Syllabus: Cambridge O Level English Language 1123
Syllabus: Cambridge O Level English Language 1123
Syllabus: Cambridge O Level English Language 1123
Cambridge O Level
English Language 1123
Use this syllabus for exams in 2022.
Exams are available in the June and November series.
Version 1
Please check the syllabus page at www.cambridgeinternational.org/olevel
to see if this syllabus is available in your administrative zone.
Changes to the syllabus for 2022
The latest syllabus is version 1, published September 2019.
There are no significant changes which affect teaching.
You are strongly advised to read the whole syllabus before planning your teaching programme.
Any textbooks endorsed to support the syllabus for examination from 2018 are still suitable for
use with this syllabus.
1. Introduction...................................................................................................................... 2
1.1 Why choose Cambridge International?
1.2 Why choose Cambridge O Level?
1.3 Why choose Cambridge O Level English Language?
1.4 How can I find out more?
2. Teacher support............................................................................................................... 5
2.1 Support materials
2.2 Endorsed resources
2.3 Training
4. Assessment at a glance................................................................................................... 7
6. Syllabus content............................................................................................................. 11
7. Description of components............................................................................................ 12
7.1 Paper 1 Writing
7.2 Paper 2 Reading
8. Other information........................................................................................................... 14
Introduction
1. Introduction
Our Cambridge Pathway gives students a clear path for educational success from age 5 to 19. Schools can
shape the curriculum around how they want students to learn – with a wide range of subjects and flexible
ways to offer them. It helps students discover new abilities and a wider world, and gives them the skills
they need for life, so they can achieve at school, university and work.
Our programmes and qualifications set the global standard for international education. They are created
by subject experts, rooted in academic rigour and reflect the latest educational research. They provide a
strong platform for students to progress from one stage to the next, and are well supported by teaching and
learning resources.
Every year, nearly a million Cambridge learners from 10 000 schools in 160 countries prepare for their future
with the Cambridge Pathway.
Cambridge learners
Our mission is to provide educational benefit through provision of international programmes and
qualifications for school education and to be the world leader in this field. Together with schools, we
develop Cambridge learners who are:
• confident in working with information and ideas – their own and those of others
• responsible for themselves, responsive to and respectful of others
• reflective as learners, developing their ability to learn
• innovative and equipped for new and future challenges
• engaged intellectually and socially, ready to make a difference.
Recognition
Our expertise in curriculum, teaching and learning, and assessment is the basis for the recognition of our
programmes and qualifications around the world.
Cambridge Assessment International Education is an education organisation and politically neutral. The
content of this syllabus, examination papers and associated materials do not endorse any political view.
We endeavour to treat all aspects of the exam process neutrally.
Quality management
Cambridge International is committed to providing exceptional quality. In line with this commitment, our
quality management system for the provision of international qualifications and education programmes
for students aged 5 to 19 is independently certified as meeting the internationally recognised standard,
ISO 9001:2015. Learn more at www.cambridgeinternational.org/ISO9001
Our aim is to balance knowledge, understanding and skills in our programmes and qualifications to enable
students to become effective learners and to provide a solid foundation for their continuing educational
journey.
Through our professional development courses and our support materials for Cambridge O Levels, we
provide the tools to enable teachers to prepare students to the best of their ability and work with us in the
pursuit of excellence in education.
Cambridge O Levels are considered to be an excellent preparation for Cambridge International AS & A Levels,
the Cambridge AICE (Advanced International Certificate of Education) Diploma, Cambridge Pre-U, and other
education programmes, such as the US Advanced Placement program and the International Baccalaureate
Diploma programme. Learn more about Cambridge O Levels at www.cambridgeinternational.org/olevel
Cambridge O Level English Language is accepted by universities and employers as proof of linguistic ability
and understanding. The Cambridge O Level English Language syllabus encourages students to develop
lifelong skills, including:
• the ability to communicate clearly, accurately and effectively
• the use of a wide range of vocabulary and correct grammar, spelling and punctuation
• a personal style and an awareness of the audience being addressed.
Students are also encouraged to read widely, both for their own enjoyment and to further their awareness
of the ways in which English can be used. Cambridge O Level English Language study also develops more
general analysis and communication skills such as synthesis, inference, and the ability to order facts and
present opinions effectively.
Students may also study for a Cambridge O Level in Literature in English. In addition to Cambridge O Levels,
Cambridge also offers Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge International AS and A Levels for further study in
English as well as other languages. See www.cambridgeinternational.org for a full list of the qualifications
you can take.
Prior learning
We recommend that candidates who are beginning this course should have sufficient competence in
English to be able to achieve a level of English equivalent to First Language competence during the course.
Progression
Cambridge O Levels are general qualifications that enable candidates to progress either directly to
employment, or to proceed to further qualifications.
Candidates who are awarded grades C to A* in Cambridge O Level English Language are well prepared to
follow courses leading to Cambridge International AS and A Level English Language, or the equivalent.
2. Teacher support
For teachers at registered Cambridge schools a range of additional support materials for specific syllabuses
is available online from the School Support Hub. Go to www.cambridgeinternational.org/support
(username and password required). If you do not have access, speak to the School Support coordinator at
your school.
We have resource lists which can be filtered to show all resources, or just those which are endorsed by
Cambridge International. The resource lists include further suggestions for resources to support teaching.
See www.cambridgeinternational.org/i-want-to/resource-centre for further information.
2.3 Training
We offer a range of support activities for teachers to ensure they have the relevant knowledge and skills to
deliver our qualifications. See www.cambridgeinternational.org/events for further information.
Cambridge O Level English Language offers candidates the opportunity to respond confidently to a range of
reading material, including fiction and non-fiction.
Candidates will also have the opportunity to enhance their writing skills by writing in a range of text types for
different audiences.
Candidates are encouraged to become appreciative and critical readers and writers.
4. Assessment at a glance
Candidates for Cambridge O Level English Language must take two compulsory components – Paper 1 and
Paper 2. Both papers are externally marked. Candidates will be eligable for grades A* to E.
Component Weighting
Availability
This syllabus is examined in the June and November examination series.
No candidate may enter for more than one English Language subject.
Please note that Cambridge O Level, Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) (syllabuses are at the
same level.
A qualification in this syllabus demonstrates to universities and employers that candidates can communicate
effectively in Standard English through:
• communicative competence: the ability to communicate with clarity, relevance, accuracy and variety
• creativity: the ability to use language, experience and imagination to respond to new situations, create
original ideas and make a positive impact
• critical skills: the ability to scan, filter and analyse different forms of information
• cross-cultural awareness: the ability to engage with issues inside and outside own community,
dealing with the familiar as well as the unfamiliar. (This is not an assessment objective but forms the
context of writing tasks and reading passages.)
AO2: Writing
W1 Articulate experience and express what is thought, felt and imagined
W2 Sequence facts, ideas and opinions
W3 Use a range of appropriate vocabulary
W4 Use register appropriate to audience and context
W5 Make accurate use of spelling, punctuation and grammar
The table shows the assessment objectives as a percentage of each component and across the qualification
as a whole.
Paper 1 Writing 5 45
Paper 2 Reading 45 5
Weighting of AO in qualification 50 50
6. Syllabus content
Reflecting the communication demands facing candidates in the real world, the syllabus distinguishes
between task and language as the focus of Section 1 and Section 2 respectively in each paper:
The Task aspect of Paper 1 is Directed Writing, where communication of key information in a range of text
types is required to achieve a specific purpose for a certain audience in a particular situation. Task fulfilment
and language are tested in Section 1 and are given equal weighting in terms of marks. Language (as well
as content) is tested in the Composition section, where candidates have an opportunity to display their
English language skills in order to express their opinion, experience or imagination in a range of discourse
types: descriptive, argumentative or narrative.
The Task aspect of Paper 2 is Reading for Ideas, where, for example, scanning for and summarising
specific information is required to achieve and convey a global understanding of a text. The focus of
assessment for the summary is Task Fulfilment: the inclusion of only relevant ideas and the coherence of
the writing. Language is tested in the Reading for Meaning section, where there is a greater demand for
English language skills in order to demonstrate more in-depth understanding of a text, including literal and
implied meaning, deducing meaning of vocabulary from context, and writer’s craft.
In this way, it is hoped that candidates will develop strategies to be able to transfer these communication
skills to other subjects and to their future careers/studies as they encounter a variety of texts and are
required to make a positive impact through the written word.
Speaking and listening are not tested but the development of these vital communication skills is
encouraged across the curriculum.
7. Description of components
This paper has two sections and candidates answer in a separate answer booklet.
This paper has two sections and candidates answer on the question paper.
• Candidates then answer questions to identify examples of a function in the text, e.g. opinions, advice,
criticism or warnings.
• These will be short answer questions worth 3 marks.
8. Other information
The standard assessment arrangements may present unnecessary barriers for candidates with disabilities
or learning difficulties. Arrangements can be put in place for these candidates to enable them to access the
assessments and receive recognition of their attainment. Access arrangements will not be agreed if they
give candidates an unfair advantage over others or if they compromise the standards being assessed.
Candidates who are unable to access the assessment of any component may be eligible to receive an award
based on the parts of the assessment they have taken.
Language
This syllabus and the associated assessment materials are available in English only.
Making entries
Exams officers are responsible for submitting entries to Cambridge International. We encourage them to
work closely with you to make sure they enter the right number of candidates for the right combination of
syllabus components. Entry option codes and instructions for submitting entries are in the Cambridge Guide
to Making Entries. Your exams officer has a copy of this guide.
Exam administration
To keep our exams secure, we produce question papers for different areas of the world, known as
‘administrative zones’. We allocate all Cambridge schools to one administrative zone determined by their
location. Each zone has a specific timetable. Some of our syllabuses offer candidates different assessment
options. An entry option code is used to identify the components the candidate will take relevant to the
administrative zone and the available assessment options.
Retakes
Candidates can retake the whole qualification as many times as they want to. This is a linear qualification so
candidates cannot re-sit individual components.