Cambridge O Level Urdu - Second Language (3248)

We have updated this syllabus to make it clearer and to make sure that it reflects current educational thinking.

What are the main changes to the syllabus?

To support teachers and learners, we have:

• revised the content to include an overview and subject content detail
• added information about source texts and topics
• made it clearer that learners should be able to identify opinions and attitudes and understand what is implied but not directly stated within a reading text
• made it explicit that learners are expected to be able to express opinions and use appropriate register/style when writing
• introduced a list of command words to help learners understand what will be expected of them in the exam.

What are the main changes to the assessment?

To support teachers and learners, we have:

• made the assessment objectives clearer. The wording looks different in places, but there are no significant changes to the skills being assessed
• kept many similar task types but have rearranged the two exam papers
• Paper 1 is now called ‘Reading and Writing’. It has five exercises, two of which are new task types (worth 50 marks)
• Paper 2 is now called 'Grammar, Writing and Translation'. It includes four exercises, all of which are familiar task types (worth 50 marks).
  

When do these changes take place?

The updated syllabus is for examination from June 2024 onwards. Please see the 2024-2026 syllabus above for full details.

Coming soon

We are developing a comprehensive range of resources to help teachers deliver this updated syllabus.

We aim to provide a scheme of work and other relevant classroom resources. Example Candidate Responses will be available following the first examination in 2024. Visit the School Support Hub from June 2022 onwards for details.