Composition, Comprehension, and Letter/Essay Writing
Domain focus
Composition, comprehension, and letter/essay writing test controlled production. Comprehension asks for answers grounded in a passage; composition asks for a coherent paragraph or essay; letter writing asks for correct Arabic layout and register. The exam rewards relevance, organization, and grammatical control more than ambitious vocabulary.
Core rules
- Comprehension: read the questions first, locate the key sentence, answer in one or two complete sentences, and use the passage's evidence. Do not copy a whole paragraph.
- Essay: use a clear plan: muqaddima (introduction), 'ard (body), khatima (conclusion). One idea per paragraph; link with awwalan, thumma, li-dhalika, fi al-khatim.
- Letter: include greeting, subject, body, closing, and signature. Formal letters use hadrat al-muhtarram or al-ustadh; informal letters may use azizi.
- Keep sentences short enough to control case endings and agreement. Use punctuation: Arabic comma ، and question mark ؟.
- Stay on topic: every paragraph must serve the prompt.
Worked example
Prompt: Write a short letter to your school librarian requesting an Arabic dictionary. Reasoning: open with al-salamu 'alaykum, state the request in one sentence, give a reason (I need it for translation practice), close with shukran and your name. The body should use a polite request such as arju min hadratikum an tu'iruni qamusan 'arabiyyan. This earns format, register, and grammar marks because the request is direct but polite.
Traps
Missing letter conventions; mixing formal and informal address; writing an essay with no khatima; copying the comprehension passage; ignoring word limits; and using English word order inside Arabic sentences. Plan for two minutes, then write in controlled sentences.