French Sylabus

8. Arabic, Sinhala, Tamil: Assessment at a glance
8.1 Scheme of assessment summary
All candidates take Papers 1 and 2.
Paper 1: Composition (1½ hours)
Section A – 15 marks
One composition of about 120 words from a choice of three topics.
Section B – 30 marks
One essay of about 200 words from a choice of four topics.
Weighting: 45% of total marks
Paper 2: Translation and Reading Comprehension (1½ hours)
Section A – 30 marks
Two translations, one from the target language into English and one from English into the target language. Section B – 25 marks
Open-ended comprehension questions on one set passage.
Weighting: 55% of total marks
8.2 Availability
Arabic is examined in the October/November examination series.
Sinhala and Tamil are examined in the May/June examination series.
These syllabuses are available to private candidates.
Cambridge O levels are available to Centres in Administrative Zones 3, 4 and 5. Centres in Administrative
Zones 1, 2 or 6 wishing to enter candidates for Cambridge O Level examinations should contact Cambridge
Customer Services.Arabic, Sinhala, Tamil: Assessment at a glance
Cambridge O Level Languages 13
8.3 Combining these with other syllabuses
Candidates can combine these syllabuses in an examination series with any other Cambridge syllabus, except: • syllabuses with the same title at the same level.
In addition:
• candidates taking Cambridge O Level Arabic (3180) may not also take Cambridge IGCSE First Language
Arabic (0508)
• candidates taking Cambridge O Level Sinhala (3205) may not also take Cambridge O Level Tamil (3206)
• candidates taking Cambridge O Level Tamil (3206) may not also take Cambridge O Level Sinhala (3205)
Please note that Cambridge O Level, Cambridge International Level 1/Level 2 Certificates and Cambridge
IGCSE syllabuses are at the same level.Arabic, Sinhala, Tamil: Syllabus aims and objectives
14 Cambridge O Level Languages
9. Arabic, Sinhala, Tamil: Syllabus aims