Section outline

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    Cambridge IGCSE™ Hindi as a Second Language 0549 (for examination from 2024)
    Example Candidate Responses (Component 3 - Speaking)
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    • Introduction

      The main aim of this resource is to exemplify standards and show how different levels of candidate performance (high, middle and low) relate to the subject's curriculum and assessment objectives. 

      This resource includes 

      • speaking test criteria
      • recordings of three speaking tests
      • moderator comments to indicate how the teacher / examiner and candidate perform during the test
      • transcript and moderator comments on where and why marks were awarded.
      • common mistakes and guidance about how candidates performed in this particular examination series.

      Candidate responses have been chosen from November 2024 Component 3 to exemplify a range of answers to a selection of Speaking Assessment topics. 

      More information about this examination series can be found in the Principal Examiner Report for Teachers available on the School Support Hub.


      After reading the speaking assessment criteria below, you may want to practise marking a speaking test. Listen to the candidate responses below, make a note of the strengths and weaknesses of the candidate and give a mark, before you read the moderator comments and marks.

      Please note: Information about the candidate and centre has been removed from the start of the recording to protect the identity of the candidate, however it is very important to include this information when submitting audios for moderation.

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    • High level response

    • Transcript and moderator comments (high) File
      289.1 KB
    • Part 1 - Presentation

      Content: The teacher/examiner puts the candidate at ease by explaining what to expect in the three parts of the Speaking Test. The teacher/examiner is familiar with the requirement of the Cambridge IGCSE Hindi as a Second Language Speaking Test and understands her role.
      Factual points about life in Singapore, its language, festivals, food, civic sense, culture, etc. are all supported by examples from her personal experience. Ideas and opinions are linked well. 
      The candidate speaks clearly and fluently to provide a full, well researched and organised coverage of the topic including her own ideas and opinions.  This is a lively Presentation which sustains the interest of the teacher/examiner.

      Vocabulary: The candidate uses a wide range of precise vocabulary including some proverbs (पेट में चूहे कूदने, चार चाँद लगाती) effectively. 

      Pronunciation and intonation are clear.

      Structure: The candidate uses a variety of complex structures mostly correctly, some errors , such as plural of जाति as जातियाँ should be जातियों, रह कर हुए should be रहते हुए, gender agreement in इस बात की ध्यान should be इस बात का ध्यान, and अपने मूल जड़ों, should be अपनी मूल जड़ों, do not impede communication.

      Mark awarded for Content and Presentation = 10 out of 10

      Mark awarded for Vocabulary, Pronunciation and Intonation = 5 out of 5

      Mark awarded for Structures = 4 out of 5

       

      Total mark awarded = 19 out of 20

    • Part 2 - Topic Conversation

      Conduct of the test

      The teacher/examiner informs the candidate about Part 2 of the test before asking a Topic Conversation question. In order to tease out a more detailed answer, the teacher/examiner could have asked  भारत और सिंगापुर में जो त्योहार मनाए जाते हैं उनमें क्या अंतर होता है?

      The teacher/examiner should ensure the questions are correctly structured. Questions should be pitched at a level appropriate for this syllabus.

      Candidate response

      The candidate uses a variety of complex structures mostly correctly, errors made by the candidate do not impede communication. Errors relate mainly to order of words in a sentence, subject-verb agreement and occasional incorrect use of pronouns. Only one example of vague expression impedes meaning.

      Mark awarded for Comprehension and Responsiveness = 10 out of 10

      Mark awarded for Vocabulary, Pronunciation and Intonation = 5 out of 5

      Mark awarded for Structures = 4 out of 5

       

      Total mark awarded = 19 out of 20

    • Part 3 - General Conversation

      Part 3 is a three-to-four-minute conversation with the teacher/examiner about general topics. At least two topics should be covered in the General Conversation: one from Areas A and B, the other from Areas C and D. Topics chosen for the General Conversation should not overlap with the content of the Topic Conversation in this Speaking Test. A full list of the topics can be found in the syllabus.

      Conduct of the test

      The teacher/examiner informs the candidate about moving to Part 3. The first question is from Area A–B, Family. The questions should challenge the candidate and take her outside her comfort zone. At least one question should be from Areas C–E to engage the candidate in wider issues to assess her breadth of vocabulary and responsiveness.

      Candidate response

      The candidate uses simple structures correctly, errors occur when complex structures are attempted. Errors are in gender agreement of Possessive pronoun (अपनी पालतू कुत्ते) and Noun (जिम्मेदार instead of जिम्मेदारी) are noticeable in this very long sentence. 

