Welcome to our pre-recorded event. This event is designed for teachers wishing to receive
feedback on June 2015, Unit 3 (Speaking) International GCSE and The Edexcel Certificate Chinese specification.
You can find Useful Resources to support the session on the Edexcel website. They are IGCSE
Chinese Specification, Mark Scheme, Sample Assessment Material, Principal Examiner Report
and IGCSE updates. Please download the Audio Samples underneath this video. To download
it please refer to a zipped file called Supporting Documents.
In this event, you will have the opportunity to:
Receive feedback on the national performance of candidates in Unit 3 of the June 2015 examination
series. Consider the variation of candidates' performance
on different questions and possible reasons why.
Look at the Examiner's Report. Address common issues and FAQs.
The International GCSE Chinese speaking examination is a compulsory part of this specification.
It includes two sections: Section A (4 minutes) and Section B (6 minutes). The total duration
is 10 minutes. Most centres prepared well and most candidates achieved high scores.
However a number of centres did not fully commit to the exam procedures and requirements,
which therefore affected their candidates' performances.
The speaking examination covers 5 topic areas. All sub-topic areas of these 5 topic areas
can be found on page 11 of Chinese IGCSE Specification (Issue 3).
(pause) The 3 examination topics of each candidate must not be the same and must be from these
five areas. Failure to comply with this rule can lead to no credit awarded to the clashing
areas. Centres must pay attention to this point.
The speaking test is divided into two sections: Section A and Section B. There are 2 parts
for section A. Candidates need to prepare a picture or photo
which is related to one of the five topic areas before the exam. Based on the picture
or photo, candidates need to prepare a presentation. A 1: Picture Presentation lasts for 1 minute.
A 2: Picture Discussion lasts for 3 minutes. Section B includes conversation on two different
topic areas, each lasts for 3 minutes. These two topic areas must be chosen from the Centre-appointed
interviewer.
Section A part 1 is the Picture Presentation. Before the exam: Each candidate needs to choose
and prepare their own visual stimulus. All pictures (including old exam materials) displayed
in the Chinese IGCSE Samples Assessment Material must not be used for this speaking exam. Candidates'
assessed results can be affected if this is the case.
During the picture presentation, which is a 1 minute monologue, the candidate needs
to describe details of the chosen stimulus. In this part, if candidates' presentation
time is over 1 minute, the additional speaking time does not help candidates towards receiving
a high score. However, when the candidates' speaking time is less than 1 minute, it can
lead to a deduction of marks for candidates. Centres must take the above points into account
After the exam, the used visual stimulus must be attached with the candidate coversheet
for the external assessment.
In this section, the discussion must relate to the picture, but may also include some
questions prompted by the picture the student has chosen. Interviewers must ask meaningful
and structured questions related to the chose visual stimulus.
All three question types mentioned here should be covered in the discussion, although the
main focus should be the picture provided by the candidate.
It is advised that the interviewing teachers practise the questions themselves beforehand
so as to be able to deliver them to the student smoothly. Teachers are advised to rephrase
the questions whenever necessary.
In the speaking examination, 3 different topic areas must be used.
In Section 3, interviewers should ensure all questions asked should be clear, understandable
and well structured. Two types of questions mentioned here should
be covered in the conversations. These question types can encourage candidates to demonstrate
his/her own speaking and understanding skills of the language proficiency. Close-ended questions
are not helpful for candidates. Time management is another considerable factor.
Excess speaking time cannot benefit the candidate scores, but less speaking time can certainly
affect the assessing result. Interviewers should ensure that the speaking time for each
conversation is equivalent to 3 minutes.
Candidates should receive a high mark in Knowledge and application of language if they can demonstrate
good language ability, such as by using a wide range vocabulary, complex sentence structures.
Candidates can also be awarded high marks in Accuracy if they could show strong evidence
of word order and correct intonation and pronunciation consistently.
The candidate needs to be very careful when they choose pictures or photos for section
A. Let's look at sample 1, the photo shows a lady in Paris with a camera. It gives the
candidate a good background for the presentation and conversation on the topic of traveling.
While in sample 2 there is only a building which provides a very limited base which restricts
the conversation after the candidate's presentation.
In the presentation, the candidates are expected to describe the picture, give a personal interpretation
of the scene, express opinions and use a variety of language and structures.
Some candidates were not credited in this part of their presentation because they gave
no description or provided inadequate details to the chosen visual picture; for example,
if the chosen picture was a street view of a part of the city where he came from, the
candidate did not talk about details of the picture itself, instead, talked about his
feelings and his hobby.
The interviewer should then intervene with a series of questions based on the picture.
The conversation must relate to the picture but may also include some questions prompted
by the picture the candidate has chosen. The questions must not duplicate material already
covered in the initial presentation. The aim is to develop the conversation as naturally
as possible, following the candidate's lead and responding accordingly. The interviewer
should ensure that the candidate is given the opportunity to fulfil the requirements
of the assessment criteria and to have access to the full range of marks.
Some candidates' marks were let down due to the fact that interviewers simply neglected
to ask direct questions to the chosen stimulus. Irrelevant or inappropriate questions could
let down the exam performance of candidates. For instance, the chosen stimulus was the
mother and the candidate travelling somewhere, but one question the interviewer asked in
their conversation of Section A was: "What is your opinion towards the relationship between
girlfriend and boyfriend?" This question was irrelevant to the chosen picture and was also
far beyond the level required.
Candidates did better in Section B than in Section A overall this year.
Candidates were granted high marks if they could communicate smoothly with their interviewers,
showing no difficulties in response to a wide range of questions as well as confidently
express personal opinions to them. Candidate 1 uses a wide range of information
related to chosen visual/stimulus, Speaks very confidently, has no difficulty in expressing
and explaining a range of ideas and opinions and Interacts well.
They also use a wide range of vocabulary, Sentence structures used with success and
have Strong evidence of correct word/clause order, Good Pronunciation and intonation.
Full marks will be awarded. Please listen to the Candidate 1 Audio Sample.
This Candidate got 7/3/4=14. Please listen to the Candidate 2 Audio Sample.
This Candidate got 7/3/4=14. Please listen to the Candidate 3 Audio Sample.
Here is activity 1. How much will you award this candidate?
Please listen to the Candidate 4 Audio Sample.
In Presentation, communication and fluency, only 7 marks were awarded. In order to acquire
highest marks, the candidate needs some evidence of answering indirect and extension questions.
Here is Activity 2. How much will you award this candidate?
Please listen to the Candidate 5 Audio Sample.
In Presentation, communication and fluency, only 6 out of 10 marks were awarded.
Discussion time only lasts for 1:20 minutes instead of the required 3 minutes.
It is too short. Therefore only 6 marks were awarded.
Here is the last Activity for this event. How much will you award this candidate?
Please listen to the Candidate 6 Audio Sample. It is a very successful assessment. The candidate
got full marks.
Interviewers play an important part in this exam. All interviewers should study the exam
instructions for the conduct of examinations on p39 of the specification.
As a whole, clear, structured, appropriate and logical questions are helpful for candidates
to achieve their highest potential.
All centres need to understand the meaning of Assessment for this speaking examination
set on p7 of the specification. This speaking examination is assessed externally.
Teachers/ Interviewers should not need to mark this paper.
In order to avoid a concern of malpractice, interviewers are strongly advised that Section
A & B should be recorded together.
Here is some related information you can find online.
GCSE English subjects, Maths and GCEs for a range of subjects are changing first for
first teaching in September 2015, with first assessments in summer 2017.
We have just published our specifications on the Edexcel website. We are also running
a series of launch events too. Our draft specs and SAMs as well as further information about
our launch events can be found on Edexcel.com Other GCSE and GCE subjects following in 2016
and 2017.
We constantly look to improve the delivery of our training and appreciate all delegate
feedback. Delegates will soon receive an email directing
them to our online feedback form. The form takes no more than a couple of minutes
to complete. Please take the time to let us know your thoughts by filling in this short
form. Thank you for your participating in this event!