Section outline

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    • Middle level response

    • Transcript (middle) File
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    • Presentation and follow-up discussion

      Presentation, interaction/responsiveness

      In line with the mark scheme for communication in the Presentation and follow-up discussion: Presentation, interaction/responsiveness (AO4:S1 and S2), Level 4:

      • Communicates detailed information with ideas and opinions that are mostly clear and supported.

      The Presentation shows clear evidence of research, although the candidate’s delivery lacks flow, which occasionally compromises communication, as does the omission of a subject in some sentences e.g. Selon l’organisation mondiale de la santé chez les adolescents [le nombre de cas] a triplé dans de nombreux pays. 

      • Justifies, develops and explains their answers.

      The candidate fits this profile neatly, but lacks the consistency and breadth of Level 5: pourquoi est-il [la malbouffe] si populaire alors ? Parce qu’elle est rapide, savoureuse et peu coûteuse; en plus, c’est souvent vu comme quelque chose de cool ou à la mode entre amis; elles [les campagnes de sensibilisations] peuvent aider, surtout si elles sont simples et visibles comme à la télé ou sur les réseaux sociaux.

      • Engages in the conversation. Candidate has good interaction with the examiner and responds to most questions.

      The candidate generally interacts well with the examiner, to the extent of asking her a question, but has difficulty continuing at one point.

      Mark awarded = 8 out of 10

      Language range

      In line with the mark scheme for Language range in the Presentation and follow-up discussion (AO4:S3), Level 4:

      • Uses a range of linking and cohesive devices to connect a series of mostly well-developed points.

      Points in the Presentation and the follow-up discussion are generally well connected: c’est-à-dire, souvent, surtout, selon, mais, parce que, de plus, donc, pour conclure, comme, but are sometimes limited in scope.

      • Uses a range of vocabulary appropriate to the tasks. Occasionally uses less common vocabulary.

      Vocabulary is appropriate to the task: les aliments riches en sucre, en sel et en grasses saturées; les chaînes de restauration rapide produisent tant d’emballages but rarely goes beyond the ‘common’.

      • Attempts to vary formulation but some repetition is present.

      There is relatively little repetition, but this has to be weighed against the fact that the candidate’s answers are limited and expressed in fairly simple language.

      Mark awarded = 7 out of 10

      Language accuracy

      In line with the mark scheme for Language accuracy in the Presentation and follow-up discussion (AO4:S4), Level 4:

      • Accurate use of simple grammar.

      There are minor errors in the follow-up, particularly of gender, agreement of the definite article and of tense, although it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between errors of grammar and errors of pronunciation.

      • Uses some complex grammar, with occasional slips.

      Complex grammar is limited to the Presentation and, though accurate, is limited in scope.

      The candidate is borderline between Level 4 and Level 3 but has been given the benefit of doubt and placed in the lower bracket of Level 4.

      Mark awarded = 7 out of 10

      Total mark awarded Presentation and follow-up discussion = 22 out of 30

    • Conversation task card (Card 3)

      Task completion and communication

      In line with the mark scheme for Task completion and communication in the Conversation task card (AO4:S1 and S2), Level 4:

      • Completes most tasks fully.

      The candidate completes all the tasks the examiner invites her to explore.

      • Communicates relevant information. Develops an argument that is mostly clear and supported by their points of view

      The candidate’s opinions are uncomplicated and are backed up by simple statements.

      • Engages in the conversation. Candidate has good interaction with the examiner and responds to most questions/prompts.

      The candidate fits the profile and generally interacts well with the examiner

      Mark awarded = 8 out of 10

      Language range

      In line with the mark scheme for Language range in the Conversation task card (AO4:S3), Level 4:

      • Uses a range of linking and cohesive devices to connect a series of mostly well-developed points.

      The candidate uses a range of linking and cohesive devices: surtout, ce qui est, parce que, selon moi, comme, par exemple, aussi, car, souvent which link a series of fairly well-developed points.

      • Uses a range of vocabulary appropriate to the tasks. Occasionally uses less common vocabulary.

      Vocabulary is appropriate, but mainly conservative: l’énergie solaire; les produits de saison, le recyclage. Covoiturage and écoresponsable are the only two slightly less common words.

      • Attempts to vary formulation but some repetition is present.

      As in the Presentation, the candidate’s responses are simple statements, and she is not encouraged to develop/deepen her thoughts. Repetition is therefore minimal.

      On balance, fits the lower band of Level 4.

      Mark awarded = 7 out of 10

      Language accuracy

      In line with the mark scheme for Language accuracy in the Conversation task card (AO4:S4), Level 3:

      • Accurate use of simple grammar.

      There are several instances of pouvoir without a following infinitive: je pourrai [ ] attention; je pourrai [ ] de douches courtes.

      • ·       Uses some complex grammar, with occasional slips.

      Apart from ce qui, en respectant and qui, there is nothing complex. Although most future tenses are accurately formulated, je préparai is given in error for je préparerai; je le faire for je le ferai. Elsewhere: qui économise le for et qui l’économise.

      Mark awarded = 7 out of 10

      Total mark awarded  for the Conversation task card = 22 out of 30


      Pronunciation and intonation for the whole speaking test

      In line with the mark scheme for Pronunciation and intonation (AO4:S5): Level 2:

      • Pronunciation is intelligible and intonation is mostly appropriate.

      The profile fits exactly.

      • Individual sounds are mostly articulated clearly, though with some slips.

      Although it is sometimes hard to be sure, the candidate seems to mispronounce les as le and des as de. There are quite a few slips: environnementale, le gouvernement, surtout, cependant, ou, une, frais [payés], découvrir, empreinte.

      On balance it fits best in Level 2.

      Mark awarded = 3 out of 5

      Total mark awarded for Speaking test = 47 out of 65

    • Moderator comments (Whole test)

      Conduct of the test:

      The examiner was encouraging and supportive of the candidate throughout. She observed the prescribed format of the test, including the 5-minute preparation time, but departed from the recommended questions in the Conversation Task Card section. The candidate’s topic, La malbouffe, did not overlap with the topic of Conversation Task Card 3.

      How the teacher/examiner performance could improve:

      The teacher/examiner is strongly advised to follow the suggested questions in the Conversation Task Card section and not to deviate too widely from them. Her first question – “Que pensez-vous de cette proposition?” – used up valuable time. For the same reason it is best to avoid asking candidates to repeat material covered in the presentation, even if, as was the case after the examiner’s first question, the candidate was able to answer using different vocabulary. As it was, the test was too long: 23 minutes, and the examiner only asked one of the two prompts in each of the four cues. The teacher/examiner could also have asked more in-depth questions. Please note that it is no longer a requirement for candidates to ask the examiner questions, although it is recognised that questions may arise naturally during the conversations.

      How the candidate performance could improve:

      There are certain aspects which require attention: basic pronunciation, the need for greater grammatical accuracy; and the need for more complex constructions and vocabulary.

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