2013 Notes from the Marking Centre – English ESL
Introduction
This document has been produced for the teachers and candidates of the Stage 6 English ESL course. It contains comments on candidate responses to the 2013 Higher School Certificate examination, highlighting their strengths in particular parts of the examination and indicating where candidates need to improve.
This document should be read along with:
- the English ESL Stage 6 Syllabus
- the 2013 Higher School Certificate English ESL examination: Paper 1, Paper 2 and the Listening Paper
- the marking guidelines
- 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 English ESL in Stage 6.
Paper 1 – Section I
Candidates showed strength in these areas:
- understanding the concept of belonging
- understanding the importance of providing textual references
- understanding the connection between belonging and the language and visual features used to present information and ideas in the texts.
Candidates need to improve in these areas:
- providing sufficient textual references where required
- addressing the requirements of the question
- demonstrating understanding of the overall meaning of a text
- including only necessary details in their responses.
Paper 1 – Section II
Candidates showed strength in these areas:
- understanding the prescribed texts and aspects of belonging
- understanding how the concept of belonging was conveyed through texts
- using the language forms and structures of an essay
- using language features and demonstrating control of expression.
Candidates need to improve in these areas:
- fully addressing the question throughout the response
- discussing all texts in detail
- selecting ways that ideas are communicated that are connected with the question
- synthesising ideas
- discussing the related text.
Paper 2 – Section I – Module A: Experience Through Language
Candidates showed strength in these areas:
- integrating their analysis and discussion of the extent to which the visions or voices presented in their prescribed text are distinctly Australian
- developing a thesis
- demonstrating comprehensive knowledge of the prescribed text
- demonstrating understanding of the text form in relation to their prescribed text
- composing a cohesive response with sustained control of expression
- discussing a range of Australian visions or voices with well-chosen supporting textual evidence to reflect values, attitudes and perceptions within Australian society.
Candidates need to improve in these areas:
- addressing the question and not merely relying on learnt responses from previous examination questions
- engaging with the text as a whole and avoiding recount of the prescribed text
- including a related text if specified by the question
- establishing clear links between the Australian visions or voices presented and why these are reflective of Australian society
- demonstrating a thorough understanding of the textual forms and features with relevant examples to support their thesis.
Paper 2 – Section II – Module B: Texts and Society
Candidates showed strength in these areas:
- demonstrating understanding of the electives
- incorporating relevant examples of learning
- understanding the connection between audience, context and purpose
- addressing the requirements and elements of each question.
Candidates need to improve in these areas:
- responding to the question through their knowledge of the elective, not simply creating an answer in isolation from it
- fully addressing the requirements of the question
- understanding the relevance of the elective to the question asked and answered
- including only necessary detail in their responses
- managing their time appropriately between Modules A and B.
Listening Paper
Candidates showed strength in these areas:
- understanding the main idea of the text
- quoting directly from the text
- showing understanding and empathy in their responses (Q.4)
- using information from across the text (Q.4 and Q.6)
- identifying key words in questions that describe effect (Q.6).
Candidates need to improve in these areas:
- understanding that the question required two pieces of information to answer it fully (ie the mother’s reaction and why her reaction was ironic) (Q.2)
- explaining a quote within context (Q.3)
- identifying and describing techniques when referred to as ‘ways’ (Q.4)
- writing within the context of particular events described in the text (Q.5)
- writing synthesised responses (Q.4 and Q.6).
NSW Government