Programmes & Qualifications

Cambridge O Level Urdu - Second Language (3248)

Syllabus overview

Cambridge O Level Second Language Urdu helps learners to develop practical language skills and build their confidence when communicating in Urdu. The syllabus:

is suitable for learners whose second language is Urdu
develops learners’ ability to communicate in Urdu clearly and in a range of contexts
focuses on the two skills of reading and writing, with reading worth 35% and writing worth 65% of the final assessment
encourages learners to support their learning in reading and writing with the two skills of listening and speaking.

Syllabuses

The syllabus year refers to the year in which the examination will be taken.

Syllabus updates

Summary of the changes
- 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.
Teaching and learning resources
- 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.

Important notices

Syllabus availability
- From 2020 this syllabus will only be available in administrative zones 3 and 4. Check the administrative zone for your school.
Front covers
- From 2020, we have made some changes to the wording and layout of the front covers of our question papers to reflect the new Cambridge International branding and to make instructions clearer for candidates - learn more.

School Support Hub

We provide a wide range of support so that teachers can give their learners the best possible preparation for Cambridge programmes and qualifications. For teachers at registered Cambridge schools, support materials for specific syllabuses are available from the School Support Hub (username and password required).

Syllabus update

There are no updates for this syllabus

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