Arabic Language Exam Specification Guide 2025/2026
General Exam Information and Structure
The Arabic language examination for the 2025/2026 academic year is designed for students in the General Stream. The assessment is a comprehensive objective exam consisting exclusively of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ). The maximum overall grade for this exam is marks, and the total duration allowed for completion is two hours ( minutes). The examination is structured to evaluate various linguistic and analytical skills through three distinct sections: a poetic text, an informational text, and an excerpt from a designated novel. While the skills are defined in a specific sequence, the actual exam may present these questions in a different order than what is listed in the specifications.
Poetic Text Analysis Requirements
The first portion of the exam focuses on an external poetic text. Students are required to identify the main idea of the poem and conclude the specific emotional feelings or sentiments manifested throughout the verses. Analytical tasks include determining the appropriate general meaning for a specific poetic verse and clarifying the purpose behind creative or constructional styles (An-Namat Al-Insha'i) used by the poet.
Beyond basic comprehension, the exam assesses the student's ability to perform a deep critical analysis of the poem. This includes explaining the interaction between main and sub-ideas, evaluating the use of imagery and artistic figures of speech, and analyzing the role of imagination and musical elements (rhythm and rhyme) in creating impact. Additionally, students must be able to extract specific character traits for any figures mentioned within the poetic text and analyze the text within its historical, social, and cultural context to derive its artistic features.
Informational Text and Critical Comprehension
The second section involves an external informational text. Students must identify the central idea and interpret specific pieces of information explicitly stated in the text. Evaluation extends to identifying ideas that were not mentioned (negative identification) and pinpointing the specific paragraph that houses a particular concept. The exam also tests the ability to distinguish between correct and incorrect statements based on the provided material and to retrieve explicit data or facts mentioned in the text.
A significant portion of this section is dedicated to concluding the final message or idea emphasized in the conclusion of the informational text. Students are expected to analyze how the author develops the main idea or point of view through specific details. This includes assessing the author's style in terms of clarity, persuasion, and the effectiveness of the arguments presented. Furthermore, students must analyze the interaction of ideas, noting where they overlap, conflict, or build upon one another.
Analysis of the Novel Excerpt: The Old Man and the Sea
The third section is based on an excerpt from the novel "The Old Man and the Sea." Students are tested on their ability to interpret the behavior and personality traits of the characters within the excerpt. They must identify the primary events of the narrative and justify the positions or attitudes taken by the characters. Understanding the implicit meanings and connotations of specific expressions used in the novel is also required.
The exam investigates the technical aspects of the storytelling, such as the author’s development of time using techniques like flashbacks (Al-Istirja'). Students must analyze how the author manipulates the pace of events, memories, and character thoughts to create tension or a sense of future surprise. This includes evaluating the impact of these narrative choices on the overall story. Students are also expected to demonstrate a general understanding of the novel's broader themes as taught in the student book, LMS, and the semester plan.
Linguistic and Grammatical Competencies
Grammatical skills are integrated into the analysis of the texts. A key focus is on the grammatical functions of pronouns. Students must identify the grammatical role of pronouns whether they are attached to nouns or attached to verbs. They are required to recognize, inflect (I'rab), and correctly use attached (Muttasil) and detached (Munfasil) pronouns in various cases: nominative (Raf'), accusative (Nasb), and genitive (Jarr). This proficiency should be demonstrated in both oral and written communication.
Rhetorical skills are also assessed, specifically the identification of sentences containing "fronting and delaying" (Al-Taqdim wa Al-Ta'khir) and the determination of their rhetorical purpose. Finally, students must exhibit a strong vocabulary by identifying the singular forms of plural words used in the text and demonstrating general lexical enrichment as per the curriculum requirements.