2013 Notes from the Marking Centre – Croatian Continuers
Introduction
This document has been produced for the teachers and candidates of the Stage 6 Croatian 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 Croatian Continuers Stage 6 Syllabus
- the 2013 Higher School Certificate Croatian 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 Croatian Continuers in Stage 6.
Oral examination
Characteristics of better responses:
- confident responses demonstrating depth
- good use of cases
- accuracy and fluency of language, pronunciation and intonation
- 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:
- interference of English vocabulary and expressions
- lack of depth and detail in answers
- limited references to texts in the Discussion or lack of appropriate supporting literary texts
- superficiality of information and limited evidence of research for in-depth study.
Written examination
Section I – Listening
Characteristics of better responses:
- demonstrated high level of comprehension
- analysed content and discussed effective use of language and vocabulary to convey meaning.
Characteristics of weaker responses:
- literal rather than inferred meaning.
Section II – Reading and Responding
Part A
Characteristics of better responses:
- recognised inferred meaning
- provided in-depth responses which reflected analysis.
Characteristics of weaker responses:
- misunderstood content of Question 8
- responded to literal aspects of texts.
Part B
Characteristics of better responses:
- effective use of emotive and persuasive language
- excellent manipulation of language to create an excited, enthusiastic, convincing tone
- accurate use of grammar, syntax and a wide range of appropriate vocabulary
- authentic response that reflected excellent understanding of text.
Characteristics of weaker responses:
- listed information and described activities
- limited reference to text.
Section III – Writing in Croatian
Characteristics of better responses:
- use of correct text type with appropriate introduction and conclusion
- point of view supported logically and coherently
- argument clearly presented
- high level of grammatical accuracy.
Characteristics of weaker responses:
- limited ideas without elaboration
- frequent listing of information
- ideas not supported
- frequent errors in grammar, syntax and limited vocabulary.
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