Student Advice and Preparation Tips.

1. Prepare well and get the right information so that you can approach the exam in a relaxed frame of mind.

2. You will not require deep knowledge of grammar but make sure you know your pronouns as well as the verb conjugation in a variety of tenses.  Being able to use feminine demonstrative pronouns with feminine nouns shows clear understanding of basic grammatical structures.

3. Try not to rely heavily on colloquial language, remember the exam seeks to find out how well you can use modern terms in a variety of contexts.

4. Writing practice is a must so get writing on a regular basis, even if you have to copy chunks of text.

5. Keep your work looking neat, if you need to cross out just put a line through it. Avoid blotches of ink where you have heavily scribbled a word you decided not to use.

6. For the speaking paper try not to use one word answers and preferably try to answer using more than one sentence. You may ask the examiner a question for the exchange to be more interactive.

7. To allow for a good recording and in order for every word of the conversation to be picked up on the audio the student should be close to the microphone, in the speaking paper.

8. Do not spend more than 20 minutes answering section A of the writing paper. Remember that section B is a longer task requiring more time than the first section.

9. Download a few past papers from the Edexcel site and practice these, especially the audios.

10. Know how to find meanings of words in an Arabic dictionary.

11. Make sure you are in contact with someone who can help you work on your Arabic skills.

12. Make sure you are answering the write question. Check the necessary boxes.

13. Thoughtful commentary that consistently links technique to the writer's purpose will score highly.

14. Always try and proof-read your writing.

15. Don't be afraid to ask the examiner to repeat a question if you are not clear on a question.

16. Stay calm, if you have done your homework there is no need to worry.

17. Use some good Arabic books to revise. See the section on Arabic resources. There are many books you can use not just the ones I have picked.

External Examiner Charges.

  Charges are based on:

 

1. Location, whether Local or Outside of Locality.

 

2. Type of Support, marking mock exam scripts or visiting examiner for speaking paper.

 

3. Number of candidates taking speaking paper or number of scripts to be marked.

 

4. Collection and delivery of scripts.

 

5. If a return trip is required for any forms not completed on first visit.

 

 Please email to receive a quote. 

GCSE Arabic Speaking Paper

Speaking paper code: 5ARO2. Old Specification - See updated 2017.

For GCSE Arabic this is the first paper that the student will need to prepare for. Even if you are an Arab you will still need to organise your topics.

The two themes:

1. Media, Travel or Culture.
2. Sport, Leisure or Work.

If you choose a topic from the first theme, like travel (a holiday or trip), then you will need to choose a topic from the second theme, like sport (a favourite football team).

You are not allowed to read from a script for the speaking paper.

The two sections:

In section A the student speaks about a topic from theme 1. They can speak freely without the use of any props or they can use a picture to talk about. After completing the speaking the examiner will ask a number of questions for at least 2 minutes on the first topic in section A.
In section B the student interacts with the examiner in a general conversation based on some questions which the student will respond to for 4-5 minutes. Once section B is complete the exam is over.

Duration: 

The speaking paper lasts for between 8 minutes minimum and 10 minutes maximum. Each section (A and B) is 4 minutes minimum and 5 minutes maximum.

The remaining papers:

The reading and listening papers are done on the same day, in June. The writing paper is the last paper, done on a separate day to the reading and listening papers, also in June.

External Private Candidate Centres.

The following is a list of some links to centres that take external private candidates who wish to sit for GCSE Arabic exams. There are other centres that also allow external private candidates, local Secondary Schools, Colleges, Community or Saturday Schools are the usual options. If you know of a centre and wish to add it below please feel free to use the contact details. If there are any errors or broken links please let me know.

Ealing (London): https://www.ealingindependentcollege.com/external-exam-candidates/

Kensington (London): http://campbellharris.co.uk/Content.asp?ID=41

Blackheath (London):  http://www.corellicollege.org.uk/external-candidates.html

Central Oxford: http://www.greenes.org.uk/examinations/

Aylesbury (between Luton and Oxford): http://www.mapleeducation.co.uk/services/exam-centre

London Exam Centre: http://londonexamcentre.co.uk/

Macclesfield (Cheshire): http://www.privateexaminationcentres.com/

Pdf Guideline: http://www.privateexaminationcentres.com/

GCSE Arabic Resources

• Edexcel GCSE Arabic Site:

http://www.edexcel.com/quals/gcse/gcse09/mfl/arabic/Pages/default.aspx

• Sample Writing Paper:

www.edexcel.com/migrationdocuments/QP%20Current%20GCSE/June%202010%20-%20QP/5AR04_01_que_20100519.pdf

• GCSE Arabic Companion:

www.ebay.co.uk

• Mastering Arabic:

 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mastering-Arabic-Palgrave-Master-Languages/dp/0230013104

• Your Arabic Friend:

www.mmbooks.co.uk/gcse-arabic-books

• Al Arabeya bayna Yadayk

http://www.myislamicbookshop.com/storev2/open-product.php?page=viewproduct&product=books-learn-arabic-language-arabiya-bayna-yadayk-al-arabiyyah-bayna-yadayk-1

• GCSE Arabic Essential Vocabulary List:

http://kitaabun.com/shopping3/product_info.

• Collins Arabic Dictionary:

 

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/

• Al Mawrid Dictionary:

 http://www.goodwordbooks.com/product-details/Al-Mawrid-Al-Quareeb-Pocket-Dictionary---English-Arabic---Arabic-English/1198.html

Speaking Exam or Writing Mocks.

The GCSE Arabic exam usually starts with the student taking the oral first. We can visit your school, as we have done for many schools, and conduct the Arabic speaking paper with the student.

Visits can be arranged to explain to students how to prepare. 

We also mark GCSE Arabic, writing paper, mock exams.

Collection and delivery of mock papers included, according to your deadlines.

Schools Visited for GCSE Arabic

External examiner for Arabic GCSE.

Schools visited include:

Virgo Fidelis Convent Senior School, London SE19

Shirley High School, Croydon

The Archbishop Lanfranc School, Croydon

Harris City Academy, Crystal Palace

Nonsuch High School, Cheam, Surrey

Islamic School for Muslims, Croydon

Ernest Bevin College, Tooting SW17

Langley Park School, Bromley

Norbury Manor Business & Enterprise College

St Josephs College SE19

Addington High School

East Dulwich Academy for Girls, SE22