EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR FIRST CERTIFICATE PAPER 2 - WRITING -
PAPER 2 - WRITING ►How is students’ written production assessed? Content: Candidates should include all the content points required in the task and expand them appropriately by providing explanations and/or examples. Accuracy: Candidates should have minimal language errors.
Range: Candidates should use a very good range (=variety) of structures and vocabulary. Organisation and cohesion: A good answer should be clearly organised with suitable use of cohesive devices (consequently, therefore, in addition, however, etc). Register (=style) and format: The register (formal/informal) should be appropriate to the task and the right format should be used. For instance, a letter to the manager of a company must be
formal and follow the correct format and conventions. Target reader: Candidates should have in mind the reasons why they are writing (to inform, complain, describe, persuade, entertain). A good answer should achieve the desired effect on the reader.
►Which marks are given in the Writing paper? Students’ work is given a mark expressed in bands. There are 5 bands in the paper: Band 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. The minimum passing band for paper 2 is band 3 (60-70%).
BAND 5 Content: In a band 5 answer, all the content points required in the task are included* and expanded appropriately. Accuracy: The language is well developed, and any errors that occur are minimal and perhaps due to attempts at more complex language. Organisation and cohesion: Clearly organised in paragraphs. Ideas are organised effectively, with a variety of linking devices. Range: A wide range of structures and vocabulary is used. Register/format: Register and format are consistently appropriate to the purpose of the task and the audience. Target reader: The candidate’s writing fully achieves the desired effect on the target reader. * Candidates who do not address all the content points will be penalised for dealing inadequately with the requirements of the task.
BAND 4 Content: In a band 4 answer, all the content points required in the task are included*, with suitable expansion. Accuracy: Generally, the language is accurate, and any errors that do occur are mainly due to attempts at more complex language. Organisation and cohesion: Organised in paragraphs. Ideas are clearly organised with suitable linking devices. Range: A good range of structures and vocabulary is used. Register/format: Register and format are, in general, appropriate to the purpose of the task and the audience. Target reader: The candidate’s writing achieves the desired effect on the target reader. * Candidates who do not address all the content points will be penalised for dealing inadequately with the requirements of the task.
BAND 3 Content: In a band 3 answer, all the content points required in the task are included*. Accuracy: A number of errors may be present, but they do not affect communication. Organisation and cohesion: Organised in paragraphs. Ideas are organised adequately, with the use of simple linking devices. Range: An adequate range of structure and vocabulary is used. Register/format: A reasonable, if not always successful, attempt is made at register and format which is appropriate to the purpose of the task and the audience. Target reader: The candidate’s writing achieves the desired effect on the target reader in general. * Candidates who do not address all the content points will be penalised for dealing inadequately with the requirements of the task.
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BAND 2 Content: Some content points required in the task are inadequately covered or omitted, and/or there is some irrelevant material. Accuracy: Errors distract the reader and may obscure communication at times. Organisation and cohesion: Ideas are inadequately organised, and linking devices are rarely used. Range: The range of structure and vocabulary is limited. Register/format: Attempts at appropriate register and format are unsuccessful or inconsistent. Target reader: The candidate’s writing does not clearly communicate the message to the target reader.
BAND 1 Content: There is notable omission of content points and/or considerable irrelevance, possibly due to wrong interpretation of the task. Accuracy: Frequent errors obscure communication. Organisation and cohesion: There is a lack of organisation or linking devices. Range: The range of structure and vocabulary is very poor. Register/format: There is little or no awareness of appropriate register and format. Target reader: The candidate’s writing has a very negative effect on the target reader. BAND 0 There is either too little language for assessment or the candidate’s writing is totally irrelevant or totally illegible
LIST OF CORRECTION SYMBOLS vb
wrong verb tense (He get up gets)
vp
wrong verb pattern (I enjoy to go
ww
wrong word / expression
going)
missing word prep
wrong preposition
art
wrong / unnecessary article
sp
wrong spelling
gr
incorrect grammar structure
(I think is wrong I think it is wrong) w/o
wrong word order (In 2000 was born
punct
wrong punctuation
n/c
not clear / unclear
sty (reg)
wrong style / register
Tom In 2000 Tom was born / Tom was born in 2000 )