Top 10 GCSE Arabic Books and Texts
The below information is not in order of best or most useful. The information is random and is intended as a list only and not neccesarily a “recommended reading” list. Your purchase of any of the below texts, does not neccesarily guarantee succes in the exams and should be based on consideration of the below factors.
All or some of the below texts can be used depending on:
- Affordabilty, as some may need to be purchased.
- Need, meaning will you be able to read most or all of the reading texts within the book.
- Time, meaning will you be able to finish reading most or all of the book before your exam.
- Amount of text, meaning do you need that much reading? Especially considering you also need to cover the other skills such as listening, writing, speaking and grammar?
| Rank | Title & Author | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Brief Guide to GCSE Arabic by Haroon AbdAllah | An overview of the content and structure of the GCSE Arabic course. It also provides links to resources such as GCSE Arabic course. Authored by an Arabic Examiner to schools in the U.K. |
| 2 | GCSE Arabic Companion by Chawki Nacef | Comprehensive coverage, over 300 exercises, revision techniques, authored by an Edexcel examiner |
| 3 | Pre-GCSE Arabic Companion by Chawki Nacef | For lower-intermediate learners; aligned with Edexcel, with audio files and grammar practice |
| 4 | Your Arabic Friend by Ghassan Mahir | Covers all four skills (reading, listening, speaking, writing), includes exam-style tests, vocabulary, mistakes guidance. This is an intense reading course. |
| 5 | The Grammar and Translation Guide (MM Books) | Grammar and translation-focused, aligned with Edexcel 2017 specification, lots of exercises |
| 6 | The Writing Guide by Ghassan Mahir | Focuses on written exam tasks: structure, planning, mind-maps, formal/informal writing examples |
| 7 | Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Arabic (First Language) Student Book | Includes digital ActiveBook with 3-year access, online grammar and vocabulary support for 9–1 syllabus |
| 8 | The Quran by Allah, The Almighty | While not a GCSE book, it is valuable for grasping grammar and formal Modern Standard Arabic structures. It is also a vowelled text that guides pronunciation. |
| 9 | Arabic Dictionary (Oxford Essential Arabic-English/Al-Mawrid) by Oxford Languages | Crucial for vocab building and deeper understanding beyond translation apps |
| 10 | Arabic GCSE Exam by Maya Tawfeek – Babylon Books | Covers exam specification vocabulary and reading texts. |
| 11 | GCSE Arabic Vocabulary book by Ayat Said | Helpful for reinforcing language basics via vocabulary. |
Bonus book: Whilst not actually a book it contains book like material within a pre-built Arabic GCSE online course. Some courses may not need the purchase of extra texts and are all inclusive of the information you will need. These courses, like Learn GCSE Arabic, cover reading, writing, listening, grammar and culture all for one fee per month.
ADLS Language provides a range of online Arabic courses, including:
- GCSE Arabic: Courses tailored for both Foundation and Higher Tier students.
- Quranic Arabic: Focused on recitation, memorization, and Tajweed.
- Self-Study Modules: For learners preferring independent study. ADLS Language
Courses are designed to be flexible, catering to various learning preferences and schedules.
This platform offers:
- Structured Lessons: Organized to cover all aspects of the Arabic language.
- Assessments: To gauge and track progress.
- Self-Study Options: For learners who prefer to study at their own pace.
Ideal for students aiming for a recognized qualification in Arabic. learn.adls.co.uk
Access a variety of materials, including:
- Past Papers: For practice and familiarization with exam formats.
- Study Guides: To aid in understanding key topics and themes.
- Revision Tools: To reinforce learning and prepare for assessments.
These resources are invaluable for comprehensive exam preparation. Follow on Twitter.
10 GCSE Arabic Books