1. Topic area 4: Travel and the wider world
Title: Letzten Sommerferien
Purpose: Narration
Communication
This is a clear and full response in terms of the purpose given, effective in its overall development
and continuity. Both the flow of ideas and the way that these are linked are mostly convincing,
giving a sense of individuality and enthusiasm, which also comes across well. There is plenty of
detail and good variety within the content, along with frequent and effective justifications. The
criteria of the top band - marks 13/14/15 - are clearly reflected in the piece as a whole. The first
paragraph, however, is fairly routine in its content, compared with what follows, and does not add
meaningfully to the rest of the account. Occasionally one or two points in the later sections could
have been expanded upon more relevantly, and whilst the overall language is generally accurate,
one or two errors interrupt the coherence of the message. Within this top band marks of 13 and 14
were considered and 14 was decided upon.
Mark: 14
Quality
Clause variety is very good and quite well balanced, and there are certainly “longer sequences of
language”. The candidate is “in control” and there is some “ambitious language” which works well.
Vocabulary is good and often interesting without being especially unusual. All the same, a couple
of striking verb errors are seen in ...sind wir in Peru bleiben and sie werde...nach England
kommen, as well as some errors in nouns and/or cases and adjective agreements, which appear at
intervals and which could perhaps have been checked in a dictionary. In considering the
descriptors of the two top bands here, marks of 13 and 14 were considered and 13 was the final
preference.
Mark: 13
Total marks: 27
2. Topic area 5: Education and work
Title: Meine Schule
Purpose: An email
Communication
This piece is not written with reference to the chosen purpose. The information offered is
descriptive, relevant and often clear. However, it is routine and would benefit from further
development and more direction through paragraphs. The ideas and justifications are fairly
conventional, and more ‘ownership’ of the material is needed. Omissions or confusions in clause
structure interrupt the message at times, and the statement ich lerne mathe gern weil es langweilig
ist does not make sense. However, the item still communicates “sufficient relevant information”,
and the 7/8/9 band criteria are clearly reflected. The top mark in this band could be awarded
overall, as there are more than just “some” ideas and “sometimes” justifications, but no further
enhancement.
Mark: 9
Quality of Language
Most of the material offered is in the present tense, although there are successful single instances
of other tenses. Some clause range is evident, but is not always successful. Spelling errors such
as Dutsch, Koch möglichkaiten, fäche, and leber and inconsistent use of capital letters intrude.
The “basis of the message is clear and reasonably coherent” and structures are “straightforward”,
which fits the criteria of the 8/9 band, but some muddle and insufficient linguistic security and
variety prevent the candidate gaining a mark in the 10/11 band.
Mark: 9
Total marks: 18
