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A2009/034 - 13 October 2009Instructions in 2009 Languages Examination BookletsMinor changes have been made to the instructions in all languages booklets. The Listening standards In order to align with the changed format of questions in the Listening standards and to help candidates as they answer questions, the following changes have been made:
Teachers should also note that:
For example, a Listening passage about a new puppy has two questions that relate to it, and has been divided into four sections, the first two of which relate to Question One, and the second two to Question Two. Candidates will hear the instructions italicised below: PASSAGE ONE: The new puppy. Listen to a passage about the new puppy that Jacques has been given You will hear the passage FOUR times:
Question One and Question Two are based on this passage Answer them in English, on pages 2 and 3 Get ready to listen First reading Glossed vocabulary is given The passage is read as a whole Second and third readings: in sections with 30 second pauses QUESTION ONE Section One Section one is read Section One again Section one is read Section Two Section two is read Section Two again Section two is read QUESTION TWO Section three Section three is read Section three again Section three is read Section four Section four is read Section four again Section four is read Final reading Glossed vocabulary is given The passage is read as a whole You now have one minute to check your answers. This is the end of Passage One. You now have one minute to read Question Three. The judgement for each question is holistic. Candidates who write a correct response in a ‘wrong’ place will not be penalised. For example, if the answer to Question One (a) was written in the space for (b), it will be recognised and rewarded. The Reading standards In four standards the written text has been provided in a separate resource booklet as requested by the examiner. Candidates will be able to take the resource booklet with them as they leave the exam. These standards are: French 90561 Samoan 90122 Samoan 90422 Samoan 90585 The Writing standards The section ‘You will be rewarded for’ that has appeared in the general instructions above the tasks has been removed to align with other subjects. The last bullet point in each task that stated ‘any other information or ideas relevant to this task’ has been removed. This is to help candidates focus on the task as outlined, and not drift into material that is not relevant and cannot contribute to the award of a grade. The advice ‘the quality of your writing is more important than the quantity’ remains, as this is the definitive characteristic of higher quality responses. Candidates are strongly encouraged to use the planning page to draft responses that:
Suggested numbers of words/characters are provided as a guide and are sufficient to allow all achievement grades. A carefully planned and well written response that has fewer words/characters than suggested could gain Excellence, whereas a response much longer than suggested could be inadequate for Achievement. Changes specific to Japanese Level 3 only The length of time candidates are advised to spend answering the questions in the Japanese Level 3 exam booklets has been changed to: 90570: Listening - 70 minutes (was 60 minutes) 90573: Reading - 55 minutes (unchanged) 90574: Writing - 55 minutes (was 60 minutes) These changes will be taken into account when booklets are being marked. In the Reading texts, some words in kanji have furigana added. Enquiries A PDF Please refer any enquiries relating to this circular to:
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Page updated: 13 October 2009