      The candidate supports some of her answers with examples in a complex sentence.

      Mark awarded for Comprehension and Responsiveness = 9 out of 10

      Mark awarded for Vocabulary, Pronunciation and Intonation = 5 out of 5

      Mark awarded for Structures = 4 out of 5

       

      Total mark awarded = 18 out of 20

    • Moderator comments - Whole test

      Conduct of the test

      • The Speaking Test was conducted well.
      • The teacher/examiner clearly introduced the candidate at the start of the test.
      • The teacher/examiner clearly indicated the start of each section of the test.
      • The quality of recording was good.
      • The teacher/examiner should keep to the time allocation for each section of the test: Presentation, 2–3 minutes, Topic Conversation, 4–5 minutes and General Conversation, 4–5 minutes.
      • Teacher/examiners should ensure that the questions in both the Topic Conversation and General Conversation offer candidate plenty opportunities to express opinions and justifications so as to reach the level of conversation appropriate for the qualification.
      • Many questions were not challenging enough. They were pitched at a basic level which did not give candidate the opportunity to provide extended responses and to demonstrate their command of wider vocabulary including a variety of structures.
      • At least two topics should be covered in the General Conversation: one from Areas A–B and one from Areas C–D as set in the syllabus. This aspect of Speaking Test was not fulfilled by the teacher/examiner.

      Candidate response

      Content and Presentation

      The candidate speaks clearly and fluently to provide a full, well researched and organised coverage of the topic including her own ideas and opinions. Factual points about life in Singapore, its language, festivals, food, civic sense, culture etc are all supported by examples from her personal experience. A lively Presentation which sustains interest of the teacher/examiner.

      Vocabulary, Pronunciation, Intonation

      The candidate uses a wide range of precise vocabulary including some proverbs (पेट में चूहे कूदने, चार चाँद लगाती) effectively. Pronunciation and intonation are clear.

      Structures

      The candidate uses a variety of complex structures mostly correctly, some errors, such as plural of जाति as जातियाँ should be जातियों, to agree with के लोग, रह कर हुए should be रहते हुए and gender agreement in इस बात की ध्यान which should be इस बात का ध्यान (see highlighted examples in transcript) do not impede communication.

       

      Total mark awarded = 56 out of 60

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    • Middle level response

    • Transcript and moderator comments (middle) File
      203.2 KB
    • Part 1 - Presentation

      Content: The teacher/examiner is familiar with the requirement of the Cambridge IGCSE Hindi as a Second Language Speaking Test and understands her role.
      The teacher/examiner gives praise to the candidate for his ideas in the Presentation. The teacher/examiner should not comment on the candidate’s performance in a live test condition.

      Presentation time: 2:58 minutes with limited ideas about changing picture of food choices made by youngsters and parental responsibility to teach them about healthy eating. An adequate coverage of the topic, and a loosely organised Presentation is slow.

      Vocabulary:  The candidate uses a sufficient range of vocabulary and verbs which sometimes lacks precision, such as सामूहिक परिवार. for संयुक्त परिवार, पेड़ से गिरे for पेड पर पके, होते हैं for रहते हैं।

      Pronunciation and intonation are clear.

      Structure: Occasional errors in number-verb- agreement occur in simple structures, such as,

      चश्मे लगना शुरू हो जाते हैं। It should be चश्में लगने शुरू हो जाते हैं / चश्मा लगना शुरू हो जाता है। Some sentences are started in one way and then rephrased in a different way. This shows lack of confidence in grammatical structure, e.g. लेकिन दोनों में असल में ये दोनों चीजें कच्चा मैदा हैं।

      Mark awarded for Content and Presentation = 8 out of 10

      Mark awarded for Vocabulary, Pronunciation and Intonation = 4 out of 5

      Mark awarded for Structures = 4 out of 5

       

      Total mark awarded = 16 out of 20

    • Part 2 - Topic Conversation

      Conduct of the test

      The teacher/examiner informs the candidate about Part 2 of the test before asking a Topic Conversation question. In order to tease out a more detailed answer, the teacher/examiner should ask open questions.

      Candidate response

      Errors occur when the candidate attempts complex sentences. Limited vocabulary, hesitations and errors in verb forms, परवरिश नहीं रह पाता, instead of परवरिश नहीं कर पाता can occasionally impede communication.

