Paper 3: listening, reading and writing
The shortest paper, and usually the one students feel least prepared for — because listening to authentic Arabic is hard to practise alone.
Paper 3 is 60 marks and 30% of the qualification. No dictionary.
Section A
Draws on all the sub-themes across the four themes. Broad coverage, so nothing on the specification is safe to ignore.
Section B
One unseen listening source and one unseen written source from a single sub-theme, with a task that assesses listening, reading and writing together.
How to prepare for it
Listen to unscripted Arabic regularly — news, interviews, podcasts — not only your tutor’s voice. Paper 3 punishes students who have only ever heard one accent at one speed. Build the habit across both years rather than cramming it in the final term.
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