Foundation Paper_v1

Question 1 Describing the photo

2 marks:

- write in the form of sentence

- broadly relevant

- can be first, second or third person

- minor errors but clear message

1 mark:

- missing subjective or verb and a minimum of 3 characters (There is no subject or verb and a minimum of three characters, for example: ‘three people’，unless it is linked with a stative verb, eg 很高 or word expression like 他高. )

- appropriate use of measure word

- error(s) causing ambiguity or delay in communication

- delay in communication (some make sense some do not)

Sample starters:

Question 2 Short message

Content

- cover all bullet points: 4bp (9-10m); 3bp (5-8m); 2bp (3-4m); 1bp (1-2m)

- clear communication:

• If unclear, it is not covering the pullet point.

• 20 words out of 30 can be awarded top band.

• Tenses are not considered. Present tense is fine.

• Style is not considered.

Quality of Language

- variety of vocabulary: (use of vocab from different topics/themes; synonyms; measure words; sophisticated words but no conspicuous repetition)

- variety of structures: connectives; indirect speech; model verbs; comparison; superlative; time frames; exclamations

- accuracy of language: write the words correctly

See examples on the following page: Quality or Range of Language

Question 3 Translation

Conveying key messages

- 12 key messages (ticks awarded despite minor inaccuracy)

5m (12 ticks); 4m (10-11 ticks); 3m (7-9 ticks); 2m (4-6 ticks); 1m (1-3 ticks)

- would a native speaker understand

Application of grammatical knowledge of language and structures

- good knowledge

- accuracy

- not limited by previous criterium unless it is 0

- do not leave gaps

- Perfection is not required but NOT numerous minor errors and incorrect use

Question 4 Writing

Content

- must be relevant

- Coverage: 4bp (7-10m); 3bp (5-6m); 2bp (3-4m); 1bp (1-2m)

- Clear communication: the more lapses, the lower the mark;

- Accept information that are plausible, even they may not mentioning the specific words

- The amount of information: (writes approximately 75 characters, clearly understandable and relevant to all four bullet points)

a lot (9-10m); quite a lot (7-8m); some (5-6m); little (3-4m); very little (1-2m)

- Opinions: two (7-10); one (3-6); like/dislike; positive or negative adj.; I think; ..

Quality

- variety of vocabulary (use of vocab from different topics/themes; synonyms; measure words; sophisticated words but no conspicuous repetition)

- complexity of structures and sentences (tenses; intensifiers; time markers; connectives; subordinate clauses; infinitive constructions) 得 structure; time clause (的时候；以后); sequence words (先，然后/再，最后); emphasis (是 … 的); disjunctive pronouns (妈妈送我去 … ；爸爸给我过生日) 对structure (对我影响很大)

- reference to time frames (3 time frames to score 5-6)

- accuracy of the language

- style and register

See examples on the following page: Quality or Range of Language

Sample answer:

我住在一个小镇。虽然从小镇到伦敦坐火车只要半个小时，但是我不常去伦敦，因为火车票很贵。我喜欢我的小镇，因为它不仅有一个很大的购物中心，而且还有一个很大的电影院。我和我的朋友们常常去电影院看电影。

I live in a small town. Although it is only half an hour by train from the town to London, I don't go to London often because train tickets are very expensive. I like my town because it has not only a big shopping center, but also a big cinema. My friends and I often go to the cinema to watch movies.

虽然我喜欢我住的地方，但是将来我希望小镇上有一家日本餐厅，因为我喜欢吃日本菜。

Although I like where I live, in the future I hope there will be a Japanese restaurant in the town because I like Japanese food.