Syllabus
Cambridge O Level
Pakistan Studies 2059
Use this syllabus for exams in 2023.
Exams are available in the June and November series
Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of the Cambridge Assessment Group. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which itself is a department of the University of Cambridge.
Changes to the syllabus for 2023
The latest syllabus is version 1, published September 2020.
There are no significant changes which affect teaching.
You must read the whole syllabus before planning your teaching programme.
Syllabus content at a glance
All candidates study:
The history and culture of Pakistan
- Cultural and historical background to the Pakistan Movement
- The emergence of Pakistan 1906–47
- Nationhood 1947–99
The environment of Pakistan
- The land of Pakistan
- Natural resources – an issue of sustainability
- Power
- Agricultural development
- Industrial development
- Trade
- Transport and telecommunications
- Population and employment
- Assessment at a glance
Candidates take two compulsory components, Paper 1 and Paper 2.
Candidates will be eligible for grades A* to E.
Components Weighting
Paper 1 The history and culture of Pakistan 1 hour 30 minutes
Section A (25 marks) –
candidates answer one compulsory question made up of
four parts: (a), (b), (c), and (d), which are linked by a common theme.
Parts (a) and (b) are source-based questions using historical sources, either text or pictures/graphic.
Candidates use and interpret each source in answering the questions.
Section B (50 marks) –
candidates answer two questions from a choice of four.
Each question has three parts:
- one part testing knowledge (4 marks)
A factual answer of no more than one short paragraph is required.
- one part testing knowledge and understanding includes selecting relevant and
appropriate information (7 marks)
Answers require at least two paragraphs of writing.
- one part testing knowledge, understanding and analytical and evaluative ability
(14 marks)
This includes the ability to synthesise information, the appropriate use of selected
relevant examples and the ability to compare and contrast. This question should be answered in an essay, in continuous prose of approximately two pages of writing, not in note form.
Total 75 marks. Externally assessed.
50%
and:
Paper 2 The environment of Pakistan 1 hour 30 minutes
Candidates answer three questions (25 marks each) from a choice of five.
Each question:
- consists of four separate parts: (a), (b), (c) and (d); each part may be divided into
one or more sub-parts
- requires the ability to interpret and analyse resources in the question; there may be
diagrams, graphs, maps, photographs, tables and written material. Part (d) of each
question specifically assesses analysis skills.
- requires the evaluation of information.
Total 75 marks. Externally assessed.
50%
Assessment at a glance
8Cambridge O Level Pakistan Studies 2059. Syllabus for examination in 2023.
Notes
- All answers must be written in English
- Timing guidelines
Candidates should spend approximately 30 minutes on each question in each paper.
Within that, candidates need to allocate time according to the value of the marks awarded in each part of each question.
This syllabus is examined in the June and November examination series.
This syllabus is available to private candidates.
This syllabus is not available in all administrative zones.
Combining this with other syllabuses
Candidates can combine this syllabus in an examination series with any other Cambridge International syllabus, except:
- Cambridge IGCSE Pakistan Studies (0448)
- Syllabuses with the same title at the same level.
Please note that Cambridge O Level, Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) syllabuses are at the same level.