Topic 5

Content and Presentation: The candidate choses Ma routine quotidienne.

The candidate does briefly mention France, but essentially, as the topic title suggests, this is not a presentation about a French-speaking country but about the candidate in her own (non-francophone) country. According to the mark scheme ‘candidates who make no specific reference to the contemporary society or cultural heritage of a country where the language is spoken, will have their mark for Content and Presentation halved'. Therefore the original mark for Content/Presentation has to be divided by two (halved) - from 4 marks to 2 marks out of 10.

The presentation consists of very simple factual statements which are not appropriate at this level.

The material is thin, with hardly any ideas of opinions and hardly sustains the listener’s interest. This puts the mark firmly in the 3–4 mark band (achieving 4 marks which are then halved to 2 marks).

Mark awarded = 4:2 = 2 out of 10 [Poor]

Pronunciation and Intonation: There are many errors of pronunciation: ‘pew’ for puis, ‘maisson’ for maison, ‘loondi’ for lundi , ‘famile’ for famille, ‘alorse’ for alors.

Comprehension & Responsiveness: The candidate misunderstands a number of the examiner’s questions, although she is also able to respond, albeit simply, to some questions, perhaps relying on pre-prepared responses.

This section is not so much a conversation, but rather a series of basic questions requiring factual answers. A candidate at this level will be expected to answer such basic questions with ease.

Mark awarded = 4 out of 10 [Weak]

Accuracy: The candidate’s use of language is generally inaccurate: je ne vas à l’école pas, je suis bonne note, mon préfère matière.

Mark awarded = 4 out of 10 [Weak]

Feel for the Language: This is on the borderline of Weak and Satisfactory. There is evidence of some feel for the language, but the candidate tends to translate literally from the mother tongue.   

Mark awarded = 4 out of 10 [Weak]

Providing Information and Opinions: Severe limitations of vocabulary and structures restrict the candidate’s responses to a very basic level.   

Mark awarded = 2 out of 5 [Weak]

Seeking Information and Opinions: The candidate asks three questions, two of which are not really relevant to the line of the examiner’s questioning.       

Mark awarded = 2 out of 5 [Weak]

Total mark awarded for the Topic Conversation = 16 out of 40

Comprehension & Responsiveness: The examiner covers three topics: Le sport, Le travail, La famille.

The examiner asks a series of questions and there is no real conversation or discussion of ideas/opinions.

The candidate has greater difficulty with understanding in this section than in the Topic conversation, but is able to respond – mostly relying on pre-prepared responses.

There is some confusion over the difference between le foot and le footing. This could have been explored further and clarified.

Mark awarded = 3 out of 10 [Weak]

Accuracy: This is borderline Satisfactory/Weak: generally inaccurate but with some indication of competence.

Mark awarded = 4 out of 10 [Weak]

Feel for the Language: Like in the previous section, there is evidence of some feel for the language, but the candidate tends to translate literally from the mother tongue.  

Mark awarded = 4 out of 10 [Weak]

Providing Information and Opinions: This is very similar to the Topic conversation. Severe limitations of vocabulary and structures restrict the candidate’s responses to a very basic level.     

Mark awarded = 2 out of 5 [Weak]

Seeking Information and Opinions: The candidate asks a number of questions, but has difficulty in formulating anything other than very basic ones.   

Mark awarded = 3 out of 5 [Satisfactory]

Total mark awarded for the General Conversation = 16 out of 40