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International Sanskrit Examination Resource

Examination preparation

The course continues with stories and exercises designed to help prepare the student for the appropriate examinations. Familiarity with paradigms and vocabulary becomes even more important in the development of language and translation skills.  For free downloads of these books see 'Free Course Books' page.

OPTION A 

Mahabharata Stories, book 1:

This book builds upon the work of the earlier, introductory books and encourages consolidation. More sophisticated grammar and vocabulary are introduced. There is further practice of translation skills. The specially written stories are modelled on the Mahabharata and provide general background for the Option A examination although these are not the set text stories for the examination (see syllabus or 'Set Text Stories for 2010' book, below). 

St James Sanskrit Course Book 1/Year 7:

This book continues on the Mahabharata theme and further develops knowledge of the ‘core’ grammar required for the foundation/intermediate level of the Option A examination. The sandhi work which is included in this book is not required for the Option A examination, although it should be studied for the more advanced Option B examination. The ‘core’ Option A vocabulary is included in the back of this book. Some of the set texts listed in the syllabus are contained in this book, together with helpful notes and vocabulary. The exact versions of the set texts must be downloaded from the IGCSE ‘syllabus’ section when they are required for examination preparation.

For both Option A and Option B examinations:

Set Text Stories for 2010: This booklet contains just the set texts for the Option A and Option B examinations.  This will be especially useful for students who have already purchased the older St James Course Books or who want clean copies for revision. 

Epic Civilisation Course: This course may be printed directly from the syllabus.  It is designed to provide a background view of the great Sanskrit Epic tradition.

OPTION B 

St James Sanskrit Course, books 2 & 3: These books include all the new set texts necessary for the ‘extended’ Option B examination as well as the remaining grammar needed to deal with the higher level Option B examinations. Whilst set texts may be found according to the references given in the syllabus, these St James books give additional help with vocabulary as well as presenting the stories in clear, modern, larger type.  The Option B (extended) vocabulary is also included at the back of the books.

 Note for anyone with pre-2009 versions of these books: the 2009 version of Book 3 includes the changes in set texts for the new IGCSE; the story of Nala and Damayanti has been removed and there are now three new Hitopadesa stories and five new Gita verses. 

 Errata note: Re: Bhagavadgita Set Text (Option B):- Please note that the third line of Ch 1 verse 26 has been omitted from the workbooks. This third line is part of the syllabus and should have been included. This affects St James Bk 3 and the Set Text Book. It begins ‘shvashuraan’ and ends with ‘api’.  Apologies for any inconvenience.

Note for school administrators: If the above books are to be used for the formal teaching of children in a school context, a suitable program appropriate to different age groups is available.

Last update: 01.06.10