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Cambridge O Level English Language 1123 Flashcards
51 question-and-answer cards covering English Language 1123 as it is examined in Cambridge O Level. 24 of them are printed below, taken from across the deck — no signup, no paywall on the preview.
24 sample cards from the English Language 1123 deck
Sampled from the end of the deck, so these are different cards from the ones shown on the syllabus page.
What is a counter-argument and why include one?
An opposing view that you acknowledge and then rebut; including it shows balance and makes your own argument stronger and more convincing.
What is a 'topic sentence' and where does it go?
A sentence that states the main idea of a paragraph; it usually comes at the start of the paragraph to guide the reader.
What does the PEEL paragraph structure stand for?
Point, Evidence/Example, Explanation, and Link (back to the question or on to the next idea).
What three parts make up a well-planned essay's overall structure?
An introduction, a series of developed body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
What should an essay introduction do?
Introduce the topic, engage the reader, and signal the writer's stance or the direction the essay will take (a thesis).
What should an essay conclusion do?
Summarise the main points and restate the overall position or answer, without introducing new arguments.
Why plan an essay before writing it?
To organise ideas logically, ensure all parts of the question are addressed, maintain coherence, and avoid repetition or going off-topic.
What is the difference between explicit and implicit information in a comprehension passage?
Explicit information is stated directly in the text; implicit information must be inferred or 'read between the lines'.
What does it mean to 'infer' an answer in comprehension?
To work out a meaning that is suggested but not directly stated, using clues and evidence in the text.
In comprehension, what does the command word 'identify' require?
To pick out and state a specific piece of information from the passage, usually briefly.
What does the instruction 'in your own words' require in comprehension?
To rephrase the meaning using different vocabulary rather than copying the passage's exact wording.
Why must you check the marks allocated to a comprehension question?
The mark count signals how many separate points or details you are expected to give in your answer.
What is the goal of summary writing in 1123?
To identify and rewrite, in your own words, the relevant points from a passage concisely within a set word limit.
What is the first step in writing a summary?
Read the question carefully to identify the specific focus, then select only the points in the passage relevant to that focus.
What should be excluded from a summary?
Examples, repetition, the writer's opinions/comments, direct quotations, illustrations, and any detail not relevant to the question's focus.
Why is using your own words important in a summary?
It demonstrates understanding and is rewarded for 'style/use of own words'; copying phrases from the passage gains few marks.
What happens if a summary exceeds the word limit?
Content written beyond the stated word limit is not marked/credited, so points must be made concisely within the limit.
Define a simile and give its identifying words.
A comparison of two things using 'like' or 'as' (e.g. 'as brave as a lion').
Define a metaphor.
A direct comparison stating one thing IS another, without 'like' or 'as' (e.g. 'the classroom was a zoo').
Define personification.
Giving human qualities or actions to non-human things or ideas (e.g. 'the wind whispered through the trees').
What is onomatopoeia?
A word that imitates the sound it describes, such as 'buzz', 'crash', 'hiss' or 'sizzle'.
What is the difference between connotation and denotation of a word?
Denotation is a word's literal dictionary meaning; connotation is the emotional or associated meaning it suggests (e.g. 'home' connotes warmth/safety).
How do you work out the meaning of an unfamiliar word 'in context'?
Use the surrounding words and sentence clues, the topic, and any contrast or example nearby to infer its likely meaning.
When analysing the 'effect' of a writer's language, what should your answer include?
The technique/word used, what it means, and the effect it creates on the reader or the impression it gives — not just naming the device.
What this deck covers
The English Language 1123 deck follows the Cambridge O Level English Language 1123 syllabus — 5 chapters and 15 topics — so questions land on material that is genuinely examinable rather than trivia around it. That works out to roughly 10.2 cards per chapter.
Answers are written to be recallable, not just readable — averaging about 113 characters, which is long enough to carry the reasoning and short enough to say out loud.
A deck like this earns its keep on the second and third pass. Read the syllabus first so you know the shape of the subject, then use the cards to find the specific facts that have not stuck.
English Language 1123 flashcards FAQ
How many English Language 1123 flashcards are in this Cambridge O Level deck?
51 cards. This page previews 24 of them, sampled evenly across the deck so you can judge the difficulty before installing anything.
Are these Cambridge O Level flashcards free?
Yes. The preview here is free to read with no signup, and the full 51-card deck is free inside the Examius app.
What do the English Language 1123 cards cover?
They follow the Cambridge O Level English Language 1123 syllabus — 5 chapters and 15 topics — so the questions track what is actually examinable.
How should I use these flashcards?
Read the syllabus first so you know the shape of the subject, then drill the deck. Examius schedules each card with spaced repetition, so cards you keep missing come back sooner and ones you know drift further apart.