Arabic 9680
Build vocabulary and grammar for everyday communication. Practise reading, listening, writing and speaking through familiar topics and original examples.
What you'll cover
- Syllabus content · topic areas
- Assessment skills · Component 2 / Paper 2
- Assessment skills · Component 3 / Paper 3
- Assessment skills · Component 4 / Paper 4
- Assessment skills · Component 5 / Paper 5
- Assessment content · annual essay topics
Published syllabus exam years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028. Confirm exam-series and centre availability with your school and Cambridge.
Cambridge International A Level Arabic syllabus map
2025 archive and 2026–2028 syllabuses · exam-year-specific Component 3 topics
37 of 37 sections have teaching and practice
Start the learning pathwayStudy options and assessment
15 original lessons map all 27 published topic areas, Component 2 reading/language/summary skills, and the 2025–2028 annual essay topics, with explained examples and Guided, Independent and Transfer practice. Component 4 method practice and Component 5 translation are included; the exact prescribed texts, Arabic-specialist marking and full-length mocks remain open limitations. These legacy routes have published syllabuses through 2028. Cambridge's current subject pages say 9680/8680 is limited to zones 3 and 4 for June 2027–2028, and zone 4, Mauritius and the Maldives for November 2027–2028; from 2029, only Mauritius centres can enter the legacy code and international centres should use 9865. The 2028 syllabus front matter describes November availability differently from the subject-page notice, so have the exams officer confirm the exact zone and series with Cambridge. This is an original, topic-mapped learning sequence, not a complete 180-hour AS or 360-hour A Level guided course. Arabic extended writing is self-reviewed, not marked by Cambridge or given an official grade; a qualified Arabic teacher should review it. It is not a timed mock. All practice passages and prompts here are original. The 9680 literature route teaches transferable analysis but does not replace reading the exact year-specific prescribed books, editions and pages.
The 2025–2028 topic rows below follow each published syllabus year. Cambridge says 9680/8680 change to code 9865 for international centres from 2029; from 2029 the legacy codes remain available only in Mauritius. Cambridge lists 9865 for 2029–2031. These legacy routes have published syllabuses through 2028. Cambridge's current subject pages say 9680/8680 is limited to zones 3 and 4 for June 2027–2028, and zone 4, Mauritius and the Maldives for November 2027–2028; from 2029, only Mauritius centres can enter the legacy code and international centres should use 9865. The 2028 syllabus front matter describes November availability differently from the subject-page notice, so have the exams officer confirm the exact zone and series with Cambridge.
Choose your paper route
- AS Language 8680 · stand-aloneComponent 2 + Component 3 · grades a–e
The AS-only award consists of the shared reading/writing paper and the annual 250–400-word essay. It has no literature or prose-translation papers.
- A Level Arabic 9680 · full awardComponents 2, 3, 4 and 5 in one examination series · grades A*–E
Candidates take all four components in the same series. Components 4 and 5 add year-specific literature and English-to-Arabic prose translation.
Cambridge recommends prior Arabic study equivalent to IGCSE/O Level and estimates about 180 guided learning hours for AS and 360 for A Level. The number of hours varies with prior experience. Confirm exam year, zone, series and entry with your school.
View syllabus coverage
The syllabus has 27 broad topic areas and assesses Arabic reading, language accuracy, information selection and logical argument. This map gives an original starter sequence and links each topic area to learning and staged practice. Each year also has its own five Component 3 essay topics. This is an original, topic-mapped learning sequence, not a complete 180-hour AS or 360-hour A Level guided course. Arabic extended writing is self-reviewed, not marked by Cambridge or given an official grade; a qualified Arabic teacher should review it. It is not a timed mock. All practice passages and prompts here are original. The 9680 literature route teaches transferable analysis but does not replace reading the exact year-specific prescribed books, editions and pages.
