100+ Free IGCSE Arabic Practice Questions
Pass your Cambridge IGCSE Arabic First Language (0508) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
ما معنى المثل (لكلِّ جوادٍ كَبوةٌ)؟
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Key Facts: IGCSE Arabic Exam
A*-G
Grading scale
Cambridge International
2 papers
Reading + Directed Writing, Composition
Cambridge 0508 syllabus
100 marks
Total across the two papers
Cambridge 0508 syllabus
100
Free practice questions here
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Cambridge IGCSE 0508 First Language Arabic is taken by native-speaker candidates and uses Modern Standard Arabic throughout. Two written papers: Paper 1 Reading and Directed Writing (2 hours, 60 marks) and Paper 2 Composition (2 hours, 40 marks). The Foreign Language Arabic syllabus (0544) is a separate, less rigorous qualification.
Sample IGCSE Arabic Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your IGCSE Arabic exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1ما علامة رفع الفاعل في جملة: ذهبَ الطالبُ إلى المدرسةِ؟
2ما إعراب كلمة (محمدًا) في جملة: رأيتُ محمدًا في الحديقةِ؟
3أيٌّ من الحروف التالية حرف شمسي؟
4ما النسبة الصحيحة إلى كلمة (دمشق)؟
5في تركيب (بابُ المدرسةِ)، ما إعراب كلمة (المدرسةِ)؟
6من قواعد الإضافة أن المضاف:
7ما الصواب في جملة: جاء الطالباتُ ____ المجتهداتُ؟
8ما جمع التكسير لكلمة (كتاب)؟
9أي زمن يدل عليه الفعل (كَتَبَ)؟
10ما حالة الفعل المضارع في جملة: لم يَدرسْ الطالبُ الدرسَ؟
About the IGCSE Arabic Exam
Cambridge IGCSE Arabic First Language (0508) is the international upper-secondary qualification for native or near-native speakers of Arabic. Candidates are assessed on their ability to read, understand and respond to written Arabic in Modern Standard Arabic (fuṣḥā), and to write extended compositions on a range of topics. The course covers grammar (al-nahw wa al-sarf), advanced vocabulary, reading comprehension, rhetoric and classical and modern Arabic literature, and the cultural and historical context of the Arab world.
Questions
100 scored questions
Time Limit
Paper 1: 2 hours; Paper 2: 2 hours
Passing Score
Grade C or above for higher-tier pass; A*-G grading scale
Exam Fee
£60-£140 per subject (school-set entry fee, varies by centre) (Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE))
IGCSE Arabic Exam Content Outline
Grammar (al-nahw wa al-sarf)
Case endings (marfua, mansub, majrur) and their signs, al-shamsiyya and al-qamariyya, nisbah, iḍāfah construct, agreement, broken and sound plurals, verb tenses, jussive and subjunctive moods, particles (lam, lan, la al-nahiya, law, in, idha), verb forms I-X, weak verbs, kāna and inna sisters, passive voice, relative pronouns, conditional particles
Vocabulary and idioms
Advanced MSA vocabulary, common phrases (ala ayyatin hal, fima yatealluq bi, alawatan ala dhalik), classical proverbs (inda al-jadd yanadim al-ladd, al-waqt ka al-sayf), politeness register (law samaht, tafaddal, shukran jazilan)
Reading comprehension
Short MSA passages on contemporary Arab society, identifying main idea, inference, author's tone and purpose, vocabulary in context
Rhetoric and literature
Balagha (tashbih simile, istiarah metaphor, kinaya metonymy, tibaq antithesis, jinas paronomasia); classical literature (Mu'allaqat, al-Mutanabbi, Abu Nuwas, al-Jahiz); modern literature (Naguib Mahfouz Trilogy, Taha Hussein al-Ayyam, Nizar Qabbani, Mahmoud Darwish, Adunis); Arabic poetic meters (bahr al-tawil, bahr al-kamil)
Culture and history
Pre-Islamic Arabia (jahiliyya), rise of Islam in Mecca and Medina, Rashidun caliphate, Umayyad, Abbasid and Andalusian periods, Nahda late 19th-century renaissance, Arab-Israeli wars (1948, 1967, 1973), Lebanese Civil War, Arab Spring 2010-11, Arab League
Spelling and punctuation
Hamzat al-wasl vs hamzat al-qat, taa marbuta vs maftuha, alif maqsura, Arabic punctuation marks
How to Pass the IGCSE Arabic Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Grade C or above for higher-tier pass; A*-G grading scale
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: Paper 1: 2 hours; Paper 2: 2 hours
- Exam fee: £60-£140 per subject (school-set entry fee, varies by centre)
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
IGCSE Arabic Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Cambridge IGCSE Arabic 0508 and 0544?
0508 First Language Arabic is for native or near-native speakers and assesses high-level reading, writing and literary appreciation in Modern Standard Arabic. 0544 Foreign Language Arabic is for learners studying Arabic as a foreign language and assesses basic listening, reading, writing and speaking skills.
How is IGCSE Arabic First Language 0508 assessed?
Candidates take two written papers. Paper 1 (2 hours, 60 marks) is Reading and Directed Writing — comprehension and summary questions on two passages plus a directed writing task. Paper 2 (2 hours, 40 marks) is Composition — one extended composition chosen from a list of titles.
What grading scale does IGCSE Arabic 0508 use?
Cambridge IGCSE 0508 uses the A*-G scale. A* is the highest grade and G is the minimum pass. A grade C is usually considered the higher-tier pass for university and sixth-form entry.
Do I need to study classical Arabic literature?
Familiarity with classical poets (al-Mutanabhi, Abu Nuwas), the Mu'allaqat odes, and modern writers (Naguib Mahfouz, Mahmoud Darwish, Nizar Qabbani) helps with rhetoric, vocabulary, and the composition paper. Set texts vary; consult your school for the specific reading list.