Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary Level
8680 Arabic Language November 2016
Principal Examiner Report for Teachers
ARABIC LANGUAGE
Paper 8680/21
Reading and Writing
Key Messages
In order to do well in this paper candidates should:
• expand their range of vocabulary by reading more widely, and learn synonyms and antonyms
• practise use of all types of pronouns
• learn correct conjugation of verbs, particularly the present tense in all cases
• practise use of the dual in all cases
• practise the agreement of adjectives
• select relevant information to write a summary and respond to comprehension questions
General comments
Overall, the standard of answers was average.
Candidates should be reminded not to copy out sections of the text and, as far as possible, they should use
their own words and phrases, particularly in response to Questions 3, 4 and 5.
Comments on Specific questions
Question 1
Candidates need to review the difference between a synonym and an antonym.
Question 2
The common mistakes made by candidates in response to this question were as follows:
(a) .
(e) .
Question 3
Candidates need to revise how to identify relevant information, in particular to answer parts (a), (b) and
(c).The parts of this question which candidates answered best were parts (d), (e), (f) and (g) and the
following are examples of good answers to these questions:.
(d) ٕ
.
(e) .
© 2016
Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary Level
8680 Arabic Language November 2016
Principal Examiner Report for Teachers
Question 4
Candidates need to revise how to identify relevant information, in particular to answer parts (c), (d) and (e).
The parts of this question which candidates answered best were parts (a), (b) and (f).
Question 5
Candidates who scored good marks for this question were those who used the ideas from the two texts to
demonstrate how parents could enable their children to benefit from a library and toys at home, and how
these resources could be developed further. The following is an example of a good answer to this question:
(b) . .
© 2016
Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary Level
8680 Arabic November 2016
Principal Examiner Report for Teachers
ARABIC
Paper 8680/22
Reading and Writing
Key messages
In order to do well in this paper candidates should:
• expand their range of vocabulary by reading more widely, and learn synonyms and antonyms
• practise use of all types of pronouns
• learn correct conjugation of verbs, particularly the present tense in all cases and the past tense in all
cases
• learn the use of ‘ ّ ’إنand its sisters
• practise use of masculine and feminine gender
• select relevant information to write a summary and respond to comprehension questions.
General comments
Overall, the standard of answers was average.
Candidates should be reminded not to copy out sections of the text and, as far as possible, they should use
their own words and phrases, particularly in response to Questions 3, 4 and 5.
Comments on specific questions
Question 1
Candidates need to review the difference between a synonym and an antonym.
Question 2
The common mistakes made by candidates in response to this question were as follows:
(a) .¯Ɔŗƅ§ ñ Áƈ řŸ·Ɓ ŕƊƅ §ÃŸƊŰƔ ÀƎƆŸƅ
(b) řƂƆŸƈ ©¯ƎŮƈ ©²Ƅ§°ƅ§ Ɠž Ɠƅ
Question 3
Candidates need to revise how to identify relevant information, in particular to answer parts (a), (b) and (c).
The parts of this question which candidates answered best were parts (d), (e), (f) and (g) and the following
are examples of good answers to these questions:
(d) .ŕŗŰƅ§ Ɠž ¨Ɯ·ƅ§ ŶƈŠśƔ
(e) řƔśƊƈŬƙ§ Á§±¯Šƅ§ ÁƔŗ řƆƔ÷ ©¯ƈƅ Ƌ¤ŕƂŗà ©±ƔŝƄƅ§ ªŕŷŕƈśŠƛ§
© 2016
Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary Level
8680 Arabic November 2016
Principal Examiner Report for Teachers
Question 4
Candidates need to revise how to identify relevant information, in particular to answer parts (c) and (d). The
parts of this question which candidates answered best were parts (a), (b) and (e).
