2013 Notes from the Marking Centre – Swedish Continuers
Introduction
This document has been produced for the teachers and candidates of the Stage 6 Swedish 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 Swedish Continuers Stage 6 Syllabus
- the 2013 Higher School Certificate Swedish 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 Swedish Continuers in Stage 6.
Oral examination
Characteristics of better responses:
- used sophisticated vocabulary, correct grammar including a range of tenses
- language manipulated for context with accuracy and fluency of pronunciation and intonation
- demonstrated thoroughness of research for Discussion topic
- substantiated and supported opinions which included different perspectives
- topics for study supported with in-depth analysis of literary and other texts.
Characteristics of weaker responses:
- used simple vocabulary and expressions
- used incorrect gender agreements, definite articles, cases and pronouns
- gave superficial information
- displayed little evidence of research for in-depth study.
Written examination
Section I – Listening
Characteristics of better responses:
- detailed and insightful answers
- displayed holistic understanding of the texts
- appropriate response to the key word of the question.
Characteristics of weaker responses:
- gave simple, literal information that lacked detail and depth
- provided no evidence of an understanding of tone or attitude expressed in text.
Section II – Reading and Responding
Part A
Characteristics of better responses:
- evidence of thorough understanding of content
- inferred meaning and nuances from the texts.
Characteristics of weaker responses:
- translated text without answering question
- displayed limited understanding of text.
Part B
Characteristics of better responses:
- used correct text type
- used own authentic text
- demonstrated understanding of stimulus text.
Characteristics of weaker responses:
- all the main aspects of the text not addressed
- did not meet the required word limit.
Section III – Writing in Swedish
Characteristics of better responses:
- demonstrated breadth and depth of opinions
- manipulated language authentically and creatively.
Characteristics of weaker responses:
- used a limited range of vocabulary
- incorrect text type was used
- there were frequent grammatical errors
- did not meet the required word limit.
NSW Government