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100+ Free IGCSE Mandarin Chinese Practice Questions

Pass your Cambridge IGCSE Mandarin Chinese (Foreign Language) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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Question 1
Score: 0/0

成语 '画蛇添足' 的意思是?

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C
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to track
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: IGCSE Mandarin Chinese Exam

A*-G

Grading scale

Cambridge International

0547/0523

Foreign Language syllabus codes

Cambridge International (CAIE)

4 papers

Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking

Cambridge IGCSE syllabus

100

Free practice questions here

OpenExamPrep

Cambridge IGCSE Mandarin Chinese (0547/0523) is a two-year foreign-language course assessed by four skill papers (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking). Candidates must handle simplified-character reading and writing, basic grammar (measure words, aspect particles, 把/被 sentences), HSK 3-4 vocabulary, and core Chinese cultural knowledge on the 2026 specification.

Sample IGCSE Mandarin Chinese Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your IGCSE Mandarin Chinese exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1选择正确的量词:三____书。
A.
B.
C.
D.
Explanation: 书 (book) takes the measure word 本. The pattern is number + 本 + 书. Bound paper objects (books, magazines) consistently use 本.
2选择正确的量词:一____纸。
A.
B.
C.
D.
Explanation: 纸 (paper) takes 张, the measure word for flat, sheet-like objects. The same applies to 桌子, 床, 票 and 照片.
3选择正确的量词:两____狗。
A.
B.
C.
D.
Explanation: Most small animals take 只, including 一只狗, 一只猫, 一只鸟. 条 is also acceptable for dogs in some regional usage, but 只 is the standard textbook answer.
4选择正确的量词:三____老师。
A.
B.
C.
D.
Explanation: 位 is the polite, respectful measure word for people, used for teachers, guests, professionals: 一位老师, 一位客人. It conveys respect and is preferred over 个 for honoured individuals.
5选择正确的量词:一____裤子。
A.
B.
C.
D.
Explanation: 条 is used for long, narrow garments and objects — 一条裤子 (trousers), 一条裙子 (skirt), 一条围巾 (scarf). The shape is the deciding factor.
6选择正确的量词:一____衬衫。
A.
B.
C.
D.
Explanation: 件 is the measure word for upper-body clothing and individual articles: 一件衬衫 (shirt), 一件毛衣 (sweater), 一件大衣 (coat). It also applies to abstract things like 一件事 (a matter).
7选择正确的量词:一____鞋。
A.
B.
C.
D.
Explanation: 双 is the measure word for pairs of items that come together: 一双鞋 (pair of shoes), 一双袜子 (socks), 一双筷子 (chopsticks). Use 只 for just one of the pair.
8选择正确的量词:一____伞。
A.
B.
C.
D.
Explanation: 把 is the measure word for objects with a handle or grip: 一把伞 (umbrella), 一把椅子 (chair), 一把刀 (knife), 一把钥匙 (key). The handle is the key feature.
9选择正确的量词:一____水。
A.
B.
C.
D.
Explanation: 杯 means a cup or glass and is used as a container measure word: 一杯水 (a glass of water), 一杯茶 (cup of tea), 一杯咖啡 (cup of coffee). 瓶 (bottle) is also possible but specifies bottled water.
10选择正确的量词:三____啤酒。
A.
B.
C.
D.
Explanation: 瓶 means bottle and is the typical measure word for bottled drinks: 一瓶啤酒 (bottle of beer), 一瓶水, 一瓶酒. 杯 (glass) is also possible but emphasises the serving glass.

About the IGCSE Mandarin Chinese Exam

Cambridge IGCSE Mandarin Chinese (Foreign Language) is offered by Cambridge International under syllabus codes 0547 and 0523. The course covers five prescribed topic areas — everyday activities, personal and social life, the world around us, the world of work, and the international perspective — and is assessed through four skill papers in listening, reading, writing and speaking.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

Approx. 4 hours total across Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking papers

Passing Score

Grade C or above is typically considered a pass; grading uses A*-G scale

Exam Fee

£60-£140 entry fee per subject (school-set; varies by centre) (Cambridge International (CAIE))

IGCSE Mandarin Chinese Exam Content Outline

~30%

Grammar and Sentence Structure

Measure words (量词), aspect particles 了/过/着, directional and result complements, 把 disposal and 被 passive sentences, comparison patterns (比, 没有, 一样), question forms, and common conjunctions

~25%

Vocabulary

HSK 3-4 high-frequency vocabulary, verbs of motion, near-synonyms (看/见/望, 想/觉得/以为), and core chengyu idioms used in everyday Mandarin

~20%

Reading Comprehension

Short authentic-style passages — notices, letters, articles — testing main idea, detail retrieval, and inference

~10%

Characters, Radicals and Pinyin

Radicals (氵, 木, 心/忄, 言/讠), stroke order, pinyin tones, simplified vs traditional, and commonly confused character pairs

~10%

Chinese Culture

Festivals (春节, 中秋节, 端午节, 元宵节), symbolic foods, zodiac, tea, calligraphy, Confucianism, Tang poetry, and modern China

~5%

Translation

Short English to Chinese and Chinese to English rendering, selecting the most accurate equivalent expression

How to Pass the IGCSE Mandarin Chinese Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Grade C or above is typically considered a pass; grading uses A*-G scale
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: Approx. 4 hours total across Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking papers
  • Exam fee: £60-£140 entry fee per subject (school-set; varies by centre)

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

IGCSE Mandarin Chinese Study Tips from Top Performers

1Drill measure words (量词) with the noun they pair with — memorising 个 alone is not enough
2Practise writing characters by hand with correct stroke order; recognition alone will not pass the writing paper
3Use authentic short texts (notices, menus, WeChat-style messages) for reading practice
4Learn the most common 50-100 chengyu idioms — they appear in both reading and writing tasks
5Record yourself on speaking role-plays and compare to model audio for tone accuracy

Frequently Asked Questions

Which syllabus codes does Cambridge use for IGCSE Mandarin?

Cambridge offers IGCSE Mandarin Chinese as a Foreign Language under codes 0547 and 0523 (for non-native speakers) and First Language Chinese as 0509 for native speakers. Most international schools enter foreign-language learners for 0547 or 0523.

When is the IGCSE Mandarin Chinese exam taken?

Cambridge IGCSE exams are taken in the May-June and October-November exam series. Most candidates sit the papers in Year 11 after a two-year course of study.

How is IGCSE Mandarin Chinese graded?

Cambridge IGCSE is graded on the A*-G scale. A* is the highest grade and G is the minimum pass mark; many universities accept C and above as a pass for entry purposes.

How many papers does IGCSE Mandarin Chinese have?

The Foreign Language syllabus has four papers — Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing. Each paper tests a different skill and contributes to the overall grade weighting.