(a).ŕƎŗ řƔŕƊŸƅ§Ã ŕƎŝ§±śŗ Àŕƈśƍƛ§ ŕƎƔž ÀƆŸśś ¿ŕƔŠƗ§ ÁƗ řŬ±¯ƈ řƔŗŸŮƅ§ ½§ÃŬƗ§
Question 5
Candidates who scored good marks for this question were those who used the ideas from the two texts to
demonstrate the benefits of public markets to society and describe what handicraft items they like in their
country. The following is an example of a good answer to this question:
(b) ÁƔ²ś Ɠśƅ§ ªŕŲñŸƈƅ§ ¹ÃƊśŗ ²ŕśƈƔà ¨ŕ·Ã °ƅ ŕƈ ƌƔž ¯Š£ ƓƊƗ ůƆŗ Ɠž řƔïƔƅ§ ¿ŕżŮƗ§ ½ÃŬ Ɠž ƓƊŗŠŸƔ
. ½ÃŬƅ§ §°ƍ ¿ƈŠ£ ŕƈ .ÁñƔŝƄ Àƍà ¨ƊŕŠƗ§ ±§Ã²ƅ§ ŕƎŗ «¯ţśƔ ©¯Ɣ¯ŷ ªŕżƅ ŶƈŬ£ ƌƔžÃ . řſƆśŦƈ Á§Ãƅōŗ
© 2016
Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary Level
8680 Arabic Language November 2016
Principal Examiner Report for Teachers
ARABIC LANGUAGE
Paper 8680/23
Reading and Writing
Key Messages
In order to do well in this paper candidates should:
• expand their range of vocabulary by reading more widely, and learn synonyms and antonyms
• practise use of all types of pronouns
• learn correct conjugation of verbs, particularly the present tense in all cases
• practise use of the dual in all cases
• practise the agreement of adjectives
• select relevant information to write a summary and respond to comprehension questions
General comments
Overall, the standard of answers was average.
Candidates should be reminded not to copy out sections of the text and, as far as possible, they should use
their own words and phrases, particularly in response to Questions 3, 4 and 5.
Comments on Specific questions
Question 1
Candidates need to review the difference between a synonym and an antonym.
Question 2
The common mistakes made by candidates in response to this question were as follows:
(a) .
(e) .
Question 3
Candidates need to revise how to identify relevant information, in particular to answer parts (a), (b) and
(c).The parts of this question which candidates answered best were parts (d), (e), (f) and (g) and the
following are examples of good answers to these questions:.
(d) ٕ
.
(e) .
© 2016
Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary Level
8680 Arabic Language November 2016
Principal Examiner Report for Teachers
Question 4
Candidates need to revise how to identify relevant information, in particular to answer parts (c), (d) and (e).
The parts of this question which candidates answered best were parts (a), (b) and (f).
Question 5
Candidates who scored good marks for this question were those who used the ideas from the two texts to
demonstrate how parents could enable their children to benefit from a library and toys at home, and how
these resources could be developed further. The following is an example of a good answer to this question:
(b) . .
© 2016
Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level
8680 Arabic November 2016
Principal Examiner Report for Teachers
ARABIC
Paper 8680/31
Essay
Key Messages
Essays written for this paper need to be accurate in terms of language used, with very good use of
vocabulary. The content needs to be very well-argued, supported with examples when necessary. It has
been observed that in some Centres, a number of candidates wrote extremely similar introductions and
conclusions which seemed to have been memorized before the exam. Teachers are encouraged to help
students to be more creative and provide their own vision in their writing.
General Comments
This is an essay paper for which candidates are required to produce only one essay from a choice of five
topics. The essay is marked out of 40, with 16 marks for the Content and 24 marks for Quality of Language.
Candidates who scored highly in Question 1 provided more examples about the behaviour of youth and how
it can be affected or not by the behaviour of their fellow friends. Question 2 answers which scored very well
focused on the different personal experiences of ads, and how it influenced the customers. Students
successfully provided examples from their own lives. High performing responses for Question 3 presented
different opinions on the two best ways to learn (memorising and understanding). Strong answers to
Question 4 were characterised by being able to argue that the boom of mobile phone technology may
impact social relationships. Question 5 responses which scored well presented different activities to protect
the environment.
Comments on Specific Questions
Question 1
This question was popular, and answered by many candidates. Candidates discussed and gave examples of
how young people can be affected by their peers’ behaviour.
