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2015 Notes from the Marking Centre – Ukrainian Continuers

Introduction

This document has been produced for the teachers and candidates of the Stage 6 Ukrainian Continuers course. It contains comments on candidate responses to the 2015 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 Ukrainian Continuers Stage 6 Syllabus
• the 2015 Higher School Certificate Ukrainian 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 Ukrainian Continuers in Stage 6.

Oral examination

Section I – Conversation

Characteristics of better responses:

• candidates delivered  a confident and fluent response with correct intonation
• a wide range of vocabulary and grammatical structures was used correctly.

Characteristics of weaker responses:

• responses  were not sequenced logically and coherently
• only simple sentences were used
• elements of English vocabulary or sentence structures were included.

Section II – Discussion

Characteristics of better responses:

• a range of verbs, pronouns and propositions were correctly and fluently used
• a wide range of vocabulary was included
• an in-depth knowledge of the  topic and evidence of three texts, one of which was  a literary text, was demonstrated
• topics were linked to the texts and insightful conclusions were made.

Characteristics of weaker responses:

• a coherent discussion was not maintained
• verbs were not conjugated  correctly and prepositions were not used.
• a simplistic discussion of the  topic was presented and texts were not linked to the topic
• few references were made to the sources.
• responses did not support a point of view.

Written examination

Section 1– Listening and Responding

Part A

Characteristics of better responses:

• all relevant details were included
• all parts of the question were responded to.

Characteristics of weaker responses:

•  the text was translated without answering the question.

Part B

Characteristics of better responses:

• responses were well constructed  and highlighted the positive and negative aspects of the film
• relevant details from the text were used to support the response.

Characteristics of weaker responses:

• the requirements of the question were not addressed
• responses did not include how the decision was made
• the numbers and directions that were included in the text were misunderstood.

Section 2 – Reading and Responding

Part A

Characteristics of better responses:

• both texts were analysed and referred  to all elements of the question
• a good understanding of language and the purpose of the text was demonstrated.

Characteristics of weaker responses:

• responses lacked both detail and depth
• the text was translated and did not answer the  question.

Part B

Characteristics of better responses:

• an understanding of the whole text and the requirements of the correct text type was shown
• an extensive knowledge of vocabulary and correct sentence structure was demonstrated.

Characteristics of weaker responses:

• responses were superficial
• candidates relied on  using words and expressions from the text rather than their own words.

Section 3 – Writing in Ukrainian

Characteristics of better responses:

• a wide range of appropriate vocabulary and grammatical structures was used
• content was well structured, sequenced and addressed the requirements of the question
• the correct text type was used.

Characteristics of weaker responses:

responses lacked depth and did not have well-developed ideas.