Syllabus content · topic areas
- Human relationshipsS1
- FamilyS2
- Generation gapS3
- Young peopleS4
- Patterns of daily lifeS5
- Urban and rural lifeS6
- The mediaS7
- Food and drinkS8
- Law and orderS9
- Philosophy and beliefS10
- Health and fitnessS11
- Work and leisureS12
- Equality of opportunityS13
- Employment and unemploymentS14
- SportS15
- Free time activitiesS16
- Travel and tourismS17
- EducationS18
- Cultural life/heritageS19
- War and peaceS20
- Social and economic developmentS21
- Scientific and medical advancesS22
- Technological innovationS23
- EnvironmentS24
- ConservationS25
- PollutionS26
- Contemporary aspects of Arabic-speaking countriesS27
Assessment skills · Component 2 / Paper 2
- Read and answer questions on two related Arabic passagesC2-READ
- Vocabulary recognition and grammatical manipulationC2-LANG
- Summary/comparison with personal responseC2-SUM
Assessment skills · Component 3 / Paper 3
- Organise a 250–400-word set-topic essayC3-ESSAY
Assessment skills · Component 4 / Paper 4
- Analyse a prescribed text for 9680C4-ANALYSIS
Assessment skills · Component 5 / Paper 5
- Translate a short English prose passage for 9680C5-TRANSLATION
Assessment content · annual essay topics
- Component 3 / Paper 3 set topics · 2025C3-2025
- Component 3 / Paper 3 set topics · 2026C3-2026
- Component 3 / Paper 3 set topics · 2027C3-2027
- Component 3 / Paper 3 set topics · 2028C3-2028
Assessment limitation
- Full timed mock and official-style gradingTIMED-MOCK · Assessment limitation, not a syllabus sectionTeacher, centre, or specialist assessment required
Assessment limitation · 9680 literature
- Year-specific 9680 prescribed books, stories and pagesC4-SET-TEXTS · Assessment limitation, not a syllabus sectionTeacher, centre, or specialist assessment required
- Human review of Arabic literary interpretationC4-MARKING · Assessment limitation, not a syllabus sectionTeacher, centre, or specialist assessment required
Practice the papers
Practice the papers
- Related passages, comprehension and summaryComponent 2 / Paper 2 · 3 lessonsRead two related Arabic passages with evidenceUse Arabic vocabulary and grammar from contextSummarise, compare and add a personal response
1 hour 45 minutes · 70 marks. Two related passages, no more than 750 words combined; vocabulary and grammatical manipulation; comprehension; about 140 words drawing on both texts plus an opinion. AS weighting 70%; A Level weighting 35%.
- Annual set-topic essayComponent 3 / Paper 3 · 5 lessonsPlan a clear, balanced Arabic essayPrepare the five 9680/8680 essay topics for 2025Prepare the five 9680/8680 essay topics for 2026Prepare the five 9680/8680 essay topics for 2027Prepare the five 9680/8680 essay topics for 2028
1 hour 30 minutes · 40 marks. Choose one question from five topics set for the examination year; write 250–400 words. Quality of language 24 marks, content 16. AS weighting 30%; A Level weighting 20%. The route must match the entered exam year.
- Prescribed literary texts · 9680 A LevelComponent 4 / Paper 4 · 1 lessons
2 hours 30 minutes · 75 marks · 35% of A Level. Answer three questions on different prescribed texts and study at least one from each syllabus section. About 500–600 words per answer. Exact books, pages and editions change by year; use the official syllabus. This method practice does not provide a set-text study sequence or Cambridge marks.
- English-to-Arabic prose translation · 9680 A LevelComponent 5 / Paper 5 · 1 lessons
45 minutes · 40 marks · 10% of A Level. Translate a short English passage into Arabic. Practice is original and self-reviewed; Arabic-teacher feedback is needed for dependable assessment.
Lessons and worked examples
Choose where to begin
Choose a lesson, try the practice and explain the idea without your notes. Your study checks help you decide what to review.
- 01
Read two related Arabic passages with evidence
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 02
Use Arabic vocabulary and grammar from context
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 03
Summarise, compare and add a personal response
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 04
Plan a clear, balanced Arabic essay
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 05
Discuss relationships, family and generations
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 06
Explore daily life, places, media and food
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 07
Weigh health, work, rights and leisure
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 08
Discuss travel, education and cultural heritage
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 09
Evaluate social change, science and the environment
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Not started - 10
Prepare the five 9680/8680 essay topics for 2025
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 11
Prepare the five 9680/8680 essay topics for 2026
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 12
Prepare the five 9680/8680 essay topics for 2027
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Not started - 13
Prepare the five 9680/8680 essay topics for 2028
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 14
Analyse a prescribed Arabic literary text
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 15
Translate English prose into clear Arabic
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started
These checks record your study activity and self-assessment, not a mastery score. Check the course coverage map for available lessons and remaining topics.
Practise this subject
Topic tests: Easy, Normal and Difficult
Choose a topic, save your answers and compare your reasoning with worked models. See available tests and any coverage gaps.
Browse 37 topics →No StudyForA practice set is published for this exact qualification yet. Use the official papers below or in the resource guide.