0547 is the Cambridge code for IGCSE Mandarin (Foreign Language). It appears on entry forms, syllabus documents and specimen papers, and it is the first thing to confirm before you plan your Mandarin revision.
This page states only what is stable and points you to Cambridge for everything else. The subject page on the Cambridge website is the official source.
What does the code tell you?
The code names the qualification, not your exam year. Cambridge issues syllabus documents for runs of exam years, so the code and your exam year must be confirmed together.
Three codes cover Chinese and Mandarin pathways: 0509, 0523 and 0547. Their scope, task demands and entry routes are not interchangeable.
How do I confirm my syllabus in five steps?
- Ask your school or exam centre for your entry code and exam year, in writing.
- Open the Cambridge 0547 subject page and find the syllabus document listed for your exam year.
- Write down the document name and year at the start of your revision file.
- Use the syllabus navigator to record what is confirmed and what is still open.
- Compare versions with the syllabus version viewer if your notes come from another year.
What if my course book and my entry do not match?
This happens when a school uses a general Mandarin course book while the entry is for a specific Cambridge code. The book teaches the language. The code decides which tasks and expectations you prepare for.
Keep the course book for learning, and use the Cambridge documents for your exam year to decide what to practise. If a unit seems to sit outside your syllabus, mark it “check” and ask your teacher or centre.
What should I check with my exam centre?
Your exam centre can answer these. Ask them:
- Which exam series am I entered for? Do not assume one.
- Is my entry code 0547, and is it written on my entry confirmation?
- What are the registration and entry deadlines?
- Do any access arrangements apply to my entry?
Private candidates deal with the centre and Cambridge directly. Confirm the details with the centre you plan to use.
A short example of using the code
A student has a Mandarin course book unit about shopping, with the sentence “这件衣服多少钱？”, and a sample essay from a relative who sat 0509. The student’s entry says 0547.
The student records the 0547 syllabus document for their exam year. The shopping unit stays, because building vocabulary supports any Mandarin route. The essay is marked “different code, do not copy the task style”, and the student asks a teacher how its ideas could be adapted.
The code tells you which resources are for learning the language and which are for preparing for your paper.
What do we not state here?
Take paper numbers, durations, weightings and grade thresholds from the current Cambridge syllabus for your exam year. Those belong to Cambridge and may change between versions. Assessed Chinese-language work stays in Chinese, and the script and response instructions for your route are on the Cambridge page for your exam year.
Where to go next
Read how to tell the three entries apart, build a plan with the study route guide, and read the assessment guide. The Chinese learning guide maps the subject.
When your code and year are confirmed, online one-to-one Chinese tuition can start from the right syllabus.