Section outline

    • Low level response

    • 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 3:

      • Communicates information that is sometimes detailed, provides ideas and opinions.

      The presentation concentrates on Pascal’s medical and industrial discoveries in some detail and contains some ideas and opinions.

      • Some attempt to justify their answers.

      The candidate’s language limitations restrict his ability to express anything but basic justifications.

      • Engages in the conversation, with some interaction with the examiner. Attempts a response to most questions.

      Apart from the questions about scientific advances and about ethics, the candidate understands the teacher/examiner’s questions first time and replies immediately. However, his answers are restricted by his limited language ability.

      Mark awarded = 6 out of 10

      Language range

      In line with the mark scheme for Language range in the Presentation and follow-up discussion (AO4:S3), Level 3:

      • Uses some linking and cohesive devices to connect a sequence of points, not always fully developed.

      The candidate does use a wide range of linking and cohesive devices: d’abord, grâce à, aussi, ensuite de plus, enfin, pour conclure, en fait, par exemple, parce que, selon moi, mais, à mon avis, comme.

      • Uses vocabulary appropriate to the tasks. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary.

      The candidate does use vocabulary appropriate to the task, but it is very limited in scope. Apart from la séringue and la presse hydraulique in the presentation, there is no attempt to use less common vocabulary.

      • There is some repetition and hesitation.

      There is a lot of repetition and hesitation.

      On balance, it fits best in the lower band of Level 3.

      Mark awarded = 5 out of 10

      Language accuracy

      In line with the mark scheme for Language accuracy in the Presentation and follow-up discussion (AO4:S4), Level 2:

      • Uses simple grammar with some errors.

      There are many basic errors: dans l’époque quand il était; il avait pas très idées et son idée est seulement à lui; moi je crois serait le IA; dans en Japon; le philosophie et le science est vraiment compatibles.

      • Attempts to use more complex grammar, with limited success.

      No attempt at more complex grammar. When the candidate does try to express more complex ideas, his grammatical limitations restrict what he is trying to say.

      • Errors sometimes impede communication.

      On many occasions this is the case: dans le médecin il peut te dire “Ton maladie, c’est quoi.”; je crois les inventions qui a une beaucoup plus bien avantage dans l’humain.

      Best fit: upper band of Level 2.

      Mark awarded = 4 out of 10

      Total mark awarded for Presentation and follow-up discussion = 15 out of 30

    • Conversation task card (Card 5)

      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 3:

      • Completes some tasks successfully.

      The candidate attempts all the tasks, but with limited success. His meaning is not always clear, owing to his limited grammatical grasp. He has apparently mistaken Comment? for Quand? in Prompt 1b.

      • Communicates information that is sometimes relevant. Develops an argument with ideas and opinions, which are not always justified.

      The candidate attempts to express more than he the ability for. Consequently, his justifications lack clarity.

      • Engages in the conversation with some interaction with the examiner. Responds to some questions/prompts.

      The candidate certainly enters into the spirit of the topic and responds to all the prompts.

      On balance it was decided that this performance fits the upper band of Level 3 best.

      Mark awarded = 6 out of 10

      Language range

      In line with the mark scheme for Language range in the Conversation task card (AO4:S3), Level 3:

      • Uses some linking and cohesive devices to connect a sequence of points, not always fully developed.

      Linking and cohesive devices are fewer here than in the first section: Pour moi, parce que, peut-être, par exemple, comme.

      • Uses vocabulary appropriate to the tasks. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary.

      The range of vocabulary is far more limited in this section, even though it is appropriate. The only unusual vocabulary is louper. When the candidate runs out of words, he often ends with Et oui.

      • There is some repetition and hesitation.

      There is a fair amount of repetition: sometimes the candidate seems unable to get beyond a small group of words he is familiar with.

      Mark awarded = 5 out of 10

      Language accuracy

      In line with the mark scheme for Language accuracy in the Conversation task card (AO4:S4), Level 2:

      • Uses simple grammar, with some errors.

      The candidate is sometimes able to use simple grammar accurately, but there are gaps in his knowledge e.g. the consistent absence of que in phrases like je crois moi je suis bien organisé dans ma vie or La technologie, non je crois pas ça va offrir de solutions.

      • Attempts to use more complex grammar, with limited success.

      There are some conditional and relative clauses, but nothing more complex.

      • Errors sometimes impede communication.

      Errors do sometimes impede communication:on peut écrire une autre temps on va être où dans le journée de différents semaines; Par exemple dans ta vie professionnelle, tu vas être plus énervant [sic]. Oui, tu ne vas pas parler bien avec ton ami, tu ne vas parler bien avec ton famille. Ils vont croire que tu as été vraiment méchant parce que tu as pas de temps pour nous et après quand tu travailles pas, tu parles comme ça. Et oui.

      Mark awarded = 4 out of 10

      Total mark awarded for Conversation task card = 15 out of 30

       

      Pronunciation and intonation for the whole speaking test

      In line with the mark scheme for Pronunciation and intonation (AO4:S5), Level 3:

      • Pronunciation is intelligible and intonation is appropriate.

      Pronunciation is intelligible and intonation is mostly appropriate.

      • Individual sounds are articulated clearly.

      There are some slips: liquide, construction, industrie.

      This is borderline Level 3/2, but on a fine balance it was deemed to fit best into Level 3.

      Mark awarded = 4 out of 5


      Total mark awarded for Speaking test = 34 out of 65 

    • Moderator comments (Whole test)

      Conduct of the test:

      The teacher/examiner followed the prescribed format of the test but only allowed three minutes preparation time for the Conversation Task Card instead of the recommended five minutes. All the other sections of the test were slightly too long. The teacher/examiner was business-like, but also empathetic towards the candidate. The candidate’s topic Blaise Pascal did not overlap with Conversation Task Card 5.

      How the teacher/examiner performance could improve:

      Timing was an issue here, particularly the shorter preparation time. The use of a timer is strongly recommended. In the follow-up discussion on Blaise Pascal, it might have been better not to broaden the discussion quite so early.

      How the candidate performance could improve:

      The candidate needs to have a more secure grasp of basic grammar and a wider knowledge of vocabulary so that he can express and develop his ideas and opinions with absolute clarity.