This is the insert/source material booklet for Cambridge O Level English Language (1123) 1 (Variant 2), 2026 May-June. It contains the stimulus material — such as texts, data tables, maps, diagrams, or case studies — needed to answer the accompanying question paper. Keep this document open alongside the question paper when practising.
Also referenced as: 1123_s26_in_12 · 1123/12/m/j/26 · 1123/12 May/June 2026
Paper 1: Reading — This is Paper 1: Reading, worth 50 marks with a duration of 2h. Revised syllabus from June 2024 onwards. Comprehension questions based on two reading passages (Text A and Text B) provided in an Insert. Tasks typically include: direct retrieval, inference, vocabulary in context, writer's effect (analysing how language choices affect the reader), and a summary task requiring own words. Pre-2024, this content was assessed as Paper 2 (1h 45m).
This insert must be used alongside the corresponding question paper — it contains the source material you need to answer the questions. In the real exam, this booklet is provided as a separate document. Practise extracting relevant information from the insert under timed conditions, just as you would in the exam hall.
When practising with English Language past papers that include insert material, always print or display this document alongside the question paper — just as you would in the real exam. Practise extracting relevant data, quotes, or evidence from the insert under timed conditions. Many students lose marks not because they lack knowledge, but because they fail to reference the source material effectively.
