2013 Notes from the Marking Centre – Modern Greek Extension
Introduction
This document has been produced for the teachers and candidates of the Stage 6 Modern Greek 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 Modern Greek Extension Stage 6 Syllabus
- the 2013 Higher School Certificate Modern Greek 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 Modern Greek in Stage 6.
Oral examination
Characteristics of better responses:
- a logical and well-structured argument was developed within the time allocation
- ideas were communicated confidently and fluently with authentic intonation and pronunciation
- sophisticated vocabulary and advanced sentence structures were used
- a high level of grammatical accuracy was evident.
Characteristics of weaker responses:
- an attempt was made to present an argument and to communicate ideas in comprehensible language
- repetition, incomplete sentences and frequent pauses were evident
- there were grammatical inaccuracies in article/gender/adjective agreement
- a limited range in vocabulary was apparent.
Written examination
Section I – Response to Prescribed Text
Characteristics of better responses:
- candidates demonstrated comprehensive understanding of the prescribed extract and gave appropriate responses to questions (part a)
- there was good discussion, with relevant examples, of the effect of film techniques
- issues in both scenes were discussed perceptively and were well supported by examples
- candidates demonstrated perceptive and sensitive understanding of the prescribed extract using well-chosen references from the film (part b)
- there was coherency in language and sentence structure with use of sophisticated vocabulary.
Characteristics of weaker responses:
- although a sound understanding of the prescribed extract was demonstrated there was a lack of appropriate analysis (part a)
- there was some discussion of film techniques, not always supported by examples
- candidates did not engage in a detailed analysis of the two scenes
- candidates recounted some details and made limited references to the film (part b)
- there was satisfactory control of the language, vocabulary and sentence structures.
Section II – Writing in Modern Greek
Characteristics of better responses:
- candidates developed and presented a sophisticated and coherent argument
- candidates wrote perceptively and effectively for a specific audience, purpose and context
- there was depth and breadth in the treatment of topics
- sophisticated vocabulary and advanced sentence structures were used
- a high level of grammatical accuracy was evident.
Characteristics of weaker responses:
- some relevant information, including repetitions, was provided
- poor dictionary skills were evident
- language was not manipulated accurately or creatively
- there was lack of agreement between the article, adjective and noun, and incorrect use of verb tenses
- anglicisms were used.