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Cambridge (CIE) · A Level

Arabic 9680

Build vocabulary and grammar for everyday communication. Practise reading, listening, writing and speaking through familiar topics and original examples.

15 lessons and reviews0 practice setsSyllabus 2025–2028
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At a glance

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
Explore the sections

Published syllabus exam years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028. Confirm exam-series and centre availability with your school and Cambridge.

Syllabus 2025–2028

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

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Study 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

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

Assessment limitation

  • Full timed mock and official-style gradingTIMED-MOCK · Assessment limitation, not a syllabus section
    Teacher, centre, or specialist assessment required

Assessment limitation · 9680 literature

  • Year-specific 9680 prescribed books, stories and pagesC4-SET-TEXTS · Assessment limitation, not a syllabus section
    Teacher, centre, or specialist assessment required
  • Human review of Arabic literary interpretationC4-MARKING · Assessment limitation, not a syllabus section
    Teacher, centre, or specialist assessment required
Practice the papers
Assessment skills

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Lessons and worked examples

Your topic map

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All subject practice

Choose a lesson, try the practice and explain the idea without your notes. Your study checks help you decide what to review.

  1. 01

    Read two related Arabic passages with evidence

    Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea

    Not started
  2. 02

    Use Arabic vocabulary and grammar from context

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  3. 03

    Summarise, compare and add a personal response

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  4. 04

    Plan a clear, balanced Arabic essay

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  5. 05

    Discuss relationships, family and generations

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  6. 06

    Explore daily life, places, media and food

    Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea

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  7. 07

    Weigh health, work, rights and leisure

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  8. 08

    Discuss travel, education and cultural heritage

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  9. 09

    Evaluate social change, science and the environment

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  10. 10

    Prepare the five 9680/8680 essay topics for 2025

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  11. 11

    Prepare the five 9680/8680 essay topics for 2026

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  12. 12

    Prepare the five 9680/8680 essay topics for 2027

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  13. 13

    Prepare the five 9680/8680 essay topics for 2028

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  14. 14

    Analyse a prescribed Arabic literary text

    Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea

    Not started
  15. 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.

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