      Examples of errors in pronouns, verbs and agreement are, वह बच्चों की in place of उन बच्चों की, गलत खाना भी शुरू हो जाते हैं in place of गलत खाना शुरू कर देते हैं and संस्कृतियाँ आते जा रही in place of संस्कृतियाँ आती जा रही।

      Mark awarded for Comprehension and Responsiveness = 7 out of 10

      Mark awarded for Vocabulary, Pronunciation and Intonation = 4 out of 5

      Mark awarded for Structures = 4 out of 5

       

      Total mark awarded = 15 out of 20

    • Part 3 - General Conversation


      Conduct of the test

      The question which is taken from Area C, The world around us, is a statement. The teacher/examiner asks another closed question that can only have a YES/NO answer.

      Candidate response

      The candidate uses limited vocabulary and mostly uses simple structure.

      Mark awarded for Comprehension and Responsiveness = 7 out of 10

      Mark awarded for Vocabulary, Pronunciation and Intonation = 3 out of 5

      Mark awarded for Structures = 3 out of 5

       

      Total mark awarded = 13 out of 20

    • Moderator comments - Whole test

      Conduct of the test

      • The Speaking Test was conducted well.
      • The teacher/examiner clearly introduced the candidate at the start of the test.
      • The teacher/examiner clearly indicated the start of each section of the test.
      •  The quality of recording was good.
      • Time keeping in all three parts followed the syllabus, Presentation: 3 minutes, Topic Conversation: 3:30 minutes and General Conversation: 4:07 minutes.
      • The teacher/examiner should ensure that questions in both the Topic Conversation and the General Conversation offer the candidate plenty of opportunities to express opinions and justifications so as to reach the level of conversation appropriate for the qualification.
      • Many questions were not challenging enough for the level of a Cambridge IGCSE qualification. They were mostly statements that could have YES/NO answers. They did not give opportunity for the candidate to demonstrate their command of wider vocabulary and a variety of structures.
      • The General Conversation covered questions from Area C, The World around us and Festivals. At least two topics should be covered in the General Conversation: one from Areas A–B and one from Areas C–D as set in the syllabus. This aspect of the Speaking Test was not fulfilled by the teacher/examiner.
      • The teacher/examiner must not help the candidate or complete their half-finished sentences during the Speaking Test.

      Candidate response

      Content and Presentation

      In Part 1 the candidate demonstrates limited knowledge of his chosen topic. In Part 2, the candidate takes lead from the teacher/examiner, mostly agrees with the teacher/examiner’s ideas and opinions by affirming / repeating the question and attempts to justify his answers by examples. Some of the examples are neither relevant nor convincing.

      Vocabulary, Pronunciation, Intonation

      The candidate uses limited vocabulary, mostly appropriately, pronunciation and intonation are clear.

      Structures

      Generally, the candidate uses very simple structures accurately, hesitation and errors occur when complex structures are attempted, and communication is impeded.

       

      Total mark awarded = 44 out of 60

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    • Low level response

    • Transcript and moderator comments (low) File
      190.2 KB
    • Part 1 - Presentation

      Moderator comment:

      Content:

      A thin coverage of the topic, generally organised, and includes some factual points. The Presentation is slow and somewhat stilted though the teacher/examiner’s interest is generally sustained.

      The teacher/examiner introduces the Speaking Test and explains about the three parts of the Test including the content, time allocation and available marks for each part.

      Vocabulary and structure: 

      Limited vocabulary and grammatical errors in simple structures frequently impede communication of simple ideas.  Some English words are used.

      Mark awarded for Content and Presentation = 6 out of 10

      Mark awarded for Vocabulary, Pronunciation and Intonation = 3 out of 5

      Mark awarded for Structures = 3 out of 5

       

      Total mark awarded = 12 out of 20

    • Part 2 - Topic Conversation

      Conduct of the test

      The teacher/examiner informs the candidate about Part 2 of the Speaking Test. 

      The teacher/examiner’s gentle approach is appropriate for the candidate’s limited ability level, it encourages him to talk within his comfort zone.

      Candidate response

      The candidate uses too many English words which indicate the candidate’s limited knowledge of simple Hindi vocabulary.

      The use of limited vocabulary together with errors in simple structures and inadequate verb forms impede communication.

