly in speaking and writing.
Need consistent practice with the four skills using clear, predictable task types.

What we see most often right now:

In the past, most enquiries were students entered for 0547 needing help with speaking confidence. Recently, we see more students who hear some Cantonese from grandparents but speak mostly English at home. They may feel familiar with Chinese but still struggle with Mandarin speaking and writing accuracy under exam conditions.

Part 2: For Students (Short Plan)

The most common sentence I hear:

"Chinese just doesn’t make sense to me."

When a student says this, it usually means they are learning word-by-word, then translating directly from English. Chinese works differently:

Meaning changes depending on the words around it.
Word order changes meaning.
Direct translation often sounds unnatural.

At IGCSE level, progress is usually fastest when you learn useful sentence patterns, then practise them in exam-style tasks with corrections.

If you are taking 0523, do this weekly:

Reading Precision (15 mins): Do one short-answer set and check if each answer matches the question exactly.
Functional Writing (20 mins): Write 100–120 characters, then rewrite once after corrections.
Extended Writing (25 mins): Plan for 3 minutes, write, then fix your top 3 repeated mistakes.

If you are taking 0547, do this weekly:

Speaking (10 mins): Practise answering in full sentences, then add one reason or example.
Directed Writing (15 mins): Write 80–100 characters, timed.
Extended Writing (20 mins): Write about 150 characters, timed.

Key Rule: Marks improve fastest through corrections, not only doing more questions.

Next Step

If your child is entered for 0547 and speaking is the main problem, the fastest improvement usually comes from weekly speaking practice in the real exam style. If your child has some Cantonese exposure but limited Mandarin (0523 route), we can help you build a plan that fits their real starting point.