2013 Notes from the Marking Centre – Armenian Continuers
Introduction
This document has been produced for the teachers and candidates of the Stage 6 Armenian Continuers course. It contains comments on candidate responses to the 2013 Higher School Certificate examination, indicating the quality of the responses and highlighting their relative strengths and weaknesses.
This document should be read along with:
- the Armenian Continuers Stage 6 Syllabus
- the 2013 Higher School Certificate Armenian Continuers examination
- the marking guidelines
- Advice for students attempting HSC languages examinations, and HSC Languages oral examinations – advice to students
- Advice for HSC students about examinations
- other support documents developed by the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW to assist in the teaching and learning of Armenian Continuers in Stage 6.
Oral examination
Characteristics of better responses:
- language manipulated effectively in response to a range of questions
- wide vocabulary and sophisticated sentence structures
- opinions and ideas presented fluently and articulately and appropriately justified
- topics for study supported with in-depth analysis of literary and other texts.
Characteristics of weaker responses:
- errors of language such as verb, noun and connecting word forms
- lack of depth and detail
- limited references to texts in the Discussion or lack of appropriate supporting literary texts
- lack of sufficient research.
Written examination
Section I – Listening
Characteristics of better responses:
- detailed and relevant
- interpretation of texts rather than translation.
Characteristics of weaker responses:
- insufficient detail given, particularly in relation to Questions 3 and 5
- candidates confused the ‘experience’ referred to in Question 4
- the word ‘philosophy’ was not well understood in Question 6.
Section II – Reading and Responding
Part A
Characteristics of better responses:
- relevant details from the text included to support opinions
- understood and explained tone for Question 8
- texts appropriately compared.
Characteristics of weaker responses:
- insufficient detail in responses
- lack of specific references to texts.
Part B
Characteristics of better responses:
- all relevant details from the text included in response
- variety of language and structures used
- creative response provided depth and breadth.
Characteristics of weaker responses:
- insufficient detail
- lack of relevant references to original text
- inaccuracy of language and structures.
Section III – Writing in Armenian
Characteristics of better responses:
- a range of vocabulary and language structures used
- sophisticated language forms
- relevant and interesting response to task
- depth of treatment of task.
Characteristics of weaker responses:
- inaccuracy of language forms
- simplicity of engagement with task.
NSW Government