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2013 Notes from the Marking Centre – Italian Extension

Introduction

This document has been produced for the teachers and candidates of the Stage 6 Italian Extension 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 Italian Extension Stage 6 Syllabus
the 2013 Higher School Certificate Italian Extension 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 Italian in Stage 6.

Section I – Part A

Question 1

Characteristics of better responses:

as well as providing a literal translation of bravo testa dura, candidates explained why Giosuè’s stubborn nature was being praised (part a)
a number of elements in scenes A and B were referred to and how these contributed to Giosuè feeling secure and unconcerned (part b)
relevant examples of how light and sound were used in the scenes were provided (part c)
a perceptive and sensitive understanding of the text was demonstrated (part d)
Guido’s actions in scenes A and B were explained in relation to the love he felt versus his fear of oppression (part d).

Characteristics of weaker responses:

examples to support the response were not included
candidates did not refer to both scenes.

Section I – Part B

Question 2

Characteristics of better responses:

an understanding of the context and characters was demonstrated
an appropriate range of words was used to convey Dora’s determination and commitment to her family
an understanding of the relationship between Dora and her mother at this point in the film was demonstrated
the imperfect subjunctive was used with accuracy.

Characteristics of weaker responses:

either too much or too little was written
there were inaccuracies in the conjugation of verbs, agreements, pronouns and overall syntax.

Section II – Writing

Characteristics of better responses:

a coherent argument supported by relevant examples was developed
there was a high level of grammatical accuracy
candidates provided a discussion of the topic (ie freedom of speech), as well as further discussion about the necessity of taking responsibility for the expression of one’s views (Q.3)
a variety of verb tenses, including the imperfect subjunctive, was used.

Characteristics of weaker responses:

responses contained inaccuracies in spelling, verb conjugations and syntax generally
some candidates defined social media as media in general (Q.4).