Question 2
This topic was less popular. Candidates discussed how customers can be influenced by ads, drawing from
their own experience.
Question 3
This question was also quite popular. Candidates produced excellent essays by referring to their own
learning experiences.
Question 4
Candidates were successful in sharing their opinions on the effect of the mobile phone technology on social
and family relationships.
Question 5
This topic was the most popular. Candidates produced coherent and in-depth essays on how to protect the
environment.
© 2016
Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level
8680 Arabic November 2016
Principal Examiner Report for Teachers
ARABIC
Paper 8680/32
Essay
Key Messages
Essays written for this paper need to be accurate in terms of language used, with very good use of
vocabulary. The content needs to be very well-argued, supported with examples when necessary. It has
been observed that in some Centres, a number of candidates wrote extremely similar introductions and
conclusions which seemed to have been memorized before the exam. Teachers are encouraged to help
students to be more creative and provide their own vision in their writing.
General Comments
This is an essay paper for which candidates are required to produce only one essay from a choice of five
topics. The essay is marked out of 40, with 16 marks for the Content and 24 marks for Quality of Language.
Candidates who scored highly in Question 1 provided more examples about the behaviour of youth and how
it can be affected or not by the behaviour of their fellow friends. Question 2 answers which scored very well
focused on the different personal experiences of ads, and how it influenced the customers. Students
successfully provided examples from their own lives. High performing responses for Question 3 presented
different opinions on the two best ways to learn (memorising and understanding). Strong answers to
Question 4 were characterised by being able to argue that the boom of mobile phone technology may
impact social relationships. Question 5 responses which scored well presented different activities to protect
the environment.
Comments on Specific Questions
Question 1
This question was popular, and answered by many candidates. Candidates discussed and gave examples of
how young people can be affected by their peers’ behaviour.
Question 2
This topic was less popular. Candidates discussed how customers can be influenced by ads, drawing from
their own experience.
Question 3
This question was also quite popular. Candidates produced excellent essays by referring to their own
learning experiences.
Question 4
Candidates were successful in sharing their opinions on the effect of the mobile phone technology on social
and family relationships.
Question 5
This topic was the most popular. Candidates produced coherent and in-depth essays on how to protect the
environment.
© 2016
Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level
8680 Arabic November 2016
Principal Examiner Report for Teachers
ARABIC
Paper 8680/33
Essay
Key Messages
Essays written for this paper need to be accurate in terms of language used, with very good use of
vocabulary. The content needs to be very well-argued, supported with examples when necessary. It has
been observed that in some Centres, a number of candidates wrote extremely similar introductions and
conclusions which seemed to have been memorized before the exam. Teachers are encouraged to help
students to be more creative and provide their own vision in their writing.
General Comments
This is an essay paper for which candidates are required to produce only one essay from a choice of five
topics. The essay is marked out of 40, with 16 marks for the Content and 24 marks for Quality of Language.
Candidates who scored highly in Question 1 provided more examples about the behaviour of youth and how
it can be affected or not by the behaviour of their fellow friends. Question 2 answers which scored very well
focused on the different personal experiences of ads, and how it influenced the customers. Students
successfully provided examples from their own lives. High performing responses for Question 3 presented
different opinions on the two best ways to learn (memorising and understanding). Strong answers to
Question 4 were characterised by being able to argue that the boom of mobile phone technology may
impact social relationships. Question 5 responses which scored well presented different activities to protect
the environment.
Comments on Specific Questions
Question 1
This question was popular, and answered by many candidates. Candidates discussed and gave examples of
how young people can be affected by their peers’ behaviour.
Question 2
This topic was less popular. Candidates discussed how customers can be influenced by ads, drawing from
their own experience.
Question 3
This question was also quite popular. Candidates produced excellent essays by referring to their own
learning experiences.
Question 4
Candidates were successful in sharing their opinions on the effect of the mobile phone technology on social
and family relationships.
Question 5
This topic was the most popular. Candidates produced coherent and in-depth essays on how to protect the
environment.
© 2016
