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: The entire fifty-chapter course. This is the closest checkpoint to an actual Foundation-tier Edexcel GCSE Arabic paper in scope, though still course-internal rather than an official past paper.
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 for a total of 100. This is the summative checkpoint — treat the four scores as a genuine diagnostic of exam readiness, not just a course-completion formality.
PAPER 1 · 25%
الاستماعListening
Listen to the conversation, then answer the questions below in English.
Teacher instructions. Read twice at natural pace. This passage draws on vocabulary and grammar from across the whole course, closest in spirit to an actual Foundation-tier listening extract.
1. What is the conditional promise the mother makes? (2)
2. What is Yūsuf trying to memorise, and why? (2)
3. What reassurance does his mother give him, and on what basis? (3)
4. What is Yūsuf going to review, and what grammatical topic is that? (3)
Reveal answers
1. If he passes the exam, they'll visit his grandmother's for the summer holiday. 2. All the verbs he's learned this year, for the exam. 3. Not to worry — he has studied regularly all year, so she's sure he's ready. 4. The passive verbs — passive voice (Chapter Thirty-Six).
MARK SCHEME
Comprehension (10 marks): As marked above
PAPER 2 · 25%
التحدثSpeaking
Format: Full three-part speaking exam — Role-play, Picture-based discussion, General conversation on two themes (one student-chosen, one set by the teacher) — matching the actual Edexcel structure.
1Role-play (5 marks) — "Planning summer study"
Discuss summer plans with a friend. In Arabic, you must: propose a conditional plan (إِذَا...); mention something you'll review; ask what they did last year; respond to their answer naturally.
2Picture-based discussion (5 marks)
Teacher: describe a family scene aloud (grandparents' house, several relatives, a meal). Student describes it using at least one derived-form verb (Forms II–X) and one participle.
"The only problem they faced was the jussive verbs." — mark for relative clause, كان + accusative khabar, and correct grammatical terminology.
MARK SCHEME
Comprehension (8 marks): As marked above
Translation (7 marks): Relative clause and كان-accusative structure both correct
PAPER 4 · 25%
الكتابةWriting
1Extended writing task (12 marks) — "My year studying Arabic" (100–130 words)
Write a reflective piece on your year studying this course. Required: at least one conditional sentence, one derived-form verb (Forms II–X), one participle, and a mix of past and present tense.
Vowel marks (tashkīl) are optional — you don’t need them for a correct answer.
MARK SCHEME
Content (4 marks): All required structures present, coherent overall piece
Range (4 marks): Vocabulary and grammar drawn from across the whole course, not just recent chapters
Accuracy (4 marks): Consistent conjugation and case marking throughout
2Translation into Arabic (8 marks)
Translate: "If I study regularly, I will understand the derived verb forms. This is the most useful thing I learned this year."
Vowel marks (tashkīl) are optional — you don’t need them for a correct answer.