      Mark for Comprehension and Responsiveness = 5 out of 10

      Mark awarded for Vocabulary, Pronunciation and Intonation = 3 out of 5

      Mark awarded for Structures = 2 out of 5


      Total mark awarded = 10 out of 20


    • Part 3 - General Conversation

      Conduct of the test

      The teacher/examiner introduces Part 3, General Conversation, but is undecided about whether to ask a question from Area A or B.

      In Part 3 the topics must be chosen that do not overlap with the content of the candidate’s Presentation or Topic Conversation.

      Candidate response

      The candidate uses the feminine gender ending for himself throughout the response.

      The candidate is limited by his range of vocabulary and the ability to form simple structures accurately.

      Mark for Comprehension and Responsiveness = 5 out of 10

      Mark awarded for Vocabulary, Pronunciation and Intonation = 2 out of 5

      Mark awarded for Structures = 1 out of 5

       

      Total mark awarded = 8 out of 20

    • Moderator comments - Whole test

      Conduct of the test

      • The Speaking Test was conducted well.
      • The teacher/examiner clearly introduced the candidate at the start of each section of the test.
      • The quality of recording was good.
      • Time keeping in all three parts followed the syllabus, Presentation: 3:00 minutes, Topic Conversation: 3:30 minutes and General Conversation:3.30 minutes.
      • The teacher/examiner should ensure that questions in General Conversation do not repeat the content of the Presentation and the Topic Conversation.
      • Some of the questions were loosely structured.
      • The General Conversation covered questions from Area A, Health and Fitness and E, Travel.

      Candidate response

      Content and Presentation

      The Presentation covered descriptions of nuclear and extended families including some simple factual comparison between the two and the candidate’s preferred model.

      Vocabulary, Pronunciation, Intonation

      Limited vocabulary lacked precision at times. Pronunciation and intonation was occasionally affected.

      Structures

      Weakness in grammatical structures including noun, gender verb agreement, inappropriate usages of different Tenses, repetition and hesitation resulted in difficulty in communicating ideas and opinions.

       

      Total mark awarded = 30 out of 60

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    • Common mistakes and guidance

      • मेरे विषय परिवार है। should be मेरा विषय परिवार है। Correct use of possessive pronoun
      • हमारे जीवन का पहला पाठशाला है। हमारे जीवन की पहला पाठशाला है।(Connective to agree in gender with the noun).
      • बच्चों सोचने, केलने और बताता है, लेकिन संयुक्त परिवार में निजी ज़िंदगी ज्यादा होता है और विकास में नहीं मिलते   लेकिन संयुक्त परिवार में तुम्हारे अंक कम मिलते हैं, संयुक्त परिवार में अपने दादा-दादी, चाचा-चाची तुमको समर्थन हूँ और आपने अंक increase जा रही है। Too many different ideas are attempted in one long sentence, lack of appropriate vocabulary and grammatical structure make it difficult to understand. The candidate should have split the complicated ideas into three simple sentences.
      • मेरे परिवार एकल परिवार मेरे दोस्तों परिवार बहुत सारे परिवार है। should be मैं एकल परिवार से हूँ और मेरे दोस्त संयुक्त परिवार से हैं। Inappropriate use of connectives.
      • चीन को बहुत खुशी और मनोरंजन है। should be चीन में बहुत खुशी और मनोरंजन हैं। In appropriate use of prepositions.
      • मे अपने दोस्तों को शनिवार को बहुत visit कर रही है। should be मैं अपने दोस्तों के पास शनिवार को मिलने जाता हूँ Gender-verb-agreement.

       

      • Candidates need to prepare a well-researched topic for their Presentation which can be followed up by a meaningful interactive discussion.
      • Candidates should learn to:
      1. organise ideas and opinions systematically.
      2. structure sentences cohesively and topic related vocabulary for clarity in communication.

      • Teacher/examiners should ensure that questions in both the Topic Conversation and General Conversation offer candidates plenty of opportunities to express opinions and justifications so as to reach the higher levels in the mark scheme.
      • Teacher/examiners should ask questions to further assess the candidate’s knowledge and understanding of their subject without repeating the Presentation.
      • General Conversation topics should follow the syllabus to include a variety of suggested topics to provide opportunities to use a wide range of vocabulary and grammatical structures.
      • Teacher/examiners should not assist the candidate by prompting/ rephrasing/completing candidate’s sentences.
      • Marks should be awarded by applying the assessment criteria grid in the syllabus.

      For further details about how candidates performed in this particular examination series please refer to the Principal Examiner Report for Teachers (PERT).

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