ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS

ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS

Assessment policy

The assessors need to see that the candidate has made progress in terms of critical thinking; reading, writing and reasoning skills. Candidates should never hesitate to give an opinion and show independent thought.

(Listening and Speaking) is assessed in four different tasks which test different skills. These tasks: 1, 4, 7 and 9 form the oral mark for the candidate. The oral tasks add up to 50 marks, and these marks count twice: They form part of the portfolio which forms the SBA (school-based assessment), and they also count separately as Paper 4 in the final examination. It is worth the while to do these tasks well.

(Reading and Viewing) is assessed in Paper 1 – the comprehension and visual literacy components – and is marked according to a memorandum. In Paper 2, Literature is assessed by means of tests (contextual questions) – marked according to a memorandum – and literature essays – marked by means of a rubric. In the literature section you will be required to think critically about everything you read. Assessors should always consider the manner and level of engagement with the text, as shown by the candidate.

(Writing and Presenting) is assessed by all essays and transactional writing samples in the portfolio and examination papers. As far as portfolio work is concerned, it is required that you include as much of the writing process in the work as possible, e.g. planning, editing and proofreading.

(Language Structures). Tests are used to assess comprehension, summary skills, visual literacy and language structures.

Assessment is done by means of:  a memorandum in the case of listening comprehension, comprehension and language questions. When the candidate is responding to a verbal or visual text, (i.e. comprehension, advertisement, cartoon and literary texts), bear in mind the “personal, thoughtful, and honest interpretations and comment” mentioned on the previous page. There may be other valid interpretations (with emphasis on “valid” – the candidate must have convincing substantiation for their interpretation). So, particularly in cases where the memorandum says [Own opinion] you need to consider whether the interpretation/opinion is substantiated.  a memorandum and instructions on mark allocation in the case of the summary. (The unit on summary has the instructions on how to mark the summary.).  a rubric in the case of oral, creative writing and literature essays. These rubrics are provided in the facilitator’s guide, as well as in the study notes which accompany the candidate’s language study guide. It is important that the candidates take note of how their work will be assessed by looking at the rubrics before starting work.

Examinations

• At the end of the second, and early in the third term, full examinations will be written. The final examinations are usually early in the fourth term. The papers will be set as follows:

Paper 1 Comprehension and language Comprehension test, summary, visual literacy (cartoons, advertisements, or other visual texts) textual editing including language structures – know all theory well, as explained in the Study Guide.

SECTION A: Comprehension (30 marks)

A range of texts may be used, including visual and/graphic material.

SECTION B: Summary (10 marks)

Length of text: 250 words to be summarised in 80 – 90 words.

SECTION C: Language (30 marks)

A variety of texts (advertisements, cartoons, prose texts, dictionary entries) will be used to test visual literacy and language structures.

Paper 3 Creative writing Know the forms of the writing you have done, e.g. a formal letter, memorandum, etc. Pay attention to different types of essays, good writing and style.

SECTION A: Essay: Choose ONE topic SECTION B: Transactional: Choose TWO topics (50) (50)

GRAND TOTAL: 100

Paper 4 Oral This is not a separate exam, but the tasks that you have done throughout the year will be added again as Paper 4 (PAT).

TOTAL: 50

 Please note: The oral tasks must all be completed by the end of April. For each task, proof of research and preparation must be attached to the assessment rubric.  Term tests.  All formal tasks will be marked by Impaq.  The term tests will have the same form and content as the examinations explained above.

Portfolio

The purpose of a portfolio is building a “file of proof” that you have actually worked in English throughout the year, as opposed to a crash course shortly before the examinations, and then forgetting about English until the next examinations approach.

The portfolio will consist of a neat folder into which all prescribed assignments are bound, in order of task number. Use the study timetable and the programme of assessment to plan the portfolio work from the first day.