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Cambridge (CIE) · AS Level

Portuguese — Language (AS only) 8684

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65 lessons and reviews64 written practice lessonsSyllabus 2026–2029 · annual essay lists
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Published syllabus exam years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029. Confirm exam-series and centre availability with your school and Cambridge.

Syllabus 2026–2029 · annual essay lists

Portuguese Language 8684 · partial topic and skill map

2026 Version 1 · 2027 Version 1 · 2028–2029 Version 1

27 of 28 topic and cultural-reading areas have teaching and practice

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Study options and assessment

Sixty-five original lessons provide one hundred and ninety-five guided, independent and application tasks and one hundred and fifty-seven written-response models. All 27 wider topic areas now have introductory teaching; depth remains uneven and the comprehensive cultural reading bank is unfinished. Seven shared-skill lessons support reading, grammar, synthesis, essay writing and speaking preparation. Each prescribed 2026–2029 topic has a reading lesson and an argument lesson with a complete essay. Seven further reading-and-argument sequences use primary publications with explicit dates and source limits, original paraphrases and analysis. Two original 105-minute Reading and Writing papers each have 22 explained responses and a separate review lesson; their fictional texts and proposed content points are for self-checking, not calibrated marking. Twenty-eight complete 250–400-word essays and a short paired-text response are models for comparison, not full examination coverage. Wider-topic essays do not replace the five prescribed topics for each examination year. Partial course: shared skills, topic sequences for the 2026–2029 essay lists and selected wider-topic readings, not full AS preparation. Fictional exercises are labelled as such. Source-based lessons identify real publications, dates and original StudyForA paraphrases separately from our analysis; they do not establish the current situation or represent an entire country. Portuguese examples mainly use European Portuguese; obtain specialist feedback on regional usage, language accuracy and cultural evidence. Written comparisons are self-checks, not AI or Cambridge grades. There is no pronunciation assessment, live examiner, comprehensive authenticated contemporary reading bank or calibrated full-paper marking. 8684 is AS Level Portuguese Language, separate from the full A Level 9718. June examinations only in the checked 2026–2029 syllabuses; confirm centre and administrative-zone entry. AS has Speaking 20 minutes (29%), Reading and Writing 105 minutes (50%), and Essay 90 minutes (21%). Dictionaries are not permitted in any assessment. AS marks cannot be carried forward as staged assessment towards 9718; the full A Level requires all its components in the same series. Component 4 literary set texts belong to 9718, not this AS course.

The annual lists below are verified guidance, not a claim that all those years’ topics have teaching. The published 2025 syllabus remains linked in the catalogue; this course has not verified or mapped its annual essay list. 8684 is AS Level Portuguese Language, separate from the full A Level 9718. June examinations only in the checked 2026–2029 syllabuses; confirm centre and administrative-zone entry. AS has Speaking 20 minutes (29%), Reading and Writing 105 minutes (50%), and Essay 90 minutes (21%). Dictionaries are not permitted in any assessment. AS marks cannot be carried forward as staged assessment towards 9718; the full A Level requires all its components in the same series. Component 4 literary set texts belong to 9718, not this AS course.

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  • AS Language 8684 · assessed componentsSpeaking: 20 minutes, 100 marks, 29% · Reading and Writing: 105 minutes, 70 marks, 50% · Essay: 90 minutes, 40 marks, 21%

    8684 is AS Level Portuguese Language, separate from the full A Level 9718. June examinations only in the checked 2026–2029 syllabuses; confirm centre and administrative-zone entry. AS has Speaking 20 minutes (29%), Reading and Writing 105 minutes (50%), and Essay 90 minutes (21%). Dictionaries are not permitted in any assessment. AS marks cannot be carried forward as staged assessment towards 9718; the full A Level requires all its components in the same series. Component 4 literary set texts belong to 9718, not this AS course.

  • 2026 · five prescribed essay topicsGeneration gap · The media · Employment and unemployment · Free time activities · Social and economic development

    Choose one of the five questions on the actual paper and write 250–400 words. The wider 27-topic map also supports reading and speaking; annual topic lists must not be interchanged. Original reading-and-argument sequences and complete essay models are available for this year. This is not full examination preparation.

  • 2027 · five prescribed essay topicsLaw and order · Health and fitness · Travel and tourism · Scientific and medical advances · Pollution

    Choose one of the five questions on the actual paper and write 250–400 words. The wider 27-topic map also supports reading and speaking; annual topic lists must not be interchanged. Original reading-and-argument sequences and complete essay models are available for this year. This is not full examination preparation.

  • 2028 · five prescribed essay topicsYoung people · Urban and rural life · Food and drink · Equality of opportunity · Sport

    Choose one of the five questions on the actual paper and write 250–400 words. The wider 27-topic map also supports reading and speaking; annual topic lists must not be interchanged. Original reading-and-argument sequences and complete essay models are available for this year. This is not full examination preparation.

  • 2029 · five prescribed essay topicsFamily · Patterns of daily life · Cultural life/heritage · Technological innovation · Environment

    Choose one of the five questions on the actual paper and write 250–400 words. The wider 27-topic map also supports reading and speaking; annual topic lists must not be interchanged. Original reading-and-argument sequences and complete essay models are available for this year. This is not full examination preparation.

Cambridge recommends prior Portuguese study equivalent to IGCSE/O Level. This is not a beginner-language course or a replacement for 180 guided learning hours.

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The 27 topic entries preserve Cambridge’s wider topic areas; a separate content entry tracks a comprehensive authenticated cultural reading bank. Codes are StudyForA identifiers. All 27 topics have introductory teaching: twenty 2026–2029 reading-and-argument sequences and seven sequences using real primary publications. Linked topics are not a percentage of full syllabus preparation. Topic depth is uneven; a few dated cases and source records do not constitute a complete cultural reading programme. Shared-skill lessons are supplemental. The comprehensive cultural reading bank, broader topic depth, specialist review and assessment remain unfinished. Partial course: shared skills, topic sequences for the 2026–2029 essay lists and selected wider-topic readings, not full AS preparation. Fictional exercises are labelled as such. Source-based lessons identify real publications, dates and original StudyForA paraphrases separately from our analysis; they do not establish the current situation or represent an entire country. Portuguese examples mainly use European Portuguese; obtain specialist feedback on regional usage, language accuracy and cultural evidence. Written comparisons are self-checks, not AI or Cambridge grades. There is no pronunciation assessment, live examiner, comprehensive authenticated contemporary reading bank or calibrated full-paper marking.

Wider topic areas

Shared skills · supplemental

Full-paper practice · supplemental

Content gap

  • Comprehensive authenticated contemporary cultural reading and wider topic depthCULTURAL-READING
    Lessons not available yet

Assessment limitation

  • Live speaking, pronunciation review and moderationORAL-ASSESSMENT · Assessment limitation, not a syllabus section
    Teacher, centre, or specialist assessment required
  • Broader full-length practice and calibrated markingFULL-PAPERS · Assessment limitation, not a syllabus section
    Teacher, centre, or specialist assessment required

Specialist review

  • Qualified Portuguese language and cultural reviewSPECIALIST-REVIEW · Assessment limitation, not a syllabus section
    Teacher, centre, or specialist assessment required
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  1. 01

    Choose your Portuguese AS exam-year route

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  2. 02

    Read meaning and justify an inference

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  3. 03

    Change a structure while preserving meaning

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  4. 04

    Combine two texts and add a personal response

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  5. 05

    Build and revise an argumentative essay

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  6. 06

    Plan a presentation about a Portuguese-speaking community

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  7. 07

    Develop a conversation and ask for a viewpoint

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  8. 08

    Generation gap: negotiate a shared space

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  9. 09

    Generation gap: argue for fair use of shared spaces

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  10. 10

    The media: test a claim before sharing it

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  11. 11

    The media: balance speed and verification

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  12. 12

    Employment: evaluate access to training

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  13. 13

    Employment: training and the conditions of opportunity

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  14. 14

    Free time: compare access and regularity

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  15. 15

    Free time: access, choice and reliable provision

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  16. 16

    Development: evaluate who benefits

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  17. 17

    Development: judge growth through its distribution

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  18. 18

    Law and order: separate observation from accusation

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  19. 19

    Law and order: evaluate surveillance and prevention

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  20. 20

    Health and fitness: read a campaign critically

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  21. 21

    Health and fitness: responsibility and opportunity

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  22. 22

    Travel and tourism: hear visitors and residents

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  23. 23

    Travel and tourism: judge growth and local benefit

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  24. 24

    Scientific advances: interpret a pilot study

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  25. 25

    Scientific and medical advances: communicate uncertainty

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  26. 26

    Pollution: interpret what a cleanup measures

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  27. 27

    Pollution: weigh cleanup and prevention

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  28. 28

    Young people: peer pressure and choice

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  29. 29

    Young people: advertising and independent judgement

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  30. 30

    Urban and rural life: distance and access

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  31. 31

    Urban and rural life: evaluate a place to live

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  32. 32

    Food and drink: tradition and adaptation

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  33. 33

    Food and drink: argue about changing traditions

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  34. 34

    Equality of opportunity: rules and access

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  35. 35

    Equality of opportunity: argue about a fair process

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  36. 36

    Sport: competition and participation

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  37. 37

    Sport: success beyond winning

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  38. 38

    Family: responsibility and availability

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  39. 39

    Family: negotiate shared responsibilities

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  40. 40

    Patterns of daily life: flexibility and free time

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  41. 41

    Patterns of daily life: evaluate flexible routines

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  42. 42

    Cultural life and heritage: memory and representation

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  43. 43

    Cultural life and heritage: preserving more than files

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  44. 44

    Technological innovation: use and learning

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  45. 45

    Technological innovation: evaluate educational value

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  46. 46

    Environment: an early result and a wider process

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  47. 47

    Environment: judge improvement over time

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  48. 48

    Education: access, recovery and learning

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  49. 49

    Education: access and the quality of learning

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  50. 50

    Conservation: recognition and continuing care

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  51. 51

    Conservation: recognition and responsibility

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  52. 52

    Contemporary Portugal: a dated public announcement

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  53. 53

    Contemporary issues: judge evidence of public programmes

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  54. 54

    Human relationships: reciprocity and expectations

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  55. 55

    Human relationships: solidarity and autonomy

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  56. 56

    Philosophy and belief: values and disagreement

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  57. 57

    Philosophy and belief: respect and critical dialogue

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  58. 58

    Work and leisure: days, hours and rest

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  59. 59

    Work and leisure: time, intensity and choice

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  60. 60

    War and peace: agreement and implementation

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  61. 61

    War and peace: commitments and lasting change

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  62. 62

    Reading and Writing practice: Information and access

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  63. 63

    Review information and access: meaning before marks

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  64. 64

    Reading and Writing practice: Landscapes and shared access

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  65. 65

    Review shared landscapes: preserve the limits

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