Read for meaning in the 2025–2027 paper format
Practise all six groups of Paper 2 while preserving its 45-mark format, including the short Arabic-response tasks that change from 2028.
Exam scope and assessment notes
All Arabic passages, prompts, recordings scripts, model answers and practice questions here are original StudyForA material, not Cambridge questions or audio. Reading and writing responses are self-checked against the lesson explanations, not Cambridge-marked. Speaking practice supports rehearsal and self-review; it cannot reproduce the supervised centre assessment, examiner interaction, moderation or official pronunciation/fluency marks. Listening uses browser speech synthesis where available; this is not Cambridge audio and accents, pace and pronunciation may differ. There is no complete timed specimen paper here. The broad topic areas and grammar groups are mapped, but the separate vocabulary list has not yet been reconciled word by word, and the grammar appendix still needs an item-by-item specialist cross-check. Confirm current syllabus, exam series and entry availability with your centre.
Before you begin
Work on paper. Try each question before revealing help, and explain why your method works.
Quick readiness check
A passage says a class starts at nine and ends at eleven. The question asks when it ends. Which answer fits?
What you will learn
- Use pictures, notices and short messages to identify direct information.
- Read emails, messages, postcards or letters for stated and implied details.
- Answer longer-text short-response questions in Arabic using relevant evidence.
- Distinguish the 2025–2027 reading format from the 2028–2030 all-selected-response paper.
What the earlier paper asks
For exams in 2025–2027, Paper 2 is one hour and 45 marks. It has six groups using multiple-choice, matching and short-answer questions in Arabic. Group 1 matches short statements to pictures; Group 2 matches public notices or signs; Groups 3–6 use short and longer written texts, with Arabic short responses in the longer comprehension groups.
Read the question first, identify the requested detail and locate the sentence that supports it. For a short Arabic answer, write only the information requested and check person, number, tense and spelling.
Keep the two cycles separate
From the March 2028 India series and June 2028 onwards, the Reading paper changes to 40 marks and all six question groups are multiple-choice/matching. Do not practise the newer format as if it applied to a 2026 or 2027 entry.
The passages and prompts in this lesson are original. They illustrate skills and are not Cambridge tasks.
Sources for this lesson
Pause and explain
Which feature separates the older Reading paper from the 2028–2030 paper?
Worked example
Original notice: «تفتح المكتبة من الاثنين إلى الجمعة، من الثامنة صباحاً حتى الرابعة عصراً. لا تفتح يوم السبت.» Answer in Arabic: When is it closed?
Show the worked solution
- Find the negated opening day.
- Check whether the question asks for a day or time.
- Answer with the smallest complete phrase.
Answer «لا تفتح يوم السبت.» The notice states the library is closed on Saturday.
From guided practice to a new situation
Write your answer and reasoning first. Use a hint only if you are stuck. The model solution is for self-checking; your written work is not automatically marked.
Read: «وصلت الحافلة إلى المدرسة في السابعة والنصف. بدأ الدرس بعد ذلك بعشر دقائق.» Answer in Arabic: At what time did the lesson begin?
Give me a hint
Use the arrival time as a starting point, then add ten minutes.
Compare my reasoning
- Find the bus arrival time.
- Interpret «بعد ذلك بعشر دقائق».
- Write the lesson start time in Arabic.
«بدأ الدرس في السابعة وأربعين دقيقة.» Ten minutes after 7:30 is 7:40.
Look for these in your work
- Uses the stated starting time
- Adds the correct interval
- Answers in Arabic
An email says: «أزور جدتي كل خميس. هذا الأسبوع سأذهب يوم الجمعة لأن الخميس يوم عطلة.» What is different this week, and why? Answer in Arabic.
Give me a hint
Look for the usual pattern, the changed plan and its reason.
Compare my reasoning
- State the usual visit day.
- Find the changed day.
- Copy the stated reason accurately.
«سأزور جدتي يوم الجمعة هذا الأسبوع لأن الخميس يوم عطلة.» The plan changes from Thursday to Friday because Thursday is a holiday.
Look for these in your work
- Identifies the usual and changed day
- Gives the reason
- Uses a complete relevant response
A learner answered a six-mark comprehension question with a long copied paragraph. Give a method to produce a concise, relevant Arabic answer.
Give me a hint
Use the question word to narrow what evidence you need.
Compare my reasoning
- Underline the requested person, place, time or reason.
- Find the supporting clause in the passage.
- Write a short answer and check its accuracy.
Identify exactly what is asked, locate the matching clause, then answer in Arabic with only the necessary detail. Re-read it against the passage to avoid changing who did what or when.
Look for these in your work
- Targets the question
- Uses passage evidence
- Checks the Arabic answer
Common mistakes
- Answering in English when the older comprehension group requests Arabic
- Copying a whole paragraph instead of the relevant detail
- Using the 2028 format for an earlier exam year
What can you explain now?
What is a safe short-answer strategy for the 2025–2027 paper?
Compare with the explanation
Answer in Arabic with the exact relevant detail and no extra inference
The earlier format includes Arabic short responses in reading.
After trying it yourself, choose your next review. This is your self-assessment.
Your review choice appears on Today. Sign in to sync it across devices.
Make it stick
Before moving on, explain in one sentence: use pictures, notices and short messages to identify direct information.
If you needed the solution, close it and solve the problem again from a blank page. A correct answer is stronger when you can explain the reason for each step.