Checkpoint Exam · Checkpoint Exam One — Everyday Basics
الِاخْتِبَارُ الْأَوَّلُ
Checkpoint Exam One — Everyday Basics
A four-skill checkpoint modelled loosely on the structure of the Edexcel GCSE Arabic exam — Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing, each marked separately — scaled to exactly what this course has covered so far. This is a course-internal checkpoint, not an official past paper.
TEACHER NOTES — RUNNING THIS EXAM
Covers: Chapters One through Eight — greetings, pronouns, question words, demonstratives, adjectives, numbers, family & colours, days & time. No verbs are required or tested at this checkpoint.
Suggested timing: ~15 min Listening, ~10 min Speaking (per student, after prep time), ~15 min Reading, ~20 min Writing.
Marking: Score each paper out of 25 (rounded) so the four combine to 100. This checkpoint is diagnostic, not a formal grade — use it to decide whether to slow down before Phase Two's present tense.
PAPER 1 · 25%
الاستماعListening
Listen to the conversation, then answer the questions below in English.
Teacher instructions. Read the following dialogue aloud twice, at natural pace, without translating. Students answer the questions in English from listening alone — no text is shown to them during the reading.
2. Who else lives in the house besides the parents and children? (2 marks)
3. What colour is Maryam's shirt? What colour is her brother's? (2 marks)
4. Where is the house located? (2 marks)
5. What happens on Fridays, and why does Zaynab like this day? (3 marks)
Reveal answers
1. Six (four boys and two girls). 2. Grandfather and grandmother. 3. Red / blue. 4. Near the mosque. 5. The whole family goes to the mosque — it's her favourite day.
MARK SCHEME
Comprehension (10 marks): Award marks per question as marked above.
PAPER 2 · 25%
التحدثSpeaking
Format: 12 minutes' preparation, then up to 5 minutes recorded per student — Role-play, then General Conversation. No picture-discussion at this checkpoint (introduced from Exam B onward).
1Role-play (5 marks) — "Meeting a new student"
You are meeting a new student at school. In Arabic, you must:
Greet them and ask their name
Say where you are from
Ask how many siblings they have
Describe one item you own, including its colour
2General conversation (10 marks) — "My family and my week"
The teacher asks unscripted follow-up questions from this bank. Students should answer in full sentences, not single words.
كَمْ شَخْصًا فِي أُسْرَتِكَ؟ (How many people are in your family?)
مَا لَوْنُكَ الْمُفَضَّلُ؟ (What's your favourite colour?)
مَاذَا عِنْدَكَ فِي حَقِيبَتِكَ؟ (What do you have in your bag?)
أَيُّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ يَوْمُكَ الْمُفَضَّلُ؟ وَلِمَاذَا؟ (Which day is your favourite, and why?)
MARK SCHEME
Communication (5 marks): Task achieved, understood without strain
Range (5 marks): Uses varied vocabulary from Chapters 1–8, not one repeated phrase
Accuracy (5 marks): Correct gender agreement, numbers, and pronunciation
1. How many siblings does Yūsuf have, and of which gender? (2)
2. Contrast his father and grandfather in one detail each. (2)
3. Name two things in his bag besides the pen. (2)
4. What happens every week, and on which day? (2)
2Translation into English (7 marks)
Translate this sentence in full: بَيْتُنَا قَدِيمٌ لَكِنَّهُ جَمِيلٌ، وَفِيهِ حَدِيقَةٌ كَبِيرَةٌ.
Reveal model answer
"Our house is old, but it is beautiful, and it has a big garden." — 1 mark per correctly rendered clause/detail (old / beautiful / garden / big), up to 7 for full accuracy and natural English.
MARK SCHEME
Comprehension (8 marks): 1 mark per correct detail, as shown
Translation (7 marks): Accuracy and completeness of meaning transfer
PAPER 4 · 25%
الكتابةWriting
1Short writing task (12 marks) — "My family" (40–60 words)
In Arabic, write a short paragraph introducing yourself and your family. You must include: your name and where you're from; how many people are in your family and who they are; one description using a colour; one description using an adjective (size, age, or quality). Do not use any verbs — this checkpoint only requires nominal sentences.
Vowel marks (tashkīl) are optional — you don’t need them for a correct answer.
MARK SCHEME
Content (4 marks): All four required elements present
Range (4 marks): Varied vocabulary beyond the bare minimum
Accuracy (4 marks): Gender agreement, correct number forms, spelling
2Translation into Arabic (8 marks)
Translate into Arabic: "My grandmother's house is small, but it is beautiful. I have two brothers and one sister."
Vowel marks (tashkīl) are optional — you don’t need them for a correct answer.
Reveal model answer
بَيْتُ جَدَّتِي صَغِيرٌ، لَكِنَّهُ جَمِيلٌ. عِنْدِي أَخَوَانِ وَأُخْتٌ وَاحِدَةٌ. — 1 mark per correctly rendered idea/agreement point, up to 8.
MARK SCHEME
Translation (8 marks): Correct meaning, gender agreement (جدتي fem., بيت masc.), and number forms
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