Cambridge O Level English Language (1123)

This course invites you to develop superior communication skills by mastering the English language for a variety of practical and creative purposes. You will refine your ability to read diverse texts with insight, learning to identify explicit and implicit meanings, analyse how writers use language to create specific effects, and synthesize information through effective summary writing. The curriculum emphasizes the craft of writing where you will learn to produce clear and accurate texts for different audiences, ranging from directed writing tasks such as reports and articles to engaging creative compositions. Crucially, you will focus on technical accuracy by strengthening your grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary. By engaging with these core language skills, you will be equipped to communicate your ideas with precision, clarity, and style.

Core Content Areas: Reading and Writing

The course enhances both comprehension skills across varied texts and writing proficiency for different purposes and audiences.

Reading Comprehension and Analysis

Understanding **explicit and implicit meaning** in texts.
**Analysis and evaluation** of facts, ideas, and opinions.
Awareness of the **writer’s effect** and language techniques.
Engagement with various **genres and text types** (articles, reports, narratives).

Writing Expression and Accuracy

Developing **creative expression** of thoughts and imagination.
**Logical organisation** and coherent conveyance of ideas.
Focus on **language accuracy** (vocabulary, sentence structure, grammar).
Practicing **descriptive, narrative, and argumentative** writing styles.

Skill Development Focus

The course encourages students to become confident, responsible, and innovative language users.

Communicative Competence

The ability to communicate with **clarity, relevance, accuracy, and variety**.

Creative Skills

The ability to use imagination and language effectively to create original ideas and respond to new situations.

Critical Skills

The ability to analyze and interpret different forms of information from a wide range of texts.

Assessment Structure

Assessment consists of two compulsory, externally-marked papers, each weighted equally.

Paper 1: Reading

**Duration:** 2 hours
**Weighting:** 50% of total mark
**Section A:** Comprehension and Use of Language (narrative text, approx. 900 words).
**Section B:** Summary (150 words) and Short Response (factual text, approx. 600 words).

Paper 2: Writing

**Duration:** 2 hours
**Weighting:** 50% of total mark
**Section A:** Directed Writing (compulsory 250–350 word response in a specific format like a report or email).
**Section B:** Composition (one required from a choice of two descriptive and two narrative prompts, 350–450 words).