Arabic 

Arabic Second Language

Examination - Edexcel GCSE, 

Course Content

The Edexcel GCSE Arabic syllabus is designed for students who want to continue their study of Arabic as a Second Language. It is not a course for complete beginners. The programme of study enables students to develop:

• an understanding of Arabic in a variety of contexts

• a knowledge of Arabic vocabulary and structures

• transferable language learning skills

• the ability to communicate effectively in Arabic

• awareness and understanding of countries and communities where Arabic is spoken

• now available in two tiers: Foundation and Higher

Assessment Structure

Unit 1 : 25% Listening & Understanding in Arabic 

Foundation tier: 35 minutes.

Higher tier: 45 minutes.

Unit 2 : 25% Speaking in Arabic

Foundation tier: 7–9 minutes

Higher tier: 10–12 minutes

Unit 3 : 25% Reading and Understanding in Arabic

Students are assessed on their understanding of written Arabic across a range of different types of texts, including advertisements, emails, letters, articles and literary texts. Students are required to respond to multiple-response and short-answer questions based on these texts.

Foundation tier: 50 minutes;

Higher tier: 65 minutes;

Unit 4 : 25% Writing in Arabic

Foundation tier: 1 hour 15 minutes

Higher tier: 1 hour 25 minutes

Key Skills

The Edexcel GCSE in Arabic qualification requires students to:

• Develop the ability to listen to and understand spoken Arabic in a range of contexts and a variety of styles

• Communicate in speech for a variety of purposes

• Read and respond to different types of written language

• Communicate in writing for a variety of purposes

• Understand and apply a range of vocabulary and structures

• Develop language learning and communication skills which can be applied broadly

Careers

Foreign language skills can open doors to all careers and are valued by universities for a range of courses

Arabic First Language

Examination - Cambridge O Level Arabic 3180

Syllabus aims:

The aims of the syllabus are the same for all candidates. The aims are set out below and describe the educational purposes of a course in a language other than English for the Cambridge O Level examination.

The aims are to:

• enable students to communicate accurately, appropriately and effectively in writing

•  enable students to understand and respond appropriately to what they read

•  encourage students to enjoy and appreciate the variety of language

• complement the students’ other areas of study by developing skills of a more general application

(e.g. analysis, synthesis, drawing of inferences)

• promote the students’ personal development and an understanding of themselves and others

Assessment objectives:

There are three assessment objectives:

A Continuous Writing

Candidates will be assessed on their ability to:

• articulate experience and express what is felt and what is imagined order and present facts, ideas and opinions

• communicate effectively and appropriately

• demonstrate an awareness of the conventions of paragraphing, sentence structure, punctuation and spelling

• express thoughts, feelings and opinions in order to interest, inform or convince

• demonstrate adequate control of vocabulary, syntax and grammar, punctuation and spelling.

B Writing for a specific purpose

Candidates will be assessed on their ability to:

• understand and adequately convey information

• understand, order and present facts, ideas and opinions

• evaluate information and select what is relevant to specific purpose

• articulate experience and express what is felt and what is imagined

• communicate effectively and appropriately

• show a sense of audience and an awareness of register and style in both formal and informal situations.

Syllabus aims and assessment objectives

Cambridge O Level Arabic 3180. Syllabus for examination in 2022 and 2023.

Language Usage/Reading Comprehension

Candidates will be assessed on their ability to:

• exercise control of appropriate structures

• understand and employ a range of apt vocabulary

• recognise implicit meaning and attitude

• evaluate information and express it in their own words.

 Description of papers

Dictionaries may not be used in the examination.

 Paper 1: Composition

1½ hours, 45 marks

Section A: Letter, report or speech, dialogue (15 marks)

From a choice of three topics, candidates must write one composition of about 120 words in Arabic. 

The choice of topics will allow candidates to demonstrate ability in using the written language to:

• communicate by letter

• compose a report or speech

• compose a dialogue.

Section B: Essay (30 marks)

From a choice of four topics (narrative, descriptive or argumentative), candidates must write one essay of

about 200 words in Arabic.

Paper 2: Translation and Reading Comprehension

1½ hours, 55 marks

Section A: Translation (30 marks)

Candidates must:

• translate a passage from Arabic into English (10 marks)

• translate a passage from English into Arabic (20 marks).

Section B: Reading Comprehension (25 marks)

Candidates must answer a variety of questions testing their understanding